Alice V. Roberts
Osteoporosis, which means porous bone, is one of the country's fastest growing epidemics. Severe osteoporosis is painful, debilitating, and can cause numerous fractures that may even require major surgery.
“Living Day To Day With Severe Osteoporosis” explains all this in detail as well as the causes of osteoporosis, risk factors, the importance of diet and exercise, and the relationship of hormones to this disease. Equally important is prevention and treatment. Osteoporosis related injuries might also require physical therapy and mobility assistance. Becoming permanently handicapped happens all too often. Osteoporosis can even result in death.
“Living Day To Day With Severe Osteoporosis" is a true story about living with this disease starting at the young age of 35, and becoming permanently disabled at 49. At the appropriate times Alice has woven her personal journey with this disease into the book. She discusses her diagnosis, treatment in fighting osteoporosis, and the changes it has made in her day-to-day living as a result.
Over ten million people currently have osteoporosis. Once known mostly for afflicting the elderly, osteoporosis has become a major health threat for millions of men and women regardless of their age. They can and do become victims. By the year 2020 half of all Americans will have osteoporosis. Since one in eight men has osteoporosis, this book includes a chapter just for men.
People need to know the warning signs. Many options are available today regarding the cause of osteoporosis and its treatment. There are even medications to help rebuild your bones. By reading “Living Day To Day With Severe Osteoporosis” you can educate yourself. Having the knowledge will help you recognize the warning signs. Please do not ignore them. You can do something about it if you take action soon enough. Do it for yourself and your family.
The book “Living Day To Day With Severe Osteoporosis” is Alice V. Roberts debut in book publishing. However, Alice has written short articles for her local newspaper as an advocate for the National Osteoporosis Foundation.
At age 35, the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona diagnosed Alice with severe osteoporosis. At age 49 she was placed on permanent disability due to her bone density scores (-4.5 --results expected from a woman in her mid-90’s). She has broken most major bones more than once, had fractures that required major surgeries and physical therapy, and has approximately 20 rib fractures a year (just from sneezing, coughing, and moving the wrong way).
Because Alice's bones and muscles are weak she falls often. The next fall could leave her partially or totally paralyzed. So she must use a cane and cannot lift over five pounds for the rest of her life.
Alice is a member of the Arizona Authors Association, Romance Writers of America and Toastmasters International. As an advocate for the National Osteoporosis Foundation she holds monthly meetings in her local community.
Sinceher book has been published, Alice realizes her work has just begun in the fight against osteoporosis. Due to her age and severity, it is her mission to draw awareness to this disease and its causes.
Alice enjoys reading and writing and is currently working on a novel. She also enjoys cooking and gardening.
Alice lives near the Red Rocks of Sedona, Arizona, with her husband, a Siamese cat and a black Lab. She enjoys spending time visiting her married daughters and grandchildren in Scottsdale, Arizona and Cornish, Maine.
Visit Alice on the web at http://www.alicevroberts.com.. There you can learn more about the author or send e-mail from the Post Office. She would love to hear from you.
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Living Day To Day With Severe Osteoporosis
What Every Person Should Know Regardless of Age
To better understand the journey this book takes, it is important to know what osteoporosis is. As I share details about my personal health — and why my life is at the stage it is now with this disease — it is frightening to think how many people may read this and find it to be a story about them too.
How I, along with millions of others, became a victim of osteoporosis will be revealed in detail later in this book. Throughout this book I will discuss extensively what osteoporosis is, how I was diagnosed, how I was treated, and the changes it has made in my day-to-day living as a result of this disease.
The National Institute of Health - Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases say osteoporosis has been defined as a disease where there is a loss of bone mass and structural deterioration of the bone tissue. It is described as a loss of calcium to the bone and makes the individual more susceptible to breaking bones. The hips, ribs, spine, and wrists are the higher risk areas for breakage, but any bone can be affected. Compression fractures of the spine can lead to deterioration of support from the vertebrae resulting in a stooped back (hunched over) and/or height loss. As bones become weaker with age, the risk of osteoporosis becomes even greater. Once a debilitating disease known mostly for afflicting the elderly, men and women regardless of their age can and do become victims.
Over ten million people currently have osteoporosis. Over triple that amount of people has a low bone mass. People with a low bone mass are more susceptible to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is responsible for over one and a half million fractures a year. This includes 300,000 hip fractures, 250,000 wrist fractures, 700,000 vertebrae fractures, and more than 300,000 fractures at other sites. Estimated national direct expenditures, (hospitals and nursing homes) for osteoporosis and related fractures is over twenty billion dollars a year.
The first 20 years of life are critical to bone formation. At that point it then becomes important to prevent bone loss. Anything that prevents healthy bone formation or bone structure can lead to fragile bones and osteoporosis. Exercise is important. Not only does it improve bone health, it also increases muscle strength, coordination and balance, and leads to better overall health.
