What Causes Osteoporosis?

According to the U.S. News & World Report Health Center, “Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become delicate and more possible to break. Factually meaning ‘porous bone,’ it results in an increased loss of bone mass and strength.” Osteoporosis debilitates millions of people each year, but there is good news – prevention is possible!

The very thin structure of the body gives support for our muscles and protection for our vital organs; our bones are also a storehouse of calcium and other minerals. More than 99 percent of the body’s calcium is stored in our bones and teeth, the other 1 percent travels all through our body in our blood. Calcium is very important for heart and muscle function.

Our skeletons are made up of a smooth, tough outer layer of opaque bone, a spongier mid section and a soft core of marrow where new cells are made to rebuild our bones. Our bones are constantly changing because our bodies depend on a steady supply of calcium to function properly. When we do not get sufficient calcium from our usual diet our bodies break down and rebuild bone to meet our needs. This is called “bone remodeling.”

Lots of things can influence bone remodeling, similar to injury, medications, illness, diet, exercise, hormonal changes, smoking, heavy drinking and certainly the normal aging process. When the body requires extra calcium than we are able to consume, or if we aren’t able to store the calcium we consume sufficiently it is leached from the spongy mid layer of our bones. They steadily lose their density making them weak and porous, and more prone to fractures. This is osteoporosis.

The majority of our bone mass is established before the age of 30, and after about age 35, as a part of the usual aging process, our bodies begin to breakdown our bone faster than we are able to rebuild it. The natural decline in hormonal making is another contributing factor. When women get to menopause and their ovaries stop making estrogen and bone loss go faster. In men a decrease in the hormone testosterone also encourages bone loss.

There is no cure for osteoporosis, so disease prevention is very important to keeping bone density. There are three major areas to consider when it comes to preventing osteoporosis: diet, lifestyle choices and medications.

To keep strong healthy bones a diet enough in calcium and vitamin D are important from preadolescence and all through adulthood. Calcium needs turn into bigger in older adults whose bodies can no longer rebuild bone mass. New studies suggest that bone cracks can be reduced by 30-50% in persons with low dietary calcium simply with the adding of a calcium and vitamin D supplement.

A few easy lifestyle changes can also influence our danger of getting osteoporosis. Smoking, low body weight and a lack of exercise are all contributing factors to raising our vulnerability to the disease. Weight-bearing exercises like walking, stair climbing, dancing and weight training help to increase bone density, keep muscles flexible and make sure better physical balance in people of all ages. Exercise also helps to control body weight to a healthy level. There is a direct link between tobacco use and lower bone density so smoking stop is also recommended.

The use of medications can and does play an important role in the prevention of osteoporosis. Calcium and vitamin D supplements as stated previously are often paired with bisphosphonates like Alendronate and Risedronate, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) like Raloxifene, and hormonal replacements like Estrogen and Testosterone. All medications have some side effects and these are best discussed with your doctor.

Though there is no recognized cure for osteoporosis there is hope and help in preventing this common and often debilitating disease of the elderly. By starting now and working to prevent bone density loss you’ll have a stronger, healthier future.