Keep Your Bones Healthy
The importance of bones is undeniable, they support our body and connect our muscles allowing us to carry out different movements or activities such as walking, carrying, or lifting objects, among others. They protect vital organs like the brain, the heart, the lungs, and others. Internally, the bones carry out a vital function in our body which consists of storing calcium and making it available for our body when there is a lack of it in our diet or when there is an issue in our body that requires it. Additionally, bones act like a shell protecting the bone marrow, which produces the cells that create blood.
Even if our bones seem to be hard and firm, not all the structure of the bone is like this. Bones are quite different on the inside. The bone consists of three layers; the first one is called the periosteum is a hard shell that forms the outside, the second layer is dense, and it protects the internal tissue. The tissue inside of the bone is rather spongy.
The bone is formed by protein fibers that are solidified thanks to calcium and phosphorus. Essentially, in the bones, calcium along with phosphorus form its structure. Nevertheless, only these two minerals are not enough for keeping our bones in good shape. Our body needs other elements to do this work, some key nutrients include Vitamin D whose role in this process is helping in the absorption of calcium. Additionally, protein also helps the absorption process especially since its part of the bone structure. Some other essential nutrients are Vitamin K and A which also help prevent bone loss.
A lack of this mineral or a malfunction in our body could cause some bone issues. The most common ones are rickets and osteoporosis. The first one is directly caused by the lack of vitamin D in kids, as explained above, a deficiency in Vitamin D would make it difficult for our body to absorb calcium and phosphorus even if it is available. However, this is not the only cause, rickets may also be a symptom of another disease. Rickets is known as the condition of having soft bones. Even if it happens only during childhood, there is an adult version of it known as osteomalacia. To cure rickets or osteomalacia, doctors will generally recommend vitamin C supplements.
Another condition that can affect our bones is osteoporosis. This happens when the body starts using the calcium stored in our bones due to a deficiency of it in our diet or another condition in our body that requires more than what our diet provides. When this happens, the bone loss makes the bones thinner and more vulnerable to breaking. Following therapy that includes exercise programs and taking medication are the most common treatments for osteoporosis
Some other bone conditions are related to bone growth, rebuilding, genetic conditions, and other factors. We recommend keeping a balanced diet rich in vitamins and calcium and exercises. Weight-related exercises are proved to contribute to bone growth during childhood and similarly, it can prevent bone loss during adulthood.
Orthopedic Corner | Leon Mead MD Orthopedic Doctor | 730 Goodlette Road North, Suite 201 Naples Florida 34102 | Phone: (239) 262-1119