What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis, meaning porous bone, is the break down of the bone's structure due to the removal or lack of calcium. It takes up to the age of thirty before our body can process and store its maximum calcium level. The years following, bone loses calcium for the remainder of our lifetime. When the body's requirement for calcium is not being supplied by dietary resources, the calcium structure of the bone is removed at a faster rate than it can be replenished. It is the lack of the calcium structure in your bones that makes them brittle and potentially at risk for fractures.
What are the causes?
You can thank your family for this, heredity is a primary contributor to osteoporosis. Those that have a family history of osteoporosis are far greater to have osteoporosis themselves. The rate in which bone loses its strength is affected by many factors. Early menopause, dietary calcium levels, weight bearing exercise, like walking and moving about during daily activities, vitamin D, along with over all good nutrition. Playing another big part in how fast our bodies use the bone's calcium reserve is our lifestyle, the use of tobacco and alcohol to name a couple.
Who does it affect?
Although 80 percent are women, men are also at risk. The older you are the greater the risk of getting osteoporosis. Your race plays a part, being Caucasian, Asian, or Latino increases your risk over being of African descendant.
Chemical balances, such as sex hormones, drastic drops in estrogen for women and low levels of testosterone for men.
References
Patients that have a better understanding about osteoporosis make for better patients. We want you to be informed about osteoporosis, so please take a moment to review this material and the material that is available to you on-line. We have listed a few reputable sources below. It takes knowledge and commitment in taking action to preserve your bone health.
National Osteoporosis Foundation, www.nof.org
The Mayo Clinic, www.mayoclinic.com
WebMD, www.webmd.com/osteoporsis
