To
judge by those ubiquitous ads, just about every adult woman in the U.S.
should be worried about osteoporosis, a skeletal disorder characterized
by thinning bones, & since the ads R paid for by pharmaceutical
companies; it’s not surprising that the suggested remedy is medication.
U have to ask yourself, “Is that the right approach to take?”
The 1st thing U need to know is that not everyone is at risk for osteoporosis. Approx. 8 million U.S. women & 2 million men have the disorder. Women over 50 R the most vulnerable because they can lose as much as 20% of their bone mass in the yrs. around menopause. Most affected r Asian & Caucasian, or have a family history of osteoporosis. Some other risk factors: anorexia, a sedentary lifestyle, smoking & excessive alcohol use. Osteoporosis can be devastating; it can cause loss of mobility & independence & may lead to depression.
A bone – mineral – density test is suggested, routine screening is recommended at age 60 for those at high risk & for all women 65 + If the results indicate U R osteopenic – which means Ur bone mass is lower than normal but not so low as to be osteoporosis many practitioners urge changes in diet & exercise. This means eating foods that contain calcium & Vit. D. There R many factors that contribute to a decrease in bone density, but the 2 most important R excessive protein consumption & a lack of weight - bearing exercise. The typical carnivorous diet produces high quantities of acid in the body. The body is forced to neutralize this acid by draining calcium, an alkaline mineral & other minerals from the bones. The chemical imbalance, coupled with a sedentary lifestyle, creates osteoporotic conditions, which reduces the cellular density of the hard tissue. (bones).
To strengthen bones at any age, engage in weight – bearing exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.
A complex disorder that affects medium & large – sized muscular arteries, the term atherosclerosis is derived from the Greek translation gruel or past (athero) & hardness (sclerosis). In the disease process, deposits of lipids, cholesterol, cell wastes, calcium, & fibrin build up within the intima (located under the endothelial lining of arterial blood vessels) of the arterial vessel wall to form plaques. Plaque buildup causes the artery to become narrowed (much like a kitchen sink waste pipe with years of grease buildup) this impairs blood flow taking away vital O2 and other nutrients supply to the target organs. Men are affected more often & earlier in life than women; symptoms generally become most pronounced when men R in their 50’s & 60’s.
Plaques tend to form in areas of marked curvatures, branching & in regions characterized by turbulent blood flow with reduced velocity. The coronary arteries R a prime site {An artery has 3 distinct layers: the Adventitia/outermost connective tissue layer; the Tunica Media/ consists of smooth muscle cells; & the Tunica Intima/ made up of endothelial cells that form the endothelium/blood vessel lining} as R the main branches of the thoracic & abdominal aortas, carotid arteries, & the large vessels of the legs. The earliest signs of atherosclerosis R called fatty streaks. These may begin to develop in the aorta & coronary arteries as early as age 15. Over time, they may increase in size & # until they form fibrous plaques. The initial lesions may be relatively harmless & the individual a symptomatic. Without the proper treatment, plaque formation can progress to an advanced stage of atherosclerosis characterized by arterial deformity & progressive ischemia. The positive side to this is that the process of plaque formation is reversible. The theory of Plaque formation is that it’s a response to an injury to the epithelium, many factors can contribute to this such as; Infectious agents, toxins (especially the byproducts of cigarette smoke, see article), dyslipidemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, & the presence of free radicals R prime suspects.
Cholesterol & Triglycerides R the primary lipids in the blood. Lipids R transported by protein carriers called lipoproteins, which vary in density & function. LDL (low density lipoproteins) contains a sizable rich core of cholesterol & some protein. They transport cholesterol to the tissues to build cell membranes & synthesize steroids. Liver cell receptors regulate the circulating level of LDLs, dysfunction of the receptors, as well as excess dietary fat, can cause excessive circulating amounts. These excess lipids then migrate from the bloodstream to penetrate the intimal layer of the blood vessel, where they’re susceptible to free radical or enzymatic oxidation from substances that exist in the vessel wall. Once oxidized, the lipids can interact with cells, proteins, & the immune system to promote athero-genesis plaque formation.
The oxidized lipids, which R inflammatory in nature, prompted the endothelial cells to secrete leukocyte adhesion molecules. As the name implies, the leukocyte adhesion molecules cause white blood cells to attach to the endothelium in the area of injury.
Monocytes & T lymphocytes move through the endothelial lining & infiltrate the intima of the vessel wall. The monocytes mature into macrophages (Scavenger cells) & secrete cytokines that oxidize LDLs. The phagocytic macrophages engulf the modified LDL, & in the process, the macrophages swell transforming into foam cells. The presence of foam cells is characteristic of early atherosclerosis. As they accumulate, a fatty streak appears. The smooth muscle cells produce collagen, & with the addition of fibroblasts from the circulation, a fibrous plaque forms.
Fibrous plaques may calcify, grow, & obstruct blood flow to target organs & distal tissues, causing tissue ischemia. Plaques may erode, develop fissures, & erupt exposing the inflammatory lipid core to platelets & other coagulative proteins. Platelet adhesion, activation, & aggregation lead to thrombus formation with vessel obstruction, tissue ischemia, & infarction.
