Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones that evolves progressively and that implies a weakness of the bones. It is mainly occurring in elderly people because of loss of bone mass, but it can also occur at younger ages. Even though it might only become bothering when you become old, osteoporosis in women starts earlier in life and keeps evolving. Osteoporosis affects more women than men and it is also called a silent disease because it has no symptoms and it is discovered either when a fracture occurs or when screenings are made.
There are two types of osteoporosis in women. The primary one is the most common one and it happens when the patients grow old because the bone mass is lost rapidly. Secondary osteoporosis has different causes and can’t be put only on bone mass loss. It is caused by diseases such rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney disease or hyperthyroidism or by medication like steroids, hormonal replacement therapy, etc. Insufficient calcium and Vitamin D in the body can also trigger osteoporosis.
In what concerns the causes of primary osteoporosis in women it seems like aging is the most important one. Bone mass is lost faster than it rebuilds and thus bones are more prone to fracturing. Menopause in women is another common cause of menopause because reduced estrogen levels accelerate loss of bone density. People who have had osteoporosis in the family are very likely to develop this disease themselves. Smoking and drinking alcohol are risk factors, as well as eating unhealthy and not providing enough calcium and Vitamin D to the body.
It is very difficult to determine if you have osteoporosis or not in the absence of adequate screening because the disease does not have symptoms. A fracture might be a sign of osteoporosis, as well as back pain and inexplicable weight loss. A physician will sure recommend medical investigations and periodical screenings are also advised in women over 50 years old.
Osteoporosis in women can be treated and it does not have to become a debilitating condition. There are many herbal remedies for osteoporosis that women can try without any worry, but they also need to listen to their doctor’s recommendations. Treatment options for osteoporosis include Bisphosphonates
, medication that prevents bone mass loss and hormonal pills that act like estrogen or that help build of new bone mass in order to replace the lost one. Calcium and Vitamin D are very important both in prevention and in treatment of osteoporosis in women.
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