Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Weight bearing exercise, bone density and calcium intake

I just did some research on this subject. I have been taking an inhaled corticosteroid (symbicort) now for about a year for my asthma. It got exceptionally worse while I was in Qatar. We were exploring a ruined village just north of Landmark mall (maybe 10 miles?) and I went inside one of the dwellings, only to emerge having the worse asthma attack of my entire life.
So, obviously I ended up being ok, after a trip to the emergency room! They put me on this daily regiment of the inhaled corticosteroid.
Now after being back in the States for a little over six months I've noticed my allergies are not as bad. Maybe because we left the (outdoor) cat in Qatar.
So, I've decided to slowly wean myself off the corticosteroid inhaler, for the sake of my bone density. There is so much information out there regarding corticosteroids. Most of it says that inhaled versions of the drug are much less damaging to bone density than oral versions, thank god.
Nevertheless I know I probably have suffered some degree of depletion of my bone density, so I want to now be sure to do everything I can to build my bone density back up.
We all have heard in the USA a million times about how women should be sure to "get enough calcium", etc. and so forth. BUT there are a few facts that should simultaneously accompany that one.
1.Caffeine intake can aversely effect your body's ability to use any calcium you ingest.
2.Carbonated beverages totally prohibit (HELLO DIET SODA DRINKERS!) your body from being able to build bone stores from calcium, no matter how much calcium you ingest!
3.You can't build bone no matter how much calcium you ingest unless you also engage in WEIGHT-BEARING EXERCISE! Weight training increases bone density, along with balance skills and agility.

"Weight lifting, including curls and bench presses, is a beneficial activity … Dancing, stair-climbing and brisk walking are all weight-bearing exercises, which promote (good) mechanical stress in the skeletal system, contributing to the placement of calcium in bones. "

See this excellent article for more complete information.

4 comments:

peppylady (Dora) said...

Interesting article but at time know one knows what may or may not be good for them.
I'm coming to comclusion not to over due any of it.

Gina said...

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gdaugherty@cincinnati.com
513-768-6050

Unknown said...

Thats really interesting that it improved when you got back to the states. I wonder if it has anything to do with increased humidity. I don't know for sure but I would guess that maybe the air in Qatar was dryer than where you are now. Very dry air can cause respiratory problems to worsen.

Rockin' Hejabi said...

It was definitely drier than where I was used to living, which was Florida (humidity city!).

Dry and extremely dusty, that's Qatar.