Your bones are in a constant state of renewal. Throughout your life, your body absorbs old bone and makes new bone. This process is called remodeling.
Unfortunately, for some people, the body can’t replace old bone fast enough, resulting in bone loss. This imbalance typically begins during middle age and can set the stage for osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones to make them brittle and prone to fractures.
Should you be concerned about osteoporosis? What can you do to prevent it? Here are a few key facts that may help you.
Risk Factors for Osteoporosis
Anyone can develop osteoporosis, but there are factors that can increase your risk.
The most well-known risk factor is being female. The steep drop in estrogen that occurs during perimenopause, the time when the female body makes the transition into menopause, can accelerate bone loss for several years. This makes osteoporosis one of the common postmenopausal conditions women should be aware of. In fact, in adults age 65 and older, osteoporosis affects about 25 percent of women according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Females of Caucasian or Asian ethnicity experience higher rates of osteoporosis. You’re also at higher risk if you have a family history of the disease.
Additionally, lifestyle factors can also increase your risk, such as poor calcium intake, low vitamin D intake, smoking, inactivity and certain medications.
There are also specific health conditions associated with higher risk of the disease, including:
- Diabetes
- Kidney disease
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Bone fracture after age 50
- History of cancer
Decrease Your Osteoporosis Risk
While some risk factors for osteoporosis can’t be changed, there are many ways you can support your bones as you age. Doing weight-bearing exercise — such as walking, tennis or pickleball — can strengthen your bones. There are many ways to fit exercise into your life to decrease your risk of osteoporosis and other diseases.
Additionally, giving your body the ingredients it needs to bolster existing bone and build new bone can help. Keep an eye or the amount of calcium and vitamin D you include in your diet. If you’re having trouble getting enough of these key nutrients, talk to your doctor about taking supplements.
Bone Weakening Often Flies Under the Radar
Many people don’t learn they have osteoporosis until a fracture occurs, often in the hip, wrist or shoulder. Preventing a fracture before it occurs is ideal, as it can be painful and treatment can require surgery and lengthy recovery times. They also can take away your independence and ability to care for yourself, especially for older adults.
Sometimes osteoporosis can cause compression fractures of the spine. Untreated or multiple compression fractures in the spine can cause height loss and hunching of the back. If you’re experiencing back pain, talk to a spine specialist about your symptoms.
See How Your Bones Are Doing
Luckily, you don’t have to wait until it’s too late to know if you’re experiencing bone loss. There’s a noninvasive test that can tell you how your bones are doing.
Dual-energy C-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans measure bone density in certain parts of the body to help your doctor diagnose osteoporosis or its precursor, osteopenia. It’s the only way diagnose the disease before a bone breaks and can help predict the chance of a future break. These screenings are generally recommended for all women older than 65 and all men older than 70. Your doctor may recommend earlier screenings if you’re at high-risk of the disease.
Another important part of preventing fractures, especially for older adults, is mitigating your risk of falling.
If you have risk factors for osteoporosis or questions about getting screened, don’t hesitate to talk to your primary care doctor.
