Remember these Factors that may Lead to Development of Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a major health problem crippling the lives of 10 million Americans and may be 34 million more. Although not as common as in women, osteoporosis in men is also becoming a big issue. There are many factors greatly contributing to the development of osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a bone disease where the bones weaken due to the loss of bone mineral density. It is a silent disease which Is often detected only after a fracture has occurred. Among the many contributing factors of this brittle bone disease are hormones, nutrition and lifestyle.
Hormones. The primary sex hormone of the female is estrogen and one of its major functions is to maintain the bone mineral density by decreasing bone resorption while improving bone formation. For this reason, women during their menopausal stage have a higher risk of acquiring the disease. In the case of men, those who are dealing with hypogonadism – a situation where one produces less or no sex hormones are more likely to develop this disease.
Vitamins and Minerals. Vitamins and minerals are the keys to having healthy bones – specifically vintamin D and calcium. Calcium stored in the bones keep them strong and enhances their density. On the other hand, vitamin D works by aiding in the absorption and regulation of calcium throughout the body.
Lifestyle. A plethora of alcohol intake has been observed to contribute to the thinning of the bones. Also, smoking has been identified to increase bone loss. On a different note, the effects of caffeine in vitamin D absorption and calcium excretion have been thought to contribute to bone breakdown.
Moreover, mobility plays an important role in the regulation of the calcium in the bones. A inactive lifestyle could lead to the progress of osteoporosis; thus, exercising regularly is advocated particularly if you are at high risk of developing the disease.
It’s inspiriting to know that the factors stated above are factors which can be modified in order to evade the disease. More importantly, treating osteoporosis with bisphosphonate drugs like Fosamax is nothing compared to the absence of the disease. In the news, a number of patients are complaining that they suffered from the adverse effects of the drug and are determined to file for a Fosamax lawsuit.
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