How Do Hormones Affect Osteoporosis?

Hey dear girls! We are back again with yet another amazing article related to women’s health and today we shall talk about what is Osteoporosis, it’s symptoms, causes, prevention and how hormones affect Osteoporosis. We shall present you a detailed study of the same.

“In nature, there is no separation between design, engineering, and fabrication; the bone does it all.” – Neri Oxman

What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis, literally meaning “porous bone,” is a disease that causes the inner lining of the bones to be so small that even falling or crashing into a car or furniture can cause fractures. Fractures can occur anywhere in your skeletal system, but fractures of the wrist, hip and spine are among the most common.

Keeping your bones strong is a wise goal at any age. But fractures prevent major fractures in decades after the age of 50, when weak bones lead to fractures in one in two women and one in five in males. Fortunately, there are many steps you can take at home and with the help of your doctor to prevent painful fractures that can reduce your independence and, surprisingly, even increase the risk of death due to medical problems.

Osteoporosis affects men and women of all races. But white and Asian women, especially older women who are past menopause, are at greater risk. Medications, a healthy diet and exercise can help prevent bone loss or strengthen already weakened bones.

Now, that we know about what is Osteoporosis, it is time for us to know the things that one should know about Osteoporosis as they age like, symptoms, causes, treatments, diagnosis and so on.

Symptoms of Osteoporosis:

There are usually no symptoms in the early stages of bone loss. But if your bones are weakened by osteoporosis, you may experience a number of symptoms, including:

•          Back pain, caused by a broken or bent vertebra

•          Loss of length over time

•          The state of bending

•          A bone that breaks down more easily than expected

Causes of Osteoporosis:

Your bones are constantly renewed, new bone is being formed, and old bones are being broken. When you are young, your body makes new bone faster than it breaks old bone and your bone mass increases. After the 20s the process is slow, and most people reach their maximum bone mass by 30 years. As people get older, bone mass is lost faster than it was created.

How likely you are to have osteoporosis depends on how many bones you have acquired in your youth. The maximum bone mass is partially achieved and varies by group. If you are too high, your bone grows "in the bank" and you are less likely to have osteoporosis as you grow older.

Certain medical conditions can threaten bone strength directly or indirectly with medication and other treatments. These include thyroid or parathyroid gland, chronic lung disease, cancer, endometriosis, vitamin D deficiency and medications such as prednisone.

Risk factors

Many factors can increase the risk of osteoporosis - including your age, race, lifestyle choices, and medical and medical conditions.

Irreversible risks

Other risk factors for osteoporosis are beyond your control, including:

•  Your gender - Women are more likely to have osteoporosis than men.

•  Age - As you grow older, you are more likely to develop osteoporosis.

•  Race - You are at greater risk of osteoporosis if you are white or of Asian descent.

• Family history - Having a parent with a sibling who has arthritis puts you at greater risk, especially if your mom or dad has a broken hip.

• Body frame size - Men and women with smaller body frames are more likely to be at risk because they may have less bone mass to produce as they grow older.

·  A diet low in calcium, vitamin D, potassium or protein

1.  Inactivity

1.  Smoking

1.  Alcohol abuse

• Long-term use of drugs such as glucocorticoids (such as prednisone for asthma or rheumatoid arthritis), other anti-shock drugs, and overuse of aluminum antacids.

·         An eating disorder that reduces your body weight

·         Low levels of estrogen (female) or testosterone (male)

Alright now that we have a clear idea of what is osteoporosis, what are it’s symptoms, causes and risk factors, it is time for us to know how can you prevent osteoporosis.

Good nutrition and regular exercise are essential to keeping your bones healthy for the rest of your life.

·    Calcium

    Men and women between the ages of 18 and 50 need 1,000 milligrams of calcium per day. This daily amount rises to 1,200 milligrams when women reach the age of 50 and men over 70.

•    Good sources of calcium include:

•    Low-fat dairy products

•    Vegetables with green leaves

•    Canned salmon or sardines with bones

•    Soy products, such as tofu

6. Calcium-enriched grains and orange juice. If you find it difficult to get enough calcium in your diet, consider taking calcium supplements. However, much calcium has been linked to kidney stones. Although it is still unclear, some experts suggest that too much calcium, especially in the bones, may increase the risk of heart disease.

  The Health and Medicine Division of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommends that the total amount of calcium, derived from ingredients and foods combined, should not be more than 2,000 milligrams per day for people over 50.

·   Vitamin D

    Vitamin D improves the body's ability to absorb calcium and improves bone health in other ways. People can get some of their vitamin D from sunlight, but this may not be a good source if you live in a high place, if you are confined to the house, or if you regularly use sunscreen or avoid the sun due to the risk of skin cancer. 

    Dietary sources of vitamin D include cod liver oil, trout, and salmon. Many types of milk and grains are fortified with vitamin D.

   

   Most people need at least 600 international units (IU) of vitamin D per day. That recommendation rises to 800 IU a day after the age of 70.

  

    People who do not have other sources of vitamin D and especially those who are more exposed to the sun may need a supplement. Most vitamin D products contain between 600 and 800 IU of vitamin D. Up to 4,000 IU of vitamin D per day is safe for most people.

·   Exercise

   Exercise can help you to build strong bones and reduce bone loss. Exercise will benefit your bones no matter when you start, but you will benefit greatly if you start exercising regularly at a young age and continue to exercise throughout your life.

  

   Combine strength and weight training exercises with moderate exercise. Strength training helps to strengthen the muscles and bones in your arms and upper back. Weightlifting exercises - such as walking, jogging, jogging, climbing stairs, skipping rope, skiing and impact sports - mainly affect the bones of your legs, hips and lower back. Moderate exercise such as tai chi can reduce the risk of falls especially as you grow older.

And last but not least let’s now see, how hormones affect osteoporosis:

Osteoporosis is more common in people who have too many or too few hormones in their bodies. Examples include:

• Sexual hormones - Reduced sex hormone levels often make bones weaker. Decreased estrogen levels in women during menopause is one of the most dangerous factors in developing osteoporosis. Prostate cancer treatment that lowers testosterone levels in men and breast cancer treatment that lowers estrogen levels in women may accelerate bone loss.

• Thyroid problems -Too much thyroid hormone can cause bone loss. This can happen if your thyroid is overworked or if you are taking too many thyroid hormones to treat an underactive thyroid gland.

• Other glands - Osteoporosis is also associated with parathyroid paralysis and adrenal glands.

Thus, one can see what is osteoporosis, its symptoms, causes, prevention, and last but not least how hormones affect osteoporosis.

Ref: Osteoporosis - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic
Osteoporosis: What You Need to Know as You Age | Johns Hopkins Medicine