What Are The Risk Factors For Osteoporosis?

The Risk Factors for Osteoporosis

Some circumstances in life increase the risk factors for osteoporosis, a condition where your bones have lost density and you are more likely to suffer a bone fracture. While some of these things are within your control, others are not.

But by knowing which ones you can control, you can talk to your doctor about an osteoporosis prevention plan. There are risk factors for osteoporosis that are both uncontrollable and controllable.

Uncontrollable Risk Factors For Osteoporosis

All of these things can increase your risk of developing osteoporosis, however, most of them you can’t control – they are just who you are at that period of time.

Age

We know that we lose bone density at about the rate of 1% per year as the years tick by after about age 40. Getting enough calcium, vitamin D and doing weight-bearing exercises may slow down that rate of loss.

Free Report: 11 Foods To Eat For Healthy Bones

Gender

Women are at a greater risk of developing osteoporosis after reaching menopause than men of the same age. The reason is the reduction in the production of the hormone oestrogen. In some cases, hormone therapy may help, but it’s not for all women. Talk to your doctor to see if it’s right for you.

Genetics

Studies have shown that certain mutated genes handed down through family DNA can increase a risk factors for osteoporosis. Also, you may be at a higher risk if someone in your family had osteoporosis. Right now, there isn’t much you can do about an increased risk due to genetics, except get enough calcium, vitamin D and exercise.

Ethnicity

We know that Caucasian and Asian women are at a greater risk of developing osteoporosis than women of other ethnicities. If you’re in this category, talk to your doctor to see if any type of treatment can lessen your risk.

Certain Diseases

Researchers know that if you have rheumatoid arthritis, you may have an increased risk of getting osteoporosis. Other diseases which affect joints could also increase your risk, but more research is needed to confirm it.

Body Build

People that have a petite, thin body build,  both men and women, are at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis. The reason is that they have less bone mass than people with bigger builds.

Controllable Risk Factors For Osteoporosis

Diet

This is a big one in lowering the risk factors for osteoporosis. By eating foods rich in calcium and vitamin D, you’re giving your bones the best chance at making as much density as they can to help counteract the amount you are losing. Because vitamin D enables the body to absorb the maximum amount of calcium, you need both in sufficient quantity to get the most benefit.

Lifestyle Habits

Two unhealthy lifestyle habits detrimental to good bone health are smoking and drinking alcohol in excess. Smoking is bad for the body in general and for that reason alone, you should quit. As far as bone health, smokers have less bone density than non-smokers with all other factors being equal. If you drink alcohol, limit yourself to two drinks per day if male or one drink per day if female.

What Foods Should You Eat  For Healthy Bones?

As we can see,  we can do little about a lot of issues surrounding osteoporosis. But there are two major ones which we have a lot of control over. Maximize your efforts on these ones within your control. Download this free report to discover 11 Foods To Eat For Healthy Bones that can help you reduce your risk factors for osteoporosis.