Understanding the Risk Factors of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis, which literally means “porous bone,” is a progressive bone disease that makes your bones weak, permeable, and more likely to sustain a sudden fracture after a fall or, in some cases, even from typically benign activities such as coughing or bending over. These fractures often impact the hip, wrist, or spine, but they can occur in any bone in the body. Because osteoporosis does not have symptoms or pain in its early stages, a fracture may be the first indication that a person has developed the disease.

Although osteoporosis is often thought of as a disease that impacts women, one in four men above the age of 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. As many as half of all women older than 50 will break a bone because of the condition. Osteoporosis affects about 8 million women and 2 million men.

Osteoporosis is primarily age-related, but in some cases, the disease is caused by other health conditions as well as certain medications and lifestyle factors. Types of osteoporosis include:

• Primary Osteoporosis

Primary osteoporosis is caused by age-related bone loss—when bone loss outpaces new bone formation—or by decreased gonadal function in post-meonpausal women or aging men. Primary osteoporosis accounts for more than 95 percent of osteoporosis in women and an estimated 80 percent of osteoporosis in men.

• Secondary Osteoporosis

Secondary osteoporosis can be brought on by a variety of causes, including medications or other chronic diseases and conditions. Common diseases that may contribute to the development of osteoporosis include:

• chronic kidney disease
• celiac disease
• rheumatoid arthritis
• hyperthyroidism
• cystic fibrosis

Below we going to show you the risk factor of osteoporosis.

Risk Factors

There are a number of osteoporosis risk factors, some of which are fixed—such as gender and age—while other risk factors can be modified—such as low calcium intake and alcohol consumption.

• Gender

Being a woman, especially one who is post-menopausal, is a risk factor for osteoporosis. Osteoporosis-related fractures are nearly twice as common in women as they are in men. Women tend to have a lower bone density than men and lose bone mass more quickly as they get older.

• Age

Everyone experiences a natural decrease in bone density as they age, which usually begins between 30 and 35 years of age. In people with osteoporosis, this bone loss is accompanied by an accelerated loss of maximum calcium absorption by the gut and kidney. So, osteoporosis is more common among older people. Studies show that less than one percent of women between ages 20 and 29 have osteoporosis. By age 50, 20 percent of women have osteoporosis and another 38 percent have osteopenia (low bone mineral density). By age 80, only 13 percent of women have normal bone density.

• Race

People who are Caucasian or of Asian or Native-American descent are at a greater risk of having the condition. Studies have shown that women of Asian descent have the lowest bone-mineral density than women of other ethnicities. African American women are much less likely to develop osteoporosis than other racial groups.

• Family History

Genetics play a role in determining how likely you are to have osteoporosis. If any of your first degree relatives (parents or siblings) has been diagnosed with osteoporosis, then you have a greater risk of developing it.

• Body Type

Having a thin or petite frame increases your risk of having osteoporosis. Small, thin bones tend to have less bone mass to begin with, which means there is less bone “banked away” when old bone is destroyed faster than it is being formed.

• Low Calcium Intake

Calcium is the building block of bone; it’s needed to keep bones dense and strong. A low calcium intake is linked with a greater risk of osteoporosis. Adults under the age of 50 should aim to get in 1000 milligrams of calcium per day from calcium-rich foods or supplements along with 200 to 800 IUs of vitamin D daily. Adults ages 50 and older should get 1200 milligrams of calcium per day along with 800 to 1,000 IUs of vitamin D daily.

• Smoking and Heavy Drinking

Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are two behaviors that increase your risk of developing osteoporosis. Smoking is harmful to bone cells and may make it harder for your body to absorb calcium. Drinking may reduce your body’s calcium supply.

• Health Conditions

There are a range of health conditions and disorders that can cause bone loss, thereby increasing your risk of osteoporosis. These include:

• rheumatoid arthritis
• diabetes
• hyperthyroidism
• celiac disease
• irritable bowel syndrome
• Crohn’s disease
• chronic kidney disease
• eating disorders (such as anorexia and bulimia)

• Pregnancy

During pregnancy, the baby growing in its mother’s womb needs plenty of calcium to develop its skeleton. This need is especially great during the last 3 months of pregnancy. If the mother doesn’t get enough calcium, her baby will draw what it needs from the mother’s bones.

• Medications

Certain medications can speed up bone loss, leading to osteoporosis. Corticosteroids like prednisone are notorious for contributing to osteoporosis. Other common medicines that may contribute to the development of osteoporosis include:

• certain anti-seizure medications
• proton pump inhibitors
• selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (antidepressants)

• Caffeine

Caffeine appears to diminish calcium absorption by a small amount. Drinking more than three cups of coffee per day may be harmful to bone health, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation.

For more health info and promotions, please follow us on Facebook- Wellness Lab

Download Wellness Lab Mobile App now for more promotions 

If you like this article, you can share this to your friends and families , together we share the health information and the taste of a healthy life!