| Osteoporosis is a debilitating disease in which bones | | | | your bone density and recommending other drugs to |
| become fragile and more likely to break. Osteoporosis | | | | help prevent bone loss. |
| can be prevented and treated. Although anyone can | | | | - Thyroid hormone. Too much thyroid hormone can |
| develop osteoporosis, it is common in older women. | | | | cause bone loss. This can occur because your thyroid |
| It is estimated that as many as 50 percent of all | | | | is overactive (hyperthyroidism) or because you take |
| women and 25 percent of all men older than 50 will | | | | excess amounts of thyroid hormone medication to |
| break a bone due to osteoporosis. | | | | treat an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). |
| Risk factors for osteoporosis include: | | | | - Diuretics. Diuretics are drugs that prevent the |
| - Gender. Fractures from osteoporosis are about | | | | buildup of fluids in your body. Diuretics cause the |
| twice as common in women as they are in men | | | | kidneys to excrete more calcium, leading to thinning |
| because women start out with lower bone mass and | | | | bones. Diuretics that cause calcium loss include |
| tend to live longer. Also, women experience a sudden | | | | furosemide (Lasix), bumetanide (Bumex), ethacrynic |
| drop in estrogen at menopause that accelerates | | | | acid (Edecrin) and torsemide (Demadex). If you |
| bone loss. Slender, small-framed women are | | | | currently use one of these, talk to your doctor about |
| particularly at risk. Men who have low levels of the | | | | switching to a different diuretic. |
| male hormone testosterone also are at increased risk. | | | | - Other medications. Long-term use of the |
| From age 75 on, osteoporosis is as common in men | | | | blood-thinning medication heparin, the drug |
| as it is in women. | | | | methotrexate, some anti-seizure medications and |
| - Age. The older you get, the higher your risk of | | | | aluminum-containing antacids can cause bone loss. |
| osteoporosis since your bones become weaker as | | | | - Breast cancer. Postmenopausal women who have |
| you age. | | | | had breast cancer are at increased risk of |
| - Race. You are at greater risk of developing | | | | osteoporosis, especially if they were treated with |
| osteoporosis if you are a white or Asian woman. | | | | chemotherapy or aromatase inhibitors such as |
| Black and Hispanic men and women have a lower but | | | | anastrozole, letrozole and exemestane, which |
| still significant risk. | | | | suppress estrogen. This does not hold true for |
| - Family history. Osteoporosis runs in families. Having a | | | | women treated with tamoxifen, which may reduce |
| parent or a sibling with osteoporosis puts you at | | | | the risk of fractures. |
| greater risk, especially if you also have a family | | | | - Low calcium intake. A lack of calcium plays a major |
| history of fractures. | | | | role in the development of osteoporosis. Low calcium |
| - Frame size. Men and women who are exceptionally | | | | intake contributes to poor bone density, early bone |
| thin or have small body frames tend to have higher | | | | loss and an increased risk of fractures. |
| risk because they may have less bone mass to draw | | | | - Medical conditions. Medical conditions and procedures |
| from as they age. | | | | that decrease calcium absorption, such as stomach |
| - Tobacco use. Those that smoke are at higher risk | | | | surgery (gastrectomy), can affect your body's ability |
| for osteoporosis since tobacco use contributes to | | | | to absorb calcium. |
| weak bones. | | | | - Sedentary lifestyle. Bone health begins in childhood. |
| - Exposure to estrogen. The greater a woman's | | | | Children who are physically active and consume |
| lifetime exposure to estrogen, the lower the risk of | | | | adequate amounts of calcium-containing foods have |
| osteoporosis. For example, you have a lower risk if | | | | the greatest bone density. Weight-bearing exercise is |
| you have a late menopause or if you began | | | | beneficial, but jumping and hopping seem particularly |
| menstruating at an earlier than average age. | | | | helpful for creating healthy bones. Exercise |
| However, if you have a history of abnormal | | | | throughout life is important, but you can increase |
| menstrual periods, experience menopause earlier than | | | | your bone density at any age. |
| your late 40s or have your ovaries surgically | | | | - Excess soda consumption. Caffeine may interfere |
| removed before age 45 without receiving hormone | | | | with calcium absorption and its diuretic effect may |
| therapy, your risk is increased. | | | | increase mineral loss. The phosphoric acid in soda may |
| - Eating disorders. Women and men with anorexia | | | | contribute to bone loss by changing the acid balance |
| nervosa or bulimia are at higher risk of lower bone | | | | in the blood. If you do drink caffeinated soda, be |
| density in their lower backs and hips. | | | | sure to get adequate calcium and vitamin D from |
| - Corticosteroid medications. Long-term use of | | | | other sources in your diet or from supplements. |
| corticosteroid medications is damaging to bone. | | | | - Chronic alcoholism. Alcoholism is one of the leading |
| Corticosteroid medications include prednisone, | | | | risk factors for osteoporosis in men. Excess |
| cortisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone. These | | | | consumption of alcohol reduces bone formation and |
| medications are common treatments for chronic | | | | interferes with the body's ability to absorb calcium. |
| conditions such as asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and | | | | - Depression. People who experience serious |
| psoriasis. If you need to take a steroid medication | | | | depression