Stress fractures are common ailments suffered by individuals. Typically they are also referred to as an overuse injury. A stress fracture is usually found in the lower extremities such as the ankle and the foot. The fracture is a very hairline break in the bone or bones in these areas. I was recently diagnosed with a stress fracture in the 4th metatarsal of the foot three days before my 32nd birthday...and let me tell you a stress fracture is no birthday celebration!
Stress fractures can be caused by bad shoes, to much activity, activities you are not used to doing such as running, and a decrease in bone density. I feel mine was caused by a combination of a new pair of poorly constructed shoes and to much activity. The doctor did reccomend getting some blood work done to test my Vitamin D levels. He discussed the issues of aging and bone softening. I was like...oh hell no this can't be true!
The truth of the matter is that all of us need to be aware of osteoporosis and the lack of Vit D & Calcium in our diets. See below some details on Calcium & Vitamin D from the National Osteoporosis Foundation.
Vitamin D: The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) recommends that adults under 50 get 400-800 International Units (IU) of vitamin D daily, and that adults 50 and over get 800-1,000 IU of vitamin D daily. Some people may need more. There are two types of vitamin D supplements. They are vitamin D3 and vitamin D2. Previous research suggested that vitamin D3 was a better choice than vitamin D2. However, more recent studies show that vitamin D3 and vitamin D2 are equally good for bone health. Vitamin D3 is also called cholecalciferol. Vitamin D2 is also called ergocalciferol.
Very high amounts of vitamin D can be harmful and may result in kidney stones and other kidney problems. Some kidney problems can cause bone loss. Experts disagree on the safe upper limit for vitamin D. In the past, experts said that people should not get more than 2,000 IU of vitamin D a day. Because of recent studies, some experts now say that a much higher amount is safe. It is difficult to get too much vitamin D unless a person is taking a prescription dose of the vitamin. In that case, healthcare providers can easily monitor a person's vitamin D level with a blood test.
Calcium: According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), adults under age 50 need a total of 1,000 mg of calcium from all sources every day. Adults 50 and older need a total of 1,200 mg of calcium from all sources every day. Food remains the best source of calcium. Calcium supplements should only be used when adequate dietary intake cannot be achieved. Getting too much calcium from supplements may increase the risk of kidney stones and other health problems. According to most experts, the safe upper limit for total daily calcium intake from all sources is 2,000 - 2,500 mg. If you are unable to get enough calcium from your diet and have concerns about taking calcium supplements, you should discuss these concerns with your healthcare provider. www.nof.org
Categories
Recent Entries
Foodie/Health Links
