Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Women Bone Health and Osteoporosis



Orthopedics simply is the maneuver of putting fractured or dislocated bones and joints back into place. But it is not as simple as that. We face a danger of broken bones on a daily basis. Not just accidental, but also a condition of the old age. And it’s not just the same for men and women.  Being female puts you at risk of developing osteoporosis and broken bones.  There are many reasons why women are more likely to get osteoporosis than men, including:

       1.     Women tend to have smaller, thinner bones than men.

       2.     Estrogen, a hormone in women that protects bones, decreases sharply when women reach menopause, which can          cause bone loss.

This is why the chance of developing osteoporosis increases as women reach menopause.
Our bones are always changing. After an old bone breaks down a new bone is made. After menopause, the bone making capacity of the body decreases. Some women tend to lose almost 20% of their bone density within the first five years of menopause. Other factors that play an important role in defining bone mass are

Calcium – Low calcium is responsible for low bone density, bone loss and risk of fractures.

Physical Activity – People who are more physically active are more protected from bone problems than those who aren’t.

Tobacco/Alcohol – Both contribute to weak bones.

Body Frame - If you have smaller body frame, you have small bones and less bone mass to draw.

History – You are more prone to weak bones, if that has occurred in your family history.

Hormone levels - Too much thyroid hormone can cause bone loss.

So women need to take care of all these issues, for better bone health in the older age.


No comments:

Post a Comment