Osteoporosis and Related Risk Factors

Stooped posture along with a loss of weight and height are often tell-tale signs of the bone-thinning disease called osteoporosis. The disease is defined by a loss of bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue, which leads to increased fragility of the bones and fractures. While the fractures can occur in the hips, knees, and wrist areas as well as other places of the body, the most common type of fractures occur in the spine. About 40 percent of all women will have at least one spine fracture by the time they are 80 years old.

Bone density loss scans and other screening tools help to better diagnose individuals with developing osteoporosis and to provide intervention at an easy of a stage as possible. There are many ways a doctor can determine whether you are at risk of osteoporosis, and if you are a woman over the age of 30 and haven’t yet had a discussion with your physician or screening, we recommend you initiate that conversation at your next appointment.

You may want to review biological, medical and lifestyle risk factors to determine whether you are at risk of developing the disease. Some risk factors are considered genetic or based on unavoidable conditions, while others are considered lifestyle related and ones you can change to have the greatest opportunity to lessen the chance of getting this disease.

Common lifestyle risk factors include:

• Low calcium intake — consuming less than 300 mg per day of calcium is considered low. Ask your doctor about whether you should begin taking calcium supplements. Also choose foods like milk, yogurt, and cheese that are high in calcium.
• Low vitamin D intake — this comes from sunlight, certain foods such as egg yolks, fortified cereals and milk, and certain fish. Again, ask your doctor about vitamin D in your diet.
• High caffeine and/or alcohol intake — If you have a low calcium intake and then drink more than two or three cups of caffeinated coffee daily or drink more than 7 ounces of alcohol per week, your risk of osteoporosis-related fractures or symptoms is higher.
• Low activity level — a low activity rate can contribute to osteoporosis.

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Tags: Bone, Calcium, Medical Questions, Medical Tips, Osteoporosis