Your bones are continually replacing old and weak tissue with fresher and stronger bone materials. When that cycle of bone remodeling slows down, you can develop a condition known as osteoporosis. Approximately 10 million people in the United States have osteoporosis, and 80% of them are women.
With such a large gender disparity seen in the development of osteoporosis, naturally the question has to be asked: Why do so many more women have it?
At her family medicine practice in Mesquite, Texas, Vijaya Nama, MD, and the rest of the team are passionate about helping you better understand and overcome the large amount of osteoporosis risk factors that impact you as a woman.
So in this month’s blog, we explore many of the factors at play for osteoporosis and how you can be proactive in preventing it.
It’s important to understand that the more bone mass and density you have when you’re younger, the more reserved tissues your body has to use once bone remodeling slows down. But unfortunately, women tend to have much smaller frames and lighter bones prone to breaking than men do. And the smaller and lighter you are, the higher your risk for bone fractures.
We highly recommend practicing bone-strengthening lifestyle choices such as eating a diet rich in calcium and performing strength-training exercises.
The hormone estrogen preserves calcium in your bones, which is a building block of bone strength and mass. When you enter perimenopause, estrogen production slows down and leaves your bones vulnerable. Even a hormonal imbalance, like one caused by an overactive thyroid, can also contribute to low bone density.
According to the Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation, women can lose up to 20% of their bone density in just a few years after entering menopause.
Two vital nutrients you need for optimal bone health are calcium and vitamin D. You need to be consciously adding plenty of calcium to your diet because if you don’t get enough of it, your body will start taking it from your bones, and you can’t afford to lose any. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium more efficiently, so taking a supplement, spending time in the sun, or eating fatty fish can boost your levels of this helpful nutrient.
Being female greatly increases the danger of osteoporosis, but the following factors could increase your risk even further:
If you’re at risk of developing osteoporosis, Dr. Nama and our team would love to talk with you about your specific risk factors and how we can help mitigate your osteoporosis risk. To schedule an appointment, simply call our office or use our online booking feature today.
