Causes of Osteoporsis

Osteoporosis is a disease that typically affects both men and women, usually over the age of 50, and is characterized by low bone mass or weakening of bone tissue. This can often cause bone breaks or fractures which can occur with a fall down the stairs or even a violent sneeze. Many times, people are unaware that they even have osteoporosis until they break a bone. There are many different causes of osteoporosis, as well as risk factors for the disease.

Gender

• Ten million people in the United States are afflicted with osteoporosis, and 8 million of them are female. Because women begin their lives with lower bone mass and also are known to live longer than men, they are more susceptible to osteoporosis than men. Plus, during menopause, the amount of estrogen in the body plummets and hastens bone loss. Women who are very thin and have tiny frames are more at risk for bone fractures, as are men over 75 who have low testosterone levels.

Heredity

• If one of more persons in your family are affected by osteoporosis, you are at risk for inheriting the disease. Sixty to 70 percent of your adult bone mass is due to heredity. Basically, you are at higher risk if osteoporosis runs in your family. If your family has a history of hip or other bone fractures, there is the possibility that you could inherit the disease. A way to look out for this is to note if bone fragility increases after age 40 in female family members, since the disease does tend to affect women more.

Estrogen

• Estrogen plays a big role in preventing osteoporosis in women. It slows bone deterioration and can increase the bone density. Women who tend to menstruate earlier than average or don't display signs of menopause until later than normal have a much lower risk of getting osteoporosis. Premature menopause, meaning going through menopause before the age of 45, and infrequent or regularly missed periods not due to pregnancy increases the risk of osteoporosis.

Inactivity

• Children and teenagers who do not lead an active lifestyle can be at risk for osteoporosis later in life. This is because physical activity such as jogging and playing sports put stress and weight on your body, which helps to develop strong bones. Without regular exercise or other activity, bones can become weak and prone to fractures later in life.

Drugs

• Medications such as corticosteroids, which are used to treat conditions such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, can be harmful to bone mass. These conditions are considered to be chronic since they can affect a person for their entire life. Therefore, lifetime exposure to steroid medication can occur in these patients. Doctors who prescribe corticosteroids for long-term use typically will also prescribe other medication to help prevent bone loss.

Diet

• A good, calcium-enriched diet is perhaps one of the most important aspects of preventing osteoporosis. Children who are active and receive plenty of calcium and Vitamin D have the lowest risk of developing osteoporosis later in life. An insufficient amount of calcium and Vitamin D is considered to be fewer than servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Also, studies have shown that caffeine can play a factor in bone fragility. If a person consumes more than 400 milligrams of caffeine a day, they could be at risk for osteoporosis.