Who is at risk of developing osteoporosis
A number of factors can increase the likelihood of developing osteoporosis — such as age, race, lifestyle and medical conditions or their treatments.
- Your gender: Women are much more likely to develop osteoporosis than men
- Age: The older you get, the greater your risk of osteoporosis
- Race: You are at greatest risk of osteoporosis if you are Caucasian
- Family history of osteoporosis or fractures: Having a parent or sibling with osteoporosis puts you at greater risk, especially if you also have a family history of hip fractures.
- Body frame size: Men and women who have small body frames tend to have a higher risk because they may have less bone mass to draw from as they age
Hormone levels
Osteoporosis is more common in people who have too much or too little of certain hormones.
for example:
- Sex hormones: The reduction of oestrogen levels at menopause is a significant risk factor for developing osteoporosis. Women may also experience a drop in oestrogen during certain cancer treatments. Men experience a gradual reduction in testosterone levels with age. Some treatments for prostate cancer reduce testosterone levels in men. Lowered sex hormone levels tend to weaken bone.
- Thyroid problems: Too much thyroid hormone can cause bone loss. This can occur if your thyroid is overactive or if you take too much thyroid hormone medication to treat an under active thyroid.
- Other hormones: Osteoporosis has also been associated with overactive parathyroid and adrenal glands.
Dietary factors
Osteoporosis is more likely to occur in people who have:
- Low calcium intake: A prolonged lack of calcium plays a major role in the development of osteoporosis. Low calcium intake contributes to diminished bone density, early bone loss and an increased risk of fractures.
- Eating disorders: People who have anorexia are at higher risk of osteoporosis. Low food intake can reduce the amount of calcium ingested. In women, anorexia can stop menstruation, which also weakens bone.
- Gastrointestinal surgery: A reduction in the size of your stomach or a bypass, or removal of part of the intestine limits the amount of surface area available to absorb nutrients, including calcium.
Steroids and other medications
Long-term use of steroid medications, such as Prednisolone, including inhaled steroids, interferes with the bone-rebuilding process. Osteoporosis has also been associated with medications used to treat:
- Seizures / epilepsy
- Depression
- Gastric reflux
- Cancer
- Transplant rejection
Lifestyle
Some bad habits can increase your risk of osteoporosis.
Examples include:
- Sedentary lifestyle: People who spend a lot of time sitting have a higher risk of osteoporosis than do their more-active counterparts. Any weight-bearing exercise is beneficial for your bones, but walking, running, jumping, dancing and weightlifting seem particularly helpful for creating healthy bones.
- Excessive alcohol consumption: Regular consumption of more than two alcoholic drinks a day increases your risk of osteoporosis, possibly because alcohol can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb calcium.
- Smoking: tobacco smoking may also increase risk of osteoporosis.