, we have heard about cases where women’s bones get weaker with age, especially those who are older than 30. This particular bone weakness is termed as Osteoporosis. This particular condition leads to brittle bones that have a greater possibility of suffering from fractures. World Osteoporosis Day is celebrated on October 20 to raise global awareness about this bone condition and how we can prevent its symptoms.
According to a recent survey in America, out of 10 million osteoporosis patients, 80% of patients are female.
Many women are not subjected to diets enriched with calcium and hence osteoporosis becomes a common condition in them. It is important to analyse the condition and what can be done to overcome it. Let us find out.
Reasons Why Women Are More Prone To Osteoporosis
You are more likely to develop Osteoporosis if you are a woman and here are the reasons why.
1. Hormonal Changes
Hormonal imbalance plays a huge role in those who are suffering from Osteoporosis. Lower sex hormone levels in women cause bones to weaken. In other words, when the production of oestrogen levels falls in women, they are more likely to get Osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis also occurs in women who have existing thyroid-related issues. Excessive thyroid hormone can also lead to bone mass depletion. There are a few hormone-related medications that can treat Osteoporosis such as Selective Oestrogen Receptor Modulators, Calcitonin, and Parathyroid hormones.
2. Menopause
Postmenopausal women are at risk of developing osteoporosis and bone fractures because of the depletion of bone mass during their menopause. Oestrogen, a hormone that helps in the regulation of women’s menstrual cycle, has a huge impact on keeping your bones healthy and strong. Premenopausal women have more oestrogen production than men but it starts to drop once they are in their menopause. This low production of oestrogen causes bone weakening, leading to osteoporosis.
Women with menopause who are suffering from osteoporosis can go for hormone replacement therapy to treat this condition. This type of osteoporosis treatment includes oestrogen alone or a combination of oestrogen and progesterone. It is available as oral tablets, injections, and skin patches.
3. Pregnancy
Women who are pregnant need to get enough calcium and vitamins like Vitamin D for the development of healthy bones in their babies. If any woman did not get enough of these minerals or vitamins during pregnancy, the body starts taking calcium from the mothers’ bones which further leads to osteoporosis.
4. Diet
Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and some vitamins play a huge role in the development of strong and healthy bones. Thus, low minerals and vitamin intake contributes to the depletion of bone mass and fractures.
Also, osteoporosis is caused by not eating proper food. Lower body weight weakens your bone and results in osteoporosis. A few nutrients such as protein, sodium, and caffeine, when consumed too much, may affect bone health, causing osteoporosis. So, it is necessary to take these in moderation.
To get sufficient calcium, you should consume dairy products like cheese, milk, curd fish, and other calcium-enriched foods. Consume leafy vegetables as they are great sources of calcium that will help you keep your bones healthy.
5. Premature Ovarian Failure
When ovaries stop working correctly before you are 40, it results in premature ovarian failure. Ovarian failure leads to insufficient production of oestrogen, causing osteoporosis.
6. Smoking and Drinking
Consuming alcohol and tobacco regularly increases the risk of developing osteoporosis. Though there is no exact proof of tobacco’s role in this.
Osteoporosis treatment includes maintaining a healthy lifestyle such as quitting smoking and not consuming alcohol. A healthier lifestyle will automatically help maintain good bone health.
7. Medical Conditions
People suffering from diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, parathyroid, kidney problem, rheumatoid arthritis, and liver disease are at a greatest risk of developing Osteoporosis. Moreover, people suffering from cancer, gastric reflux, and celiac disease use medications that result in bone mass depletion and cause Osteoporosis.
Long-term use of any medication like Cortisone or Prednisone, Anti Seizure medications, Prilosec, and Coumadin hinders the process of bone re-building.
8. Lack of Exercise
Doing weight-bearing exercises helps in bone health development. Thus, lack of exercise results in lower levels of calcium in your bones and leads to the development of Osteoporosis.
Also, bone health and muscle health are related to each other so it is important to keep up muscle strength which will reduce the risk of Osteoporosis. Exercises like walking, jogging, biking, and cycling are also beneficial for bone health.
9. Genetics
Last but not least, genetics or family history also plays a part in determining the risk of osteoporosis. If your parents or grandparents have suffered from osteoporosis, then there is a chance that you might also develop this condition.
Though there are no standard signs of osteoporosis but a few osteoporosis symptoms seen in people are:
- Height shortening (people might find that they are getting shorter by a few inches or more)
- Bone fractures
- Some people suffer from back problems if they are having weak bones or Osteoporosis.
- Posture changes
Conclusion
Osteoporosis is a disorder that causes your bones to weaken and become fragile. It is significantly more common in elderly people because the body’s capacity to create new bones slows down with age. Men can also develop osteoporosis even though it affects women more frequently.
Osteoporosis usually has no symptoms. Before breaking a bone, you might not even be aware that you have this condition. Some symptoms, however, such as receding gums, weakened grip, and more brittle fingernails may be early warning symptoms. This Osteoporosis Day, let’s create awareness about the signs, causes, and treatment of this bone condition.
