Prevention of osteoporosis
Because osteopenia and osteoporosis are so common, everyone should be concerned
with prevention. Many conditions associated with an increased risk of
the development of osteoporosis are known, and many people with osteoporosis
have several risk factors, but others who develop the disease have no known risk
factors. Some risk factors are related to lifestyle, but others cannot be modified.
Since it takes about 15 years for 10% of patients with mild osteopenia to progress
to osteoporosis, the first step for those with osteopenia should be to address the risk
factors that can be changed. And these same lifestyle factors should be addressed
if osteoporosis is present.
Risk factors you cannot change
Gender
Women are more likely to develop osteoporosis than men. Women have less bone
tissue and lose bone faster than men, especially shortly before and for a few years
after menopause.
Age
The risk of osteoporosis increases with advancing age; bones gradually become less
dense and weaker with age. Age-related bone loss averages 0.1% to 1% per year,
and those over age 65 are most at risk.
Body size
Being small-boned or underweight increases risk.
Ethnicity
White and Asian women are at highest risk. Black American and Hispanic women
have a lower but still significant risk.
Family history
Heredity may play a role in susceptibility to osteoporosis. People whose parents
have a history of fractures also seem to have reduced bone mass and may be at increased
risk for fractures.
This blog presents opinions and ideas and is intended to provide helpful general information. I am not engaged in rendering advice or services to the individual reader. The ideas, procedures and suggestions in that are presented are not in any way a substitute for the advice and care of the reader’s own physician or other medical professional based on the reader’s own individual conditions, symptoms or concerns. If the reader needs personal medical, health, dietary, exercise or other assistance or advice the reader should consult a physician and/or other qualified health professionals. The author specifically disclaims all responsibility for any injury, damage or loss that the reader may incur as a direct or indirect consequence of following any directions or suggestions given in this blog or participating in any programs described in this blog or in the book, The Building Blocks of Health––How to Optimize Your Health with a Lifestyle Checklist (available in print or downloaded at Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble and elsewhere). Copyright 2021 by J. Joseph Speidel.
