It’s a major life threat as one out of three women and one out of four men can have an osteoporosis related fracture in their life. Bone is, in fact a living tissue made up of protein collagen and a bone strengthening and hardening mineral calcium phosphate.

Bones can withstand more stress if there is a proper collagen and calcium in the bones for their flexibility. Bones becomes heavier and denser during teenage and childhood and maximum bone density is reached at the age of 30.Not only women but also men can suffer from osteoporosis.But,in women it becomes faster after menopause. Osteoporosis would more likely to develop if the required bone mass density is not achieved during bone building years like in teenager and childhood period.

There are certain risk factors which cannot be changed like gender, family history, age and body size.Rather, there are certain factors that cause a risk for osteoporosis.

These risk factors include:

Person’s lifestyle: Bones can be weakened as a result of inactive lifestyle and a long term bed rest.

Intake of calcium and vitamin D: Bones become weak due to insufficient amount of calcium and vitamin D in diet.

Eating disorders: Anorexia nervosa, leading to weight loss can make the bones prone to undergo osteoporosis.

Sex hormones: Low testosterone level in men, menopause and amenorrhea (absence of menstrual periods) in women leads to osteoporosis.

It has been proved that long term use of anticonvulsants and glucocorticoids can lead to fracture and bone density loss. Excess alcohol intake also cause osteoporosis.Smoking, on the other hand is injurious not only for lungs and heart but also for bones. Medicines which have taken for cancer treatment, liver, lungs, heart and kidney diseases, use of antiseizure drugs and excess thyroid hormone can cause osteoporosis. Women who smoke would have less level of estrogen and consequently they suffered from osteoporosis earlier.

• Bone pain
• Abdominal pain
• Height loss
• Tooth loss
• Rib pain
• Muscle and spine pain
• Neck pain
• Fatigue
• Stooped posture
• Periodontal disease
• Broken bones
• Arthritis
• Tendonitis

Diagnosis of osteoporosis

An x-ray can reveal osteoporosis which shows thinner and lighter bones than the healthier ones.DXA (DEXA) a form of BMD test measures the bone density in the spine and hips. It is quite precise and uses    fewer doses of radiation. Bone density as compared to healthy bones is measured in terms of T score. Osteoporosis has an average T score of -2.5 SD or below while osteopenia which is a middle stage between healthy bones and osteoporosis has a T score between -1 and 2.5 SD.

Bone mineral density test can be used to:

• Predict chances of fracture
• Detect bone mass density
• Diagnose osteoporosis
• Determine the bone loss rate

Various lab tests and bone scan are some other tests required for diagnosing osteoporosis.

A bone scan is different from bone mineral density test in which a patient is injected with a dye and a scanner identifies the areas of bone tissues where there are differences in conditions. It shows fractures, inflammation, cancer and any bone lesions.

Lab tests involve, number of blood and urine tests. Blood tests are performed to evaluate:

• Functioning of thyroid glands
• Levels of parathyroid hormone
• Blood calcium levels
• Blood vitamin D levels
• Levels of testosterone in men
• Level of follicle stimulating hormone
• Estrogen level in women
• Level of osteocalcin to check bone formation

Postmenopausal women or a woman aged 65 years or older is more prone to osteoporosis. By changing life style, intake of healthy food, using medicines that add calcium and prevent loss of bone mass and a regular exercise are the only ways that can help prevent osteoporosis in both men and women.

Arthritis means an inflammation of a joint, whether it is a result of a disease, a genetic defect, an infection or may be some other cause. This inflammation is responsible for stiffness, swelling and pain in the surrounding tissues and joints.

There is a certain group of people who perceive that arthritis is any kind of discomfort or pain that is associated with our body movement and also includes some localized problems such as low back pain, tendonitis, joint pain, general stiffness, and bursitis.

Now arthritis has become an inevitable part of the aging process. On immediate horizons, there are no real signs of cure. On the other side recent developments in alternative medicines and conventional medical treatment has made possible arthritis to be bearable.

When someone suffers from arthritis, there is generally a lesser damage to the joints and greater damage occurs in the arms, hands and legs. Arthritis has now become a leading cause of disability in people over 65.However, it can occur in people of all ages and specially children. There are different forms of an arthritis but main features of all of them unfortunately is pain.

Some of the most evident symptoms of arthritis include:

• Swelling and joint pain
• Stiffness,especially in the morning
• Feeling of warmth around a joint
• Skin redness around a joint
• Unable to move a joint

Arthritis generally involves the breakdown of a cartilage which protects the joint and allows a flexible joint movement. When there is a pressure on a particular joint this cartilage helps acts as a shock absorber. When the bone breakdown they lose any sort of protection, they rub against each other thus causing stiffness, pain and swelling.

There are some causes of breakdown of cartilage and the subsequent joint inflammation which can be:

• Due to exercise and overage, there is a general wear and tear of bones.
• Due to an autoimmune disease i.e. when a body attacks itself if an immune system perceives a certain body part to be foreign.
• Infection caused by bacteria or viruses
• Broken bone

In women these stress chest pains can be heart related along with many other reasons.Everytime the chest pain is not heart related. The part of spinal cord that receives pain signals from our heart is near the spinal cord area which receives similar signals of chest pain. Sometimes when we have a heart attack the similar pain arises in the arm, back and chest.

Causes of Chest Pains in Women

Here are some of the most striking common causes of chest pain in women and not all are listed here;

• Gall Bladder: Chest pain that may be due to eating is related to a gallbladder disease.
• Arthritis: Chest pain can also be a refer pain of arthritis of a cervical spine.
• Acid reflux: Chest pain which occurs when the stomach is empty.
• Angina pectoris: Chest pain is one of the indications of blocked artries.This blockage actually reduces blood flow to heart. This deprives the heart of oxygen and results in chest pain. Chest pain is like a feeling of pressure on heart.
• Periconditis: Inflammation of lining of heart is also a cause of chest pain.
• Other Cardiac problems: There are other cardiac problems, which are responsible for chest pain.
• Musculoskeletal: Chest pain may also involve skeleton and muscles. This type of chest pain produces tenderness of a chest wall and can also be felt when patient moves shoulder or arm.

Stress chest pain in women is not surprising when the effects of stress on the body are considered. Stress, when it sets a reaction to negative demands on us, is often a “fight or flight” response. It leads to certain physical changes. It prepares the body for a fight against the enemy.If this response is triggered it will call for a flood of brain chemicals such as adrenaline, cortisol and norepinephrine. These chemicals are then released into the bloodstream and consequently, the body undergoes a series of certain dramatic changes. Some of these changes are:

• Blood is redirected to limb and muscles from a digestive tract.
• Awareness intensifies.
• Breathing becomes faster.
• Muscles tighten and contract.
• Pupils dilates and eyesight sharpens.