Osteoporosis is a condition that causes bones to become fragile and causes them to become brittle and break easier. Untreated this will cause it to painlessly deteriorate the bone until it breaks and will cause little to no trauma. Fractures most often occur in the hip, wrist, and spine. All of which would require a trip to the hospital and surgery. In the case of a spinal injury one may lose height and become deformed. This disease is much more relevant for women than it is men, as one in two women over the age of 50 years old have a fracture of some kind from osteoporosis.
Naturally over time calcium is lost in everyone’s bones with age. Osteoporosis occurs when that process is accelerated. Calcium determines bone density and without it, you become more susceptible to all of the aforementioned fractures. Many risks that come from lone density and for osteoporosis itself are being too thin and having a very abnormally small frame, in women’s cases an estrogen deficiency, low lifetime calcium intake, possible medication uses that could hinder daily performances, a very inactive daily routine and a possible excess in alcohol use according to our LRC. While some of the risk factors are under our control we have many ways available to us to prevent calcium loss while even in some cases increase bone density.
By testing our bones we can determine our fracture risk and pretty much hit a spot on diagnosis. All women over the age of 65 should be scanned, some doctors would recommend that you get a ‘baseline scan’ at menopause. Quit smoking is another way to battle, according to Reader’s Digest among 80 year old women, smokers have up to 10% lower bone-mineral density, which would create twice the risk of a spinal fracture and a 50% increase in hip fractures. One in eight hip fractures in women are linked to long term cigarette use. Smokers also more slowly heal fracture