Osteoporosis Risk Factors

Risk Factors for Osteoporosis

Age is the most common risk factor associated with primary osteoporosis. As people grow old, the hormone levels decrease. In women, the estrogen level decreases and in men, testosterone level decreases, affecting the BMD of bones. In women estrogen is responsible for maintaining the bones. It prevents bones from breaking by keeping them strong and flexible whereas in men, testosterone is responsible for the same function.

Gender can be considered as another risk factor for osteoporosis. Females are mostly affected by osteoporosis after menopause when there is a sharp decline in the estrogen levels. Women are prone to osteoporosis twice as much as men. In a life time where men lose only 20% to 33% of BMD, women lose 30% to 50% BMD. In women the loss of BMD can be caused due to a surgery or any other reasons. For example if a woman has gone through a medical procedure of ovary removal or when they start their menstrual cycle late and the menopause occurs early.

Race is another risk factor for primary osteoporosis. Caucasian and Asian women are more prone to the risk of osteoporosis and black people are less likely to get osteoporosis. This may be because black people are much stronger and have dense bones than people of other races.

Body structure can also be considered a risk factor for osteoporosis. People with small bones and thin body are more prone to osteoporosis. This may be because the bones bear the entire weight of the body. In heavy weight people the bones are stressed and forced to form more bones where as in light weight people this is not required and thus bones are not forcefully formed. The heavy weight people have more fat, which forms more estrogen unlike thin people who do not have extra body fat and thus low estrogen level.

Malnutrition and inactive lifestyle are other two factors, which can cause osteoporosis. Bones are formed in response to activities that are performed by bones. If bones are inactive for long time there is no need for the formation of bones. This may cause osteoporosis. Another reason can be unhealthy eating habits and malnutrition. The deficiency of Vitamin D and calcium can cause osteoporosis.

Risk Factors Associated with Secondary Osteoporosis

Secondary osteoporosis is mainly related to the diseases. People having gastrointestinal disorder, heart disease, genetic disorders, hypogonadal states, and endocrine disorders are more prone to secondary osteoporosis. It can also be caused due to regular excessive intake of alcohol, liver diseases, or epilepsy.

The secondary osteoporosis may be cause due to the deficiency of a hormone called parathyroid. In a medical condition called Hyperparathyroidism, the body either do not produce enough parathyroid or does not recognize this hormone and cause osteoporosis. In another disease called hyperthyroidism the thyroid gland produces excessive thyroid hormone resulting in the increase of bone remodeling process and then eventually creating a loss in bone density.

The diabetic patients are also prone to secondary osteoporosis because they tend to loose more calcium in urine. The other factors for secondary osteoporosis may be a condition where body does not absorb enough calcium from food. This may be because of inflammatory bowel disease.