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Top 9 causes of osteoporosis
Last reviewed: 01.07.2025
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Osteoporosis is a disease in which calcium is washed out of bone tissue, and the bones become brittle. This disease is called a hidden threat, since the process is not noticeable to a person until it goes too far - under the weight of the person's body, the bones begin to break.
How can you avoid such danger and detect osteoporosis at an early stage?
Brittle bones
A person suffering from osteoporosis can break a bone even by turning over in bed or going down the stairs. However, only 1% of patients know what causes such bone fragility, while the rest learn about the diagnosis after a fracture has occurred. If fractures are not uncommon, then the risk of developing osteoporosis is increased. To know for sure whether you are at risk, you need to do a bone densitometry - an examination to determine the density of bone tissue.
Thin bone
As you know, there are people with thin bones and people with wide bones. For the former, osteoporosis is much more dangerous, since there is already less calcium in the bones. Bones need to be strengthened from a young age - their density increases until 25-30 years, remains unchanged until 40, and then decreases by 1% annually.
Corticosteroids
Taking certain medications can cause increased leaching of calcium from bones. These include the use of corticosteroids, such as those used to treat autoimmune diseases, such as prednisolone. As well as thyroid hormones and some antidepressants. If there is a need to take such medications, then it may be necessary to prescribe calcium and vitamin D supplements in parallel.
[ Smoking
Although the mechanism of smoking's effect on bone tissue is not fully known, doctors have found that smokers are more likely to develop osteoporosis. If you have a long history of smoking, quitting the habit will have a beneficial effect on bone density.
Alcohol
If your daily alcohol consumption exceeds one drink – more than a bottle of beer or a glass of wine – then your risk of developing osteoporosis is increased. Alcoholic drinks wash away calcium, magnesium and other minerals.
Dairy products
Dairy products are the main source of calcium for humans, and when their consumption is limited for some reason ( lactase deficiency or simply intolerance to dairy products), a person may experience calcium deficiency. In this case, calcium supplements and vitamin D may be needed. However, it is better to choose at least one dairy product that suits you best.
Underweight
The following risk factors for osteoporosis exist: digestive disorders, strict diets, bulimia, anorexia, or underweight for any other reason. All of this only aggravates the calcium deficiency in the body. To restore the calcium balance, bone densitometry and vitamin complexes with calcium-containing preparations may be needed.
Heredity
The risk of developing osteoporosis and fractures is increased if parents or close relatives were diagnosed with osteoporosis before age 50. It is necessary to get examined as early as possible to be able to take control of the disease.
Irregular menstrual cycle in women
Irregular menstrual cycles can be a sign that estrogen levels are low, which is what helps build bone. That's why women with low estrogen levels experience rapid bone loss during menopause.