Top 9 causes of osteoporosis
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Osteoporosis is a disease in which calcium is washed out of the bone tissue , and the bones become brittle. This disease is called a hidden threat, as the process for a person is invisible until it goes too far - under the weight of the human body, the bones begin to break.
How not to be exposed to such a danger and to identify osteoporosis at an early stage?
Fragile bones
A person suffering from osteoporosis can break a bone even after turning in bed or going down the stairs. However, only 1% of patients know what caused such fragility of bones, while others learn about the diagnosis after the fracture. If fractures are not uncommon, then the risk of developing osteoporosis is increased. To know exactly whether you are entering a risk group, you need to do bone densitometry - an examination to determine the density of bone tissue.
Thin bone
As you know, there are people thin-boned and broad-boned. For the first, osteoporosis is much more dangerous, since calcium in the bones is already initially smaller. Bones need to be strengthened even in youth - their density grows to 25-30 years, to 40 remains unchanged, and then decreases by 1% per year.
Corticosteroids
The use of certain medications provokes increased leaching of calcium from the bones. These include the use of corticosteroids, for example, for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, in particular prednisolone. And also thyroid hormones and some antidepressants. If there is a need for taking such drugs, then it may be necessary to use concomitant prescription of calcium and vitamin D preparations .
[Smoking
Despite the fact that the mechanism of exposure to tobacco smoking on bone tissue is not completely known, physicians have shown an increased tendency in smokers to develop osteoporosis. If you have a considerable experience of smoking behind your shoulders, giving up a bad habit will have a beneficial effect on the density of bone tissue.
Alcohol
Dairy
Dairy products are the main source of calcium for humans, and when their consumption is limited for any reason ( lactase deficiency or simply intolerance to dairy products), a person may experience calcium deficiency. In this case, you may need calcium and vitamin D. Odako is better to choose at least one dairy product that suits you better.
Deficiency of body weight
There are the following risk factors for osteoporosis: digestive disorders, severe diets, bulimia, anorexia or lack of weight for some other reason. All this only exacerbates the deficiency of calcium in the body. To restore the balance of calcium, you may need bone densitometry and vitamin complexes with calcium-containing drugs.
Heredity
The risk of developing osteoporosis and fractures is increased if the parents or the next of kin were diagnosed with osteoporosis before the age of 50. It is necessary to be examined as soon as possible in order to be able to take the disease under control.
Irregular menstrual cycle in women
Violation of the menstrual cycle can be a sign that the level of estrogen is low, and indeed they contribute to the strengthening of bone tissue. Therefore, during menopause in women with low estrogen levels, the density of bone tissue rapidly decreases.