Osteoporosis
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis, or porous bone, is a disease in which there is a loss of bone mass and destruction of bone tissue. This process causes weakening of the bones and makes them more likely to break. The bones most often affected are the hips, spine, and wrists.
Estrogen deficiency is one of the main causes of bone loss in women during and after menopause. Women may lose up to 20 percent of their bone mass in the five to seven years following menopause.
Other risk factors for osteoporosis:
Although the exact medical cause for osteoporosis is unknown, a number of factors contribute to osteoporosis, including the following:
- Aging - bones become less dense and weaker with age.
- Race - Vaucasian and Asian women are most at risk, although all races may develop the disease.
- Body weight and bone structure - people who weigh less and have small body frames are more at risk for developing osteoporosis.
Lifestyle factors
The following factors may increase the risk of developing osteoporosis
- physical inactivity
- caffeine
- excessive alcohol use
- smoking
- dietary calcium and vitamin D deficiency
- certain medications
- family history of bone disease