On top of causing dry skin and thinning hair, this can also affect nail strength and may be a sign of early bone loss. Anecdotally, increased fingernail resilience has been reported from patients diagnosed with osteoporosis within months of starting osteoporosis treatments.
There are exercises and things you can do to increase your muscle strength and provide the extra support you need. 3. Weak and brittle fingernails:A sign of osteoporosis, believe it or not, is weak and brittle nails. When one's nails are strong, this indicates good bone strength.
A lifelong lack of calcium plays a role in the development of osteoporosis. Low calcium intake contributes to diminished bone density, early bone loss and an increased risk of fractures.
This could also hold true for the disulphide bonds in your bones. Weak nails or vertical ridges on your nails could also be an indicator that you need to add more calcium to your diet.
When your body lacks calcium, your nails become thinner, weaker, and brittle. You may notice that they break easily and just don't look as healthy as they used to. Although nails and bones are made up of different substances, they're similar enough that poor nail health may be an early marker of bone density problems.
Key points about osteoporosis
The bones most often affected are the hips, spine, and wrists. Women are 4 times more likely to get osteoporosis than men because of a decrease in estrogen after menopause. Risk factors for osteoporosis include aging, race, body weight, and certain medicines.
Men who began treatment at age 50 had a life expectancy of 18.2 years, while the life expectancy for a man beginning treatment at 75 was an average of 7.5 years. For women, the figure was 26.4 years for those beginning treatment at 50 and 13.5 years for those beginning treatment at 75.
A fracture with a low-energy mechanism of injury (e.g., a fracture after a fall from a standing height) is a red flag for osteoporosis.
If you have osteoporosis, you may be at risk for tooth loss. When the jawbone becomes less dense tooth loss can occur. Women with osteoporosis tend to have fewer teeth than women with normal bone density.
Bones that easily fracture: Bone fractures and breaks are often the earliest signs that people experience of osteoporosis. Since your bones have less strength, you are more likely to experience serious bone injuries if you suffer from a fall, or experience other bone trauma.
On top of causing dry skin and thinning hair, this can also affect nail strength and may be a sign of early bone loss. Anecdotally, increased fingernail resilience has been reported from patients diagnosed with osteoporosis within months of starting osteoporosis treatments.
In postmenopausal women, smoking is linked with an increased risk of osteoporosis. Data on the effect of regular consumption of alcohol and caffeine on osteoporosis is not as clear as with exercise and cigarettes.
Inflammatory bowel disease & coeliac disease
IBD and other gastrointestinal diseases have been linked to osteoporosis, through nutritional factors (levels of calcium, vitamin D, and other minerals may not be as high as in those with no intestinal disorder), corticosteroid use over time, and the long-term inflammation.
But "you can live with osteoporosis for a long, long time and never have complications such as fractures -- if you take certain precautions," says Felicia Cosman, MD, osteoporosis expert and medical director of the clinical research center at Helen Hayes Hospital in West Haverstraw, N.Y.
You can prevent bone loss with regular exercise, such as walking. If you have osteoporosis or fragile bones, regular brisk walking can help to keep your bones strong and reduce the risk of a fracture in the future.
Pain is not a symptom of osteoporosis in the absence of fractures. Following a fracture, bones tend to heal within six to eight weeks but pain and other physical problems, such as pain and tiredness or fatigue, may continue.
Bone loss begins to occur at an approximate rate of 0.25% a year and is variable depending on many genetic and environmental factors. This may be considered the second stage towards osteopenia and/or osteoporosis. It is important to understand that this is a perfectly normal part of the aging process.
Sudden, severe back pain that gets worse when you are standing or walking with some relief when you lie down. Trouble twisting or bending your body, and pain when you do. Loss of height.
dry, broken, or brittle nails. coarse hair. alopecia, which causes hair to fall out in patches. eczema, or skin inflammation that can lead to itchy or dry patches.
If a lack of calcium is observed, your body will start to take calcium from your bones and teeth instead. This will weaken your bones and teeth, placing you at an elevated risk for damage, tooth decay and osteoporosis. Dental Concerns – weak roots, brittle teeth, tooth decay and irritated gums.