Once the arterial endothelium {endothelium serves as a barrier that keeps circulating factors & cells in the bloodstream away from the Tunica Intima & Media. Endothelial cells, by synthesizing & releasing vasoactive chemicals, perform a # of vital functions) becomes inflamed, it can no longer produce normal amounts of anti-thrombotic & vasodilating cytokines {constriction results}. The inability of the endothelium to produce nitric oxide encourages platelet adhesion {which relaxes vascular smooth muscle & restrains smooth muscle cell migration from the Tunica Media & prostacyclin a prostaglandin that deters platelets from adhering to the endothelial lining}, the oxidized Phospholipids promote thrombosis, & other alterations in the clotting cascade result in a procoagulant state.
Let’s talk about fibrin for a moment Fibrin is a natural substance in Ur body. It helps in wound healing & it’s what scar tissue & scabs R built from. Here is how it works: Ur body senses an injury – it can be as minor as a small bump, scratch, or just sudden heat or coldness & it reacts by:
v Sending white blood cells to the irritation site to fight the infection, causing inflammation & swelling.
v Releasing fibrin to essentially “seal off the site” with a strong protective mesh.
When the site heals, the fibrin is broken down, the inflammation subsides, and everything goes back to normal. Sometimes, our bodies fail to call off the fibrin or break it down, causing it to harden, thus causing a cycle effect (irritation causing inflammation, more fibrin is applied & the pain does not subside, medication only takes the inflammation away, or numbs the pain, but does not the break or eliminate the hardened fibrin,) Fibrin is normally dissolved by the enzymes the body produces, people with a deficiency experience difficulty (constant pain or fibromyalgia) one of the enzymes that is important for the body is called Serratiopeptidase (SP for short) this enzyme curbs inflammation, helps break up fibrin & blocks amine pain with no side effects! In many cases such as Sciatica, Arthritis, Carpal Tunnel, Back Pain, Most Connective Joint Pain can be associated to an Over deposit of fibrin.
Another cause of Ur condition may more than likely be hidden chemical irritants!
Scientists have discovered that nerves can be irritated by dozens of microscopic toxins found in our every day environment, such as Cigarette smoke, prescription medications airborne allergens, drinking water, parasites, microbiological infections. {for more info. read the possible side effects articles, I have two articles one on Vitamins & Minerals and the other on Herbal Supplements read the Asthma article as well} These toxins can trigger a chain reaction of chemical changes in Ur body that often lead to inflammation, swelling & even migraine headaches. This happens because toxins love to set up housekeeping in Ur bowel & eventually can damage the intestinal wall where the body starts to absorb it triggering a chain reaction that leads to stiffness & a loss of flexibility.The diagnose /symptoms of atherosclerosis has alternating periods of activity & sequence. The disease can affect many different organ systems in a variety of ways.
When a plaque is of
sufficient size to alter blood flow, bruits may be heard on
auscultation. A bruit is a harsh sound, synchronous with the heartbeat
that indicates turbulent blood flow. Bruits heard over the carotid
arteries may indicate stenosis.
Palpation of
peripheral pulses may be diminished or absent due to athero-sclerotic
changes affecting peripheral vessels. U may note pallor & reduced hair
growth on an extremity. Feeling of claudication (calf, thigh, or buttock
pain that occurs with
exertion).
Rheumatoid Arthritis aka RA involves painful, swollen joints, a new study showed that these sufferers may be at risk for heart disease.
Researchers at the mayo Clinic in Rochester M., compared 149 people with RA and 1,405 people without the disease. The RA sufferers were more likely to have diastolic dysfunction, a condition that limits how effectively blood flows through the heart. The study wasn’t designed to determine whether RA caused diastolic dysfunction, but it observed that an association was present.
Swedish researchers during a 10 year study found that participants with the diseases had nearly twice the # of heart attacks & deaths resulting from heart attacks. These findings suggest that the onset of RA brings on inflammatory changes that can lead to increased heart disease risk in fairly short order.
The Mayo Clinic lists these as the most common symptoms.
L Widespread muscle pain
L Multiple tender points where slight pressure causes pain
L Constant aching in the chest, back, neck & shoulders.
L Pain in the elbows, hips & knees.
L Fatigue & sleep disturbances.
L Irritable bowel syndrome.
L Headaches & facial pain.
L Heightened sensitivity to odors, noises, bright lights & touch.
L Numbness or tingling sensations in the hands & feet.
L Difficulty concentrating.
L Dry eyes, skin & mouth.
L Dizziness.
Fibromyalgia is caused by thick build – ups of fibrin – thick, protein – based meshes.
For every pound lost, there’s a 4-pound reduction in the load each step exerts on the knees. If U R overweight, shedding 11 pounds can decrease Ur risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee.
High heels place under stress on the knees &, over time, weaken the joints. “The lower the heal, the better,”
Moderate activity (something that makes U sweat) all U need is a ˝ hr. a day, 5 days a week, this can help prevent or decrease aches & pains. Do it in 10 – min. increments, if U like – the secret is to use Ur joints regularly. If you have a preexisting health condition, consult Ur practitioner (Generally, U can’t prevent arthritis in the hands, but U can keep Ur joints flexible by exercising them – for instance, fully opening & closing them for a minute or two).
Natural misalignments of the body can throw it off – balance, making certain joints prone to stress & injury. A good reputable chiropractic can determine whether Ur spine & lower extremities R correctly positioned or better yet get an X-ray.
Source of reference: Nursing made incredibly easy 11,12/06 pg. 11-13. Your weekend Heath sec. Hippocrates 06 pg.13, USA Weekend 4.17-19 2009,
Brought to U by Nancy’s Universe.
