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By Louis Neipris, M.D., Staff Writer
Osteoporosis is the most common type of bone disease. In osteoporosis, the bones are weak and prone to fracture. There are many factors that can raise your chance of having osteoporosis. For example, older women are at increased risk compared to men.
Of the 10 million Americans estimated to have osteoporosis, eight million are women and two million are men. There are several other risks, too. Some of them, such as age, you can't control, but others, such as low calcium, you can do something about.
Risks you can't change
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Age. Not every older person has osteoporosis. But it is more common as you age. This is because bone density naturally decreases with age.
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Caucasian or Asian ancestry. People of African descent are at lower risk but still can have the disease.
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Being female. Of the 10 million Americans who have osteoporosis, four out of five (or 80 percent) are women. The two main factors that contribute to the women's risk are:
- Lighter (less dense) bones compared to men
- A tendency to lose bone faster after menopause
However, men can still get osteoporosis, and are also at risk as they age.
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Family history of osteoporosis. Having a parent with osteoporosis or a history of broken bones is a risk, so genetics plays a role.
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Menopause. Estrogen levels drop as part of menopause, which leads to more bone loss. Having early menopause especially raises the risk.
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Small body (skeletal) frame. Having small bones is a risk.
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History of a broken bone as an adult. If you have broken one or more bones as an adult, talk to your doctor about osteoporosis.
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Medical conditions. A few of them are Cushing's disease, hyperparathyroidism, hyperthyroidism, hypogonadism (in men), malabsorption, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis or chronic liver or kidney disease.
Risks you can reduce
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Dietary risks
- Low dietary intake of calcium. You need calcium to build strong bones.
- Lack of vitamin D, which is needed to absorb calcium.
- Lack of other minerals and vitamins also important for bone health, including magnesium, vitamin B-6 and vitamin B-12.
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Smoking. Cigarettes contain chemicals that make it harder for bone cells to absorb calcium. Women who smoke don't get the bone- protective effect of estrogen.
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Lack of exercise. Being inactive leads to loss of calcium in bone.
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Alcohol abuse. Drinking too much alcohol makes it hard to build new bone. Excess alcohol often goes hand-in-hand with an unhealthy diet that lacks calcium.
Other risk factors that must also be considered
Medications.
There is a long list of medications that can cause bone loss. A few of the drugs are:
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- Corticosteroids, a medication given to people with asthma, arthritis and some other conditions. Risk is especially high if you take steroids for a long time.
- Anti-seizure medications, such as Dilantin or phenobarbital.
- Some cancer drugs.
- Some antidepressants, including the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs, such as Lexapro, Prozac and Zoloft).
Discuss with your doctor the effect of any of your medications on bone health. Don't stop taking any of your medications unless your doctor says it is safe to do so.
What can I do about it?
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Talk to your doctor. If you have risks for osteoporosis, discuss them with your doctor. He or she may do a test called bone mineral density. This is a safe and painless test that lets you know how much mineral you have in your bone.
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Adopt a healthy lifestyle. To lower your risk for osteoporosis, adopt healthy habits, such as taking in enough calcium (ideally as part of your diet) and vitamin D, maintaining a healthy diet and taking part in regular, weight-bearing exercise. First ask your doctor about a safe level of activity. And if you smoke, quit.
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This article was reviewed and updated
08-01-2009.
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