The following information was written specifically for this blog by the
DrugWatch website and I felt it would be helpful information that would
interest many Baby Boomers as well as older senior citizens and their families.
Guest Post on the Prevention of Hip Injuries from DrugWatch
Protecting hip health becomes more important with
each passing year. As we age, both muscle and bone mass tend to decline. Muscle
weakness in the hips can affect balance, leading to falls. According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three adults over 65 fall
each year. Weak bones can make those falls much more dangerous, increasing the
risk of hip fractures. Then, there is the daily wear-and-tear, slowly thinning
the cartilage that cushions the hip joints, making them more vulnerable to
injury and arthritis. Taking good care of your hips can help avoid these
problems.
Daily Exercise is
Essential to Hip Health
Inactivity speeds age-related bone loss, which can lead to osteoporosis,
that brittle bone disease that is at the root of many fractures of the hips and
spine in women over 55 and men over 70. Muscles deteriorate quickly without
regular exercise, losing mass and strength, affecting balance, endurance and
the stability of weight-bearing joints, like the hips and knees, increasing joint
wear and the risk of sprains, strains and falls.
On the other hand, making a habit of being active for at
least thirty minutes a day, five days a week can keep the muscles surrounding
your hip joints strong and supple, maintaining solid support for smooth joint
function, balance and stability. Bone-loss can be slowed substantially with
regular exercise and even reversed to some extent, since putting a bit of
stress on bones each day stimulates increased production of new bone cells to
repair and strengthen them. Walking, stair climbing, swimming or dancing will
all enhance hip health, so find an activity that you enjoy and get active.
Balanced Nutrition
Keeps Bones and Muscles Strong
Poor nutrition is a major risk factor for osteoporosis and
can contribute to weak muscles, poor balance, joint deterioration and a long
list of diseases and conditions that affect overall health. A balanced diet
that includes whole grains, low-fat dairy products, lean proteins and lots of
fresh fruits and vegetables is the way to go, and if your appetite isn't what
it used to be or you have dietary restrictions, a daily multivitamin with
minerals can offer additional nutritional support.
What You Should Know
About Hip Replacement
While you can reduce your odds of hip problems or injury,
even the most dedicated efforts at protecting hip health can't eliminate risk
altogether. Should joint deterioration or injury make surgery necessary for
you, there are things you should know about hip replacement to minimize risks.
Hip replacement is generally a very safe procedure and has
helped many reclaim their lives after disabling hip problems. However, these
procedures have been a bit more troublesome than usual recently, due to issues
with faulty hip replacement systems, several of which have been recalled.
Metal-on-metal
hip implants have caused most of the trouble, with high rates of implant
failures and complications, such as metallosis, a serious problem related to
metallic implant debris. An inflammatory condition, metallosis can cause severe
pain, tissue death and bone loss at and around the implant site, often leading
to implant loosening or failure and revision surgery.
Elizabeth
Carrollton uses her background in journalism to write for DrugWatch.com. She is
dedicated to educating the public about medical safety and important decisions
that can impact a person’s health and life. Much of her work includes
editorials pertaining to hip replacements and alternatives to relieve pain, as
well as complications and hip recall lawsuit information.
You will find other articles about maintaining good health and personal safety throughout this blog. Use the tabs or pull-down menu at the top of this article to find links to hundreds of additional helpful articles.
You are reading from the blog http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com
This article and the accompanying picture are courtesy of www.DrugWatch.com
