Osteoporosis is decreased bone mass. Osteoporosis is a common problem when people age, with women affected more often than men because they have lower bone mass than men to begin with. Losing bone mass increases the chance of fractures. Common fracture sites are the hip, spine and wrist. Fractures result in disability, immobility issues such as development of pneumonia and blood clots, and, in the case of hip fractures, an increased mortality rate, according to the Mayo Clinic and the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF).
Hereditary Factors
Some unavoidable risks for osteoporosis include a family history of osteoporosis, being female, and having a Caucasian or Asian racial background. The NOF states that 80 percent of people with osteoporosis are female. Race is also a risk factor; 20 percent of postmenopausal Caucasian and Asian women have osteoporosis, and another 52 percent have osteopenia, or decreased bone density, while 35 percent of black women and 49 percent of Hispanic women have osteopenia. Being small and thin is another risk factor; a body mass index (BMI) of less than 20 may increase your risk of osteoporosis, the Mayo Clinic states. Getting adequate calcium in your teens and continuing calcium and vitamin D supplements and, if necessary, medications prescribed to decrease the loss of bone mass, like bisphosphonates, can help offset hereditary risk.
Lifestyle Factors
Many bad habits increase your risk of developing osteoporosis. Among them are smoking, having more than two alcoholic drinks a day, especially if you're female, and a sedentary lifestyle. Conversely, over-exercising and restricting calorie intake too much also increase your risk of osteoporosis. Smokers have bone mineral density 20 to 30 percent lower than that of nonsmokers, the University of Cincinnati reports, and are likely to go through menopause earlier; this leaves them estrogen deficient for a long period of time. Estrogen helps protect the bones from osteoporosis. More than two drinks a day can lower your bone mass because alcohol affects calcium absorption, according to the Mayo Clinic, and also makes you more prone to falls. Poor calcium intake starting at a young age and continuing throughout life also affects bone loss, according to the Mayo Clinic. Stopping bad habits helps rebuild bone mass.
Disease and Medication Factors
Certain medications and diseases are hard on bone mass. Corticosteroid use is especially bad for bones; corticosteroids, prescribed for autoimmune diseases, increase calcium loss, inhibit bone growth and lower estrogen levels. Long-term use of heparin, a blood thinner, and some seizure medications also increase the risk, according to the NOF, as can antidepressants. Medications can't always be stopped, so your doctor should prescribe bone-building medications to offset bone loss.
Hyperthyroid, or overactive thyroid, can result in weight loss and loss of bone mass. Diseases such as ulcerative colitis or inflammatory bowel diseases decrease absorption of vitamin D, which is necessary for calcium absorption, and increase the risk of osteoporosis, according to NOF. Gastric bypass surgery to treat morbid obesity also interferes by causing bone to be lost faster than it can be replaced. Medications such as bisphosphonates, calcium and vitamin D should be taken as ordered by your doctor to spare bone loss.
