Lifestyle Factors for Promoting Bone Health in Older Women
It has been reported that an estimated 3 million people in the United Kingdom suffer from osteoporosis, as 1 in 3 women and 1 in 12 men over the age of 50 will develop the disease (2006). Without treatment, osteoporosis can cause painful and disabling fractures, particularly in the wrist, hip and spine (2006). It also costs the NHS and government over £15 million a day or, £1.9 billion each year (2006). In relation to this, it is accepted practice to recommend a calcium-rich diet, weight-bearing exercise, cessation of smoking and limited alcohol intake to promote bone health (2004). In addition, although 1 in 3 women over 50 years old are at risk of osteoporosis, the lifestyle practices of older women in Scotland are not well documented (2004). With this data, a study was conducted to investigate the lifestyle practices of a group of older women who had received lifestyle advice a year previously while participating in research identifying the individual risk of osteoporosis (2004). This study would help arouse further researches regarding the importance of knowledge in osteoporosis and the consequences of having the disease. It would also help increase awareness of the citizens for greater prevention and cure of the disease.
In relation to the problem of the increase in incidence of having osteoporosis in the United Kingdom is the increase in incidence of the disease in the United States. It has been reported that osteoporosis affects as many as 30% of post-menopausal women and about 5% of older men in the United States (2005). In addition, more than 1.2 million fractures (primarily of the hip, spine or wrist) occur each year as a direct result of osteoporosis (2005). Since our genes have not changed much during the past century, environmental factors are likely responsible for this epidemic of thin bones (2005). However, there are still various non-drug strategies for preventing and treating the disease (2005). These non-drug strategies include exercise, proper diet, increased intake of calcium, and other vitamins. It has been reported that weight bearing and some non-weight-bearing exercise can strengthen bones and reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis, and includes swimming, walking, jogging, jumping and weight lifting (2005). In addition, dietary factors that may cause thinning of bones include excessive consumption of refined sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and animal proteins, and cigarette smoking appears to promote osteoporosis, and should be avoided (2005). It has been pointed out that one of the most effective trials of calcium supplementation in elderly patients used tricalcium phosphate as the calcium source (2005). While calcium has received most of the attention most doctors, there is good evidence that many other micronutrients are involved in promoting bone health, and includes magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, boron, strontium, silicon, vitamin D, vitamin C, folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin K (2005). Many of these nutrients are in short supply in the typical processes Western diet (2005), which can be one good reason why many elderly suffer from the thinning of bones that could lead to osteoporosis. While none of these nutrients has been studied as extensively as calcium, the available evidence suggests that some of them (particularly vitamin K, vitamin D, copper, and magnesium) are at least as important as calcium, and consuming whole foods that are high in micronutrients, and taking a broad-spectrum nutritional supplement, will often be more effective than taking calcium by itself (2005).
The method of the study is mainly a quantitative approach, which was taken from the perspective of the empirical-analytical paradigm (2004). A descriptive survey research design was used and the primary method of data collection was postal questionnaire (2004). Additional qualitative data obtained from a telephone interview of a small interview of a small number of respondents were content analyzed (2004). The questionnaire was sent to 320 women (2004). The majorities of women was non-smokers, had no alcohol problems and were participating in regular weight-bearing exercise (2004). However, most had not been taking a calcium-rich diet in the previous year, and only 21.2% had changed their diet following identification of risk of osteoporosis (2004).
The findings in relation to diet, smoking, exercise and alcohol were supported by previous research (2004). A statistically significant finding was that women at high risk of osteoporosis were the least likely to have made changes in lifestyles (2004). As a proof, in the United States also, among those with osteoporosis, approximately 80% are women and 20% are men ( 2002). As an explanation, women are more susceptible because they have less total bone mass or a smaller reservoir, and the rate of bone loss accelerates during menopause ( 2002). After age 50, one in two women and one in eight men will suffer one or more osteoporotic fractures ( 2002).
The study recommends that further research with larger samples in the United Kingdom explores the reasons why older women do not have adequate calcium intake (2004). In addition, further research is required to address the information needs and lifestyle practices of older women who are at high risk of osteoporosis (2004). In relation to the study’s aim, it would take a long time to accomplish the study for every participant must be examined and evaluated to completely and accurately investigate their lifestyle practices. The study must also provide nurses or medical workers to each of the participant, to facilitate the investigation and obtain accurate results and observation. This would not only be time-consuming but not cost-effective as well. In addition, further evaluation of the methods of the study must be done to ensure producing accurate results.
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