Osteoporosis Health

Osteoporosis, which literally translates into "porous bones," is a serious and incurable bone condition. Thinning of the bones due to this condition can cause painful fractures and breaks in the bone that can be difficult to repair. There are no symptoms for osteoporosis, and many times the condition is only detected once you have suffered a painful bone break -- which is often too late to effectively treat it. As with many conditions, osteoporosis health starts with you and can be easily preventable.

This painful condition can affect anyone, but there are certain factors that may put your osteoporosis bone health at risk. You may be more susceptible to developing osteoporosis if one or more of the following factors apply to you:

Age - People over the age of 50 are more likely to develop osteoporosis than younger people.
Gender - Women are more likely to develop osteoporosis, and at a younger age, than men.
Heredity - While no definitive evidence has shown a concrete link that osteoporosis is inherited, it's generally agreed that people with a family history of bone loss are much more likely to have the same problem.
Weight - People with below average weight are at a greater risk than people of average, and even above average, weights since the body borrows nutrients from the bones to make up for lack of stored fats.
Hormone levels - Hormones can affect your bone density, especially for women during menopause.
Habits - Smokers and people who drink heavily jeopardize many areas of their health, including their bones. People with poor diets often also have poor osteoporosis nutrition that leaves their bones weak.
Medications - Some medications or supplements can create bone density problems, which can lead to poor osteoporosis health.

If you suspect you are suffering from bone loss or osteoporosis, your health care provider can help recommend appropriate bone density tesing to determine the severity of your condition. As with most conditions, prevention is the best medicine, and if you are at a high risk of developing osteoporosis, you should take steps to ensure you are doing everything you can to prevent osteoporosis and bone loss. In many cases, exercise, diet, and some medications can help lower the chances of developing poor osteoporosis health and keep bones healthy for years to come.