Osteoporosis is a problem which is quite common amongst women at the age of forty. Women are four times more likely to be affected by osteoporosis as compared to men at the same age. The aforementioned data has been endorsed by National Osteoporosis Foundation. There are some who have to be extra cautious particularly those who have a family history of osteoporosis , the ones who have irregular period and are entering into menopause or if one is a Caucasian.
The women who are thin framed or small framed and weak are likely to develop osteoporosis.If an individual is taking prednisone or any corticosteroids to treat auto-immune conditions one is more likely to suffer from osteoporosis.If one is on thyroid hormone for low thyroid levels is likely to get osteoporosis. Antidepressants can play a pivotal role in osteoporosis.
Smoking has a detrimental effect on our body. If you have been a smoker all your adult life it is alarming as the chances of osteoporosis is remarkably high. Alcohols leaches magnesium, calcium and other minerals from your body. Drinking alcohol beyond a certain limit can lead to osteoporosis. If you haven’t drunk milk or you have abstained yourself from drinking milk you stand a chance to get osteoporosis as milk is the richest source of Vitamin D. Anorexia Nervosa is an emotional eating disorder which affects young women in which they is an abnormal fear of getting fat and thus the person doesn’t eat leading to dangerous weight loss.
The women suffering from this ailment usually have osteoporosis. There are certain risk factors for men too. Some of them are regular use of medications like glucocorticoids. Chronic diseases affecting stomach, intestines, kidneys, lung . unhealthy life style such as smoking, consuming alcohol, low calcium intake and poor physical exercise are some of them. If one is a Caucasian he is more likely to suffer from osteoporosis. Osteoporosis has a significant relationship with hyperparathyroidism. All the patients suffering from hyperparathyroidism virtually suffer from osteoporosis.
Parathyroid removes calcium from bones thus making the bones week and fragile. The patient suffers from body aches and pain as PTH is continuously destroying the bone. As we know calcium makes our bones hard and strong. Parathyroid gland regulates the calcium in our body.Parathyroid gland secretes parathyroid hormone which regulates how much calcium is absorbed from our diet,how much calcium should be there in our muscles and nervous system,how much calcium is to be released by urine through the kidneys and how much calcium is to be stored in the bones. Our body stores a lot of calcium in our bones and it is readily available at the behest of parathyroid glands.
When one of the parathyroid gland becomes hyperactive ( hyperparathyroidism) our bones constantly release calcium into the bloodstream and thus bones lose the density and hardness. Excess calcium in your blood makes you feel tired and lethargic. One would feel depressed too. Thus this loss of calcium is called osteoporosis and the bones are called osteoporotic.
It is advisable to talk to a doctor and get a bond density test or Dexa Scan done. Early detection of osteoporosis will prevent fracture the progression of the disease.