Osteoporosis is a bone disease that affects bone mineral density, and bone structure, and results in a bone mass decrease. It results in decreasing the bone strength resulting in increasing the risk of fractures.
Osteoporosis is a silent killer as it does not show any early symptoms. You get to know about it only when severe signs show up like fractures in the hip bone, vertebrae in the spine, and wrist.
Keeping the following things in mind you can reduce the risk of developing the disease
- Staying physically active
- Limiting alcohol
- Quit smoking
- Properly taking your medicines which can help you prevent the chances of developing osteoporosis
- Eating healthy food
- Check your vitamin D levels to maintain good health
In this blog, let us understand the causes of osteoporosis.
Causes of Osteoporosis
So, what causes osteoporosis? Osteoporosis is caused by a number of factors. Listed below are some of the causes that hamper bone density resulting in reduced bone strength:
- Gender– You are more prone to develop osteoporosis if you are a woman as they tend to have lower peak mass and smaller bones than men. Men after the age of 70 are at risk.
- Body size – People with slim body frames are at more risk of getting osteoporosis than people who have bigger body frames.
- Age- Elderly people are more prone to osteoporosis. At this age, people tend to have more bone loss whereas the new bone growth is comparatively less, which puts you at a heightened risk of fractures and bone injuries.
- Family history- According to research, your risk of developing osteoporosis increases automatically if one of your parents has had fractures and bone injuries.
- Diet- If you want to have healthy bones then you need to consume foods rich in certain minerals, vitamins and calcium. People that do not eat nutritious food then put themselves at heightened risk of developing osteoporosis. People suffering from lower levels of calcium, and vitamin D are more prone to suffering from fractures and bone injuries.
- Change in the hormones- Low levels of estrogen put you at heightened risk of developing osteoporosis. It affects women of premenopausal age who suffer from hormonal imbalance or are engaged in extreme physical activity, women of postmenopausal age who suffer from decreased estrogen levels, and men who have abnormally low testosterone levels.
- Medications- At times medications are held responsible for the development of osteoporosis. These include:
- Medications are used in the treatment of asthma like glucocorticoids and adrenocorticotropic hormone.
- Medicines used in the treatment of seizure and neurological problems such as antiepileptics
- Proton pump inhibitors that are prescribed to decrease stomach acid
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors used in the treatment of depression and anxiety
- Medicine used in the treatment of breast and prostate cancer
- Medicine thiazolidinediones which is prescribed in the treatment of type II diabetes
- Lifestyle – A number of factors are responsible for bone loss and causing fractures and injuries. To keep osteoporosis away you have to have a healthy lifestyle. Low levels of physical activity and prolonged periods of inactivity increase the chances of developing osteoporosis. Performing less activity increases your chances of falling and getting fractures. Osteoporosis is also linked to excessive drinking and even smoking.
- Thyroid problems- Thyroid can also lead to bone loss. This happens when your thyroid is overactive or even if you are taking thyroid hormone medicine to resolve the issue of an underactive thyroid.
So, if you were wondering what causes osteoporosis, we hope this has helped. These factors significantly contribute to the weakening of bones making them more fragile to injuries and fractures.
Conclusion
The above-described factors are the causes of osteoporosis. Though no visible symptoms can be detected for osteoporosis, it’s essential to take proactive steps like engaging in regular physical activity, consuming less alcohol, and saying no to smoking. Additionally, having a health insurance plan can provide financial support for treatments and preventive measures while looking into natural ways to manage osteoporosis instead of relying solely on medications that may contribute to bone loss or decreased bone mass, making you less prone to developing osteoporosis.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your general physician or another certified medical professional for any questions regarding a medical condition. Relying on any information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk, and ICICI Lombard is not responsible for any effects or consequences resulting from the use of the information shared.