Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones that causes bones to become weak and break easily. Women are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis than men because – Women have smaller, thinner bones than men; Menopause causes faster loss of bone mass; Women tend to live longer than men thereby having more time to lose bone mass.
Osteoporosis is called “silent disease”, because bone loss can keep happening for several years without causing any symptoms until you fracture a bone.
Your risk for developing osteoporosis is higher if you,
Drink too much alcohol : Long term alcohol consumption has been shown to affect bone forming cells and hormones, thereby increasing the risk of fractures in both men and women.
Smoke : Smoking seems to cause earlier onset of menopause, meaning, your estrogen levels decrease earlier than in non-smokers and you are protected for lesser duration.
Are deficient in calcium and vitamin D : A diet low in calcium contributes to bone loss and insufficient intake of vitamin D reduces calcium absorption.
Are past menopause : The drop in estrogen levels post-menopause leads to bone loss. periods of amenorrhea before menopause also increases the risk of developing osteoporosis.
Do not get enough physical activity : Physically inactive people are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis than their active counterparts.
There are also certain medications that may contribute for bone loss such as corticosteroids, aluminum containing antacids, seizure medications, chemotherapy drugs, methotrexate, heparin, thyroid hormones if taken in excess.
What you can do to prevent early bone loss :
Include plenty of calcium in your diet. Women over 50 years require about 1200 milligrams of calcium a day. Good calcium sources include nuts such as almonds, green leafy vegetables like kale, soy products like tofu, lima beans, figs. Soy products also contain plant estrogens which makes it all the more beneficial for women. Your doctor may also prescribe supplements for calcium and vitamin D.
Limit smoking and alcohol consumption, or even better, quit the habits altogether.
Exercise regularly – Regular exercise helps strengthen your bones.
If you are a woman over 50 and has fractured a bone or suffering from back pain, or you do not have any symptoms but also never had a bone density scan done previously, consult with your pain specialist. You may be prescribed certain tests to evaluate your risk of developing osteoporosis and a treatment plan be put together based on your test reports.
