Health advice and remedies for chest pain

Weak and soft bones are a symptom of many orthopedic problems like rheumatism, fibrositis, osteoporosis, arthritis or osteomalacia, rickets as it's called in children. Get the problem checked by a specialist to get the correct diagnosis and start the treatment. But most of these problems are caused by lack of mineralization of the bone matrix. Faulty metabolism, vitamin D, calcium and mineral deficiency are the main reasons for these conditions. You must have enough Vitamin D in your body to maintain the right balance of calcium and phosphorous. Direct sunlight is the best way to make up for the deficiency of Vitamin D.

Mostly you will find all the required nutrition in fruits and vegetables without having to take any medicines or supplements. Your bones will be strengthened if you include loads of green leafy vegetables and fruits in your platter everyday. But then there are some fruits and vegetables that you must have in more quantity. Prunes are one of them as they have high content of fiber, boron and copper, all of which make our bones stronger. Prunes also help in better absorption of calcium in the body. Just like prunes, bananas also prevent calcium from draining of the body. Other than that, bananas are rich in calcium and potassium, have a soothing effect on the system and improve immunity too. Also include kiwis in your daily diet as it has potassium which is needed for strong bones and Vitamin C which provides us energy. If you especially consume kiwis after a work out it helps the bones a great deal. But one vegetable that is rich with all the possible nutrients whether calcium, Vitamins A and C, potassium, magnesium, manganese, iron and phosphorus is broccoli. Spinach is also known for being rich in potassium, iron and calcium. Your quota of vegetables should include this as well. Milk is a great source of calcium and so are other milk products like cheese and yogurt. Fish and eggs also contain potassium, iron and calcium. But just dietary changes are not enough. Exercising everyday for about 30 minutes is just as important. Simple exercises like skipping with a rope, racquet sports like tennis and squash, gardening, rowing, aerobic dance, swimming and cycling would be really helpful. Other than these do light weight lifting exercises. Other than all this do not smoke and drink which also adds to the problem. But then, it's strongly advised to undergo a check up to ascertain the real problem and cure.

answered by G M

Bone weakness or softness may be due to a disease such as Rickets or Adult hypophosphatasia so please talk to your doctor immediately to rule out serious problems. You can determine your bone density by taking a non-invasive and painless test called dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). DXA measures the mineral content of bone. The measurements, known as T-scores, define the quality of your bone. The lower the T-score the more porous and weaker your bone has become. Generally, bone weakness is caused not getting enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet. Smoking and drinking too much alcohol are also risk factors. Using certain medications, such as corticosteroids and anticonvulsants may also be a cause.

To improve the strength of the bones it is necessary to get adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D in your diet. Milk, almonds, dark green leafy vegetables, broccoli are all good sources of calcium. Cod liver oil, salmon, milk and eggs are good sources of vitamin D. Sunlight is a significant source of vitamin D because the ultraviolet rays from sunlight cause vitamin D synthesis in the skin. Combined calcium and vitamin D supplements are also an option but natural sources are always the best nutritional sources.

In addition to proper nutrition, you should get at least 30 minutes of weight bearing exercises such as strength-training, walking and running daily.

answered by S E