There are several factors for risk in getting osteoporosis that every person should be aware of in order to avoid getting the disease. Osteoporosis is the loss of bone. The bones become weakened and leave the person with Osteoporosis a much higher risk for broken bones. It can be very painful disease to deal with and if you have it, you have to be especially careful of falling or hitting yourself against things. In severe causes, it could cause your bones to shatter.
Risk Factors for Osteoporosis according to NOF.org
Age/Sex/Race- Osteoporosis is more common among women than men. Everyone is at risk for getting Osteoporosis but the older you get, the more likely you are to contract the problem. If you have ever heard that an elderly person has fallen and broken a hip, it is likely due to the fact that they have Osteoporosis. Race plays a role in the risk factor as well. Caucasian, Asian and Latino women of age are at the highest risk for getting the disease. African-American’s are much less likely to get it than the previously mentioned.
Family History/History of Broken Bones- If there is a history in your family for osteoporosis, your chances of getting it yourself are much higher. The same holds true if you have had a great deal of broken bones in your lifetime. All of these things contribute to the possibility of getting Osteoporosis. That is one of the reasons that knowing your family medical history is extremely important.
Body Weight- Small sized people are more likely to be at risk for Osteoporosis than larger people. It doesn’t always pay to be thin and have a small frame when you think of it in these terms. That doesn’t mean that you have to gain a lot of weight in order to avoid osteoporosis. It does mean that you should think about the fact that super thin isn’t the ultimate answer to our worries.
Menopause/Ovaries Removed/Irregular Periods/Low Testosterone- Going through menopause at a young age can be a risk factor of Osteoporosis as well as having the ovaries removed. Irregular periods for women is another high risk factor of the disease. For men, low levels of testosterone are one of the culprits of possible Osteoporosis. All of these factors are causes of losing an important coating on the bones that protects them. For instance, a low level of estrogen, which helps keep the bones coated can be a major risk factor to Osteoporosis.
Inactivity/Alcohol Use/Smoking/Medications- Not getting enough exercise, drinking alcohol on a regular basis, smoking and certain medications can raise your risk of getting Osteoporosis. Seek help for the addictions of smoking and alcohol abuse in order to lower your risk of the diseases. Find out which medicines can boost the risk and ask your doctor if it is possible to change medications so that the risk isn’t as high to get osteoporosis from it. Get more exercise to help fight the possibility of obtaining Osteoporosis. That is the bottom line. The more of these habits that you change, the better chance you have of escaping this disease.
Certain Foods/Vitamins- There are certain food and vitamins that will raise the risk factor for getting Osteoporosis. Items such as spinach, wheat bran and too much protein. These are not the only items that could make your risk higher for Osteoporosis. There is also the chance that you won’t get enough of some vitamins that are extremely important to your bone health. For instance, vitamin D plays a huge role in bone health.
Certain Diseases and Conditions- Eating disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, hyperthyroidism and organ transplants are just a few of the diseases and conditions that can raise your risk of Osteoporosis. It is important to discuss the possibility with your doctor when diagnosed with anything that could lead to Osteoporosis. This will give you a good idea where you stand with the disease and ways you can try to counteract it’s progress.
Osteoporosis has a very in-depth list of things that could possibly raise your risk for getting it. The disease is not an easy one to live with. When it progresses to an extreme level, every move you make could cause your bones to shatter. It is important to get it diagnosed early so that you might have a better chance of reversing the effects of bone loss before it totally disables you.
