Osteoporosis is a loss of bone mass, density and strength that causes the bones to become porous and thin out over time. This can be so severe that the affected bone can break from otherwise routine actions such as minor falls, twisting the ankle, coughing or even bending over. The disorder is found in both sexes but is especially prevalent in post-menopausal women as their levels of estrogen decrease. Here are some common risk factors for osteoporosis:
1. Low estrogen levels
Low sex hormones in general, including low testosterone levels, tend to weaken the bones. This is why low estrogen levels during menopause put women, especially slim framed white and Asian women, at risk for osteoporosis. Medications that cause sex hormones to be lower still, such as those given to men for prostate cancer and to women for breast cancer, make bone loss even more of a problem.
2. Poor nutrition
Thinning of the bones is also a result of poor nutrition or malabsorption, especially if the person has hypocalcemia, or low calcium levels. Calcium is one of the most important minerals when it comes to strong and healthy bones. The lack of it makes bones weak and brittle, especially if the person has been hypocalcemic for a long time. People who suffer from eating disorders that make them underweight such as anorexia also put themselves at risk for thinning bones. Another risk factor for thinning bones is gastrointestinal surgery. These types of surgeries are performed for treating an illness of the GI tract or to help an obese person lose weight. However, if a part of the GI tract is removed or redirected, its ability to absorb the nutrients that keep bones strong is diminished. To reduce the risk of thinning bones and possible fractures, it’s important for the person to get enough calcium and vitamin D in their diet.
3. Smoking
Thinning bones is one of the many bad consequences of smoking. Doctors don’t know exactly why smokers are at risk for thinning bones, but they are. Of course, the remedy for this is to stop smoking. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cigarette smoking in particular is a prime risk factor for developing osteoporosis and bone fracture.
4. Lack of exercise
Exercise has been shown to build bone strength, and people who don’t exercise are more in danger of bone thinning. The best types of exercise to build strong bones are weight-bearing but even less strenuous exercises such as running, jogging and walking are helpful. These exercises are especially useful because they build the bones in the lumbar spine, the hips and the legs, where thinning bones are especially dangerous.
5. Chronic illnesses
People who suffer from long-term, or chronic illnesses are also more at risk for thinning bones. These maladies range from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), cancer, celiac disease and diseases of the kidneys and liver. Chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and chronic hepatitis C also put a person in danger of thinning bones and bone fractures, as does hyperthyroidism. This is a disorder where the thyroid gland makes too much hormone. An excess of thyroid hormone causes the bone to be lost faster than it can be replaced. Though some chronic diseases can’t be prevented, the person should work with their medical team to make sure that their condition doesn’t accelerate their loss of bone density.
6. Taking certain medications
Taking certain medications like Prednisone and cancer drugs that lower sex hormones can put a patient at risk for loss of bone density. Steroids and glucocorticoids can stop the body from replacing bone that is lost over time. In addition, Heparin, Warfarin, Cyclosporine, Medroxyprogesterone acetate, cancer drugs, and thyroid hormone have also been linked to increased risk of bone loss.
