Osteoporosis isn’t only a disease of old people. Although it’s commonly seen within the elderly, studies have shown that bone loss can occur at a comparatively younger age (30 – 40 years), especially within the Indian population. According to Dr. Sandeep who is one of the best orthopedic doctor in Bhubaneswar, this might be attributed to a sedentary lifestyle, poor dietary habits, and smoking. Osteoporosis, in simple terms, may be a condition that creates your bones weak and puts you in danger of fractures. With around 200 million adults affected by osteoporosis worldwide, this bone disease are often prevented to a particular extent if the danger factors are known.
What are the risk factors of osteoporosis?
“While it’s impossible to understand if you’ll develop osteoporosis or not, there are certain factors that increase your risk.” Says Dr. Ratnav Ratan who is one of the best Gurgaon based orthopedic doctor. So knowing about these risk factors and making few lifestyle modifications can assist you to take care of healthy bones and stop osteoporosis.
Modifiable risk factors of osteoporosis are:
Poor diet
A diet that lacks essential nutrients to keep the bones healthy and powerful can predispose you to develop osteoporosis. Orthopedists says if your diet lacks sufficient amounts of calcium and vitamin D it can cause weak bones as calcium helps build bones and vitamin D aids within the absorption of calcium and maintains bone strength.
For adults between 20 to 50 years aged , the daily recommended dose of calcium and vitamin D is 1000 mg and 600 units respectively. This will be obtained through a diet rich in natural food sources of calcium like green leafy vegetables and fish and for vitamin D foods like fortified milk and sunlight.
Sedentary lifestyle
It is a fact that leading a sedentary lifestyle can up your risk of various health problems including osteoporosis. Being physically active is the key to keep your bones healthy and powerful. Hence, make sure you exercise regularly because it not only helps to create and maintain bone mass but also maintain your weight, which successively can help avoid pressure on the bones. Try exercises like walking, running, and weight training for strong bones.
Certain medications
Certain medications can put you in danger of osteoporosis which incorporates gastric acid-suppressing drugs and other drugs like steroids. Long-term use of those medications is reported to cause weakening of the bones. Also, certain antidepressants and anti-seizure medications have also been related to osteoporosis. Hence, if you’re taking any of those medications, then do ask your doctor about the side effects on the bones and overall health. Also, ask your doctor how you’ll reduce the negative effects of those drugs to lower your risk of the condition.
Smoking
According to a 2012 study published within the journal Osteoporosis International, cigarette smoking is related to reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and increased risk of fractures. In smokers, the relative risk for bone fractures is
1.25 higher as compared with non-smokers.
Hormonal problems
Certain medical conditions, especially hormonal and autoimmune diseases, can increase the danger of osteoporosis. This is often because an imbalance within the hormones can affect the bone metabolism and successively make it weak and susceptible to injury and fractures. Conditions like hyperthyroidism (high levels of thyroid hormones) can cause weakened bones. Moreover, there’s a deficiency of hormones like estrogen and testosterone post 50 and 70 in women and men respectively which may up the danger of osteoporosis.
Non-modifiable risk factors of osteoporosis are:
Age
As you would possibly remember of, the danger of osteoporosis increases with age. This is often because there’s a gradual decrease within the bone mineral density from the age of 30-40 years in both men and ladies. Hence, by the time you reach 60, there’s a big bone loss, which causes the bones to become weak and fragile and predispose you to osteoporosis.
Gender
It is estimated that worldwide one in three women above the age of fifty will experience osteoporotic fractures, as compared to at least one in five men. Moreover, during menopause, there are numerous hormonal changes that occur within the body, which have a big impact on the bones. Also in women, menopause is followed by an instantaneous decrease in bone mass and density within a year, which further increases the danger of osteoporosis.
Thin body frame
Obesity puts pressure on bones and make your more susceptible to joint pain and fractures. However, what most of the people are unaware of is that the incontrovertible fact that people with thin body frame are at more risk of getting affected by osteoporosis. This is often because thin people have less bone mass which ups the danger. Moreover, the danger increases with age.
Bottom line: By 30 years age, most of the people reach their peak bone mass. Hence, it’s important to start taking care of the bones within the early years itself through a healthy diet, regular exercise and a disciplined lifestyle to stop the danger of osteoporosis at a later stage.
