Risk factors for osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease that affects both women and men. Only recently, it was thought that only women suffer from this disease, but according to the current state of knowledge, 25% of men over 50 have suffered from osteoporosis. Who is the most exposed to osteoporosis?

There are several factors that can increase the chance of developing osteoporosis. Despite the risk factors, the most important is to determine the cause of the disease. Knowing the cause, you can find effective ways to fight bone loss.

The risk of developing osteoporosis depends on gender. Fractures caused by osteoporosis are twice as frequent in women as in men, and of the total number of people suffering from osteoporosis, 80% are women. This is due to the fact that male bones are thicker in nature and have a higher density. The rapid decline in estrogen levels during menopause contributes to the higher incidence of osteoporosis among women.

The risk of developing osteoporosis depends on your age. Bones lose density and they get weaker with age. Estimated bone loss of people aged 40 is at least 1% per year, and considering the situation of people aged 70-80, you can expect to lose 50% of bone mass.

The risk of developing osteoporosis depends on the breed. It was found that Caucasian and South-Eastern representatives have the highest risk of osteoporosis, while representatives of the Black and Hispanic race (women and men) – the lowest risk of osteoporosis. The estimated risk of hip fracture for people aged 50 is 15.8% and 6.0% in American society, and 2.4% and 1.9%, respectively, in Chinese society.

The risk of developing osteoporosis depends on genetic predisposition. If someone in the family had osteoporosis – the risk of getting sick increases. Osteoporosis is a disease that can be inherited. Family genes affect bone health.

The risk of developing osteoporosis depends on your body weight. People who are too thin have a higher risk of falling ill because they have less bone mass. The less bone mass, the more likely the bone will become brittle.

The risk of developing osteoporosis is linked to breast cancer. Women who have breast cancer have an increased risk of osteoporosis – especially after using chemotherapy. The reason is the decrease in estrogen levels, which is a side effect of cancer treatment. And reducing estrogen levels promotes bone loss.

The risk of developing osteoporosis depends on the diet. A diet deprived of nutrients is an important factor in the development of osteoporosis. To maintain bone health, you need: vitamin A, B, C, E, D3, K2, calcium, magnesium, strontium, boron and omega 3 fatty acids.

The risk of developing osteoporosis increases with the use of certain medications. These include: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, hormonal contraceptives, anticonvulsants, antidepressants, analgesics and medications for thyroid problems.