Which Osteoporosis Risk Factors do You have control over?
Osteoporosis is a disease where your bone strength is abnormally weak. This leaves you at high risk for fractures of your spine, hip and wrist. It is one of the world’s most common and debilitating diseases, causing pain, loss of movement, and inability to perform your daily activities. Your bones can become so weak that just twisting or coughing can cause a fracture. Osteoporosis risk factors are most common in women after menopause, but this condition can develop in men. It can also develop in people with certain chronic diseases or people taking certain medications. Because of the high risk of fracture, osteoporosis can dramatically shorten your life expectancy and quality of life. It's never too late — or too early — to do something about osteoporosis. You can take steps to keep bones strong and healthy throughout life. Osteoporosis Risk Factors you can’t controlThe higher number of Osteoporosis Risk Factors you have, the more likely it is that you will develop Osteoporosis.Age – Your bones weaken as you age which increases your risk of osteoporosis. Not every older person develops osteoporosis as there are many things you can do to slow down your bone loss. Sex – Women are twice as likely as men to have a bone fracture from osteoporosis. This is because women are usually smaller framed than men are which gives them a lower bone mass to start with. Women also tend to live longer than men, and bones weaken with age, again leaving women more likely to have complications from osteoporosis. In men the risk of osteoporosis increases dramatically after age 75. Race – In the United States, Caucasian and Asian people are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis than African Americans or Hispanics. Family History – Osteoporosis tends to run in families. If you have a parent or sibling who has osteoporosis you are more likely to get it too. Skeletal Frame size – Men and women who are petite and have small frames are at greater risk for osteoporosis. As the aging process slowly weakens bone, a small framed person has less bone mass to draw from. Low lifetime exposure to estrogen – A woman’s long term exposure to estrogen lowers her risk of osteoporosis. Your risk for osteoporosis increases if your menstrual periods started late or were infrequent, and if your menopause started before age 45. Low Estrogen levels – In women, the sex hormone estrogen protects bones. Low estrogen levels occur after menopause or after removal of the ovaries. It also occurs after chemotherapy. Low Testosterone levels – In men, testosterone protects bone. Over drinking and under eating can cause a low level of this sex hormone, leading to Osteoporosis. Missing Periods – (Amenorrhea) sometimes occurs in young women who are doing extremely vigorous athletic training such as running marathons, or over exercising. Amenorrhea causes low estrogen and osteoporosis. Corticosteroid medications – In my years working as a nurse, I saw firsthand how long-term use of corticosteroids was very detrimental to bone. Steroids such as prednisone, and cortisone for arthritis, and inhaled corticosteroids such as flovent and advair for asthma, are known to cause osteoporosis. If you have to be on long term steroid medication make sure your doctor is doing everything possible to prevent you from developing osteoporosis. Long term medication use – Long term use of many other drugs have been linked to osteoporosis. Some of these include cancer drugs, anti-seizure drugs, diuretics and certain blood thinning and antacid medications.
Diseases that are Osteoporosis Risk FactorsEating disorders – Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia cause a higher risk for bone loss and osteoporosis in both men and women. This problem is most common in young women.Hyperparathyroidism –Hyperparathyroidism causes too much calcium to be removed from bone which leads to osteoporosis. This is most common in women after menopause. Depression – There seems to be a connection between depression and low bone density. Celiac Disease - People with celiac disease have trouble digesting foods with gluten such as foods containing wheat, rye and barley. People with celiac disease also have problems absorbing nutrients, including calcium and vitamin D. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) – People with IBD such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease often have difficulty absorbing calcium and vitamin D. Steroid medications known to cause osteoporosis are often used to treat these diseases. Rheumatiod Arthritis – If you have Rheumatiod Arthritis you are at higher risk for osteoporosis. Hyperthyroidism – If you have an over active thyroid gland it will produce too much thyroid hormone which can lead to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis can also happen if you have an underactive thyroid and take too much thyroid hormone medication. Many other health problems can also cause osteoporosis. Some of the other conditions and procedures that can affect your body’s ability to absorb calcium and lead to Osteoporosis are: AIDS/HIV, Blood and bone marrow disorders, Breast cancer, Cushing’s syndrome, Emphysema, Gastrectomy, Gastrointestinal bypass surgery, Diabetes, Kidney disease, Lupus, Leukemia, Lymphoma, Multiple myeloma, Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Prostate cancer, Liver disease, and Stroke. Osteoporosis Risk Factors you can controlSmoking – Smoking interferes with your body’s calcium absorption contributing to weak bones.Poor Diet – There are many foods that contribute to healthy bones and many foods that are known to be osteoporosis risk factors. Alcohol Abuse – Excess consumption of alcohol interferes with your body’s ability to absorb calcium, which leads to osteoporosis. Lack of Exercise – This in one of the easiest Osteoporosis Risk Factors to eliminate. People who don’t do any weight bearing exercise such as walking, jogging, basketball, golf, tennis, aerobics, gardening, and weight lifting, are at greater risk of developing osteoporosis. All weight bearing exercise is beneficial but jumping sports and jumping on a trampoline are especially helpful for keeping bones strong and healthy. Exercise throughout your life is important, but you can increase your bone strength at any age by doing a weight bearing exercise as simple as walking. Being Underweight – Being thin is usually better for your health than being overweight. However, for osteoporosis prevention it is better if you are not too skinny. I know some people really can’t gain weight even though they try to. If you want to gain weight and can’t on your own talk with your doctor or a nutritionist. Your healthcare provider can determine the strength of your bones with a bone mineral density test. To Your Best Health, Dr. Cliff
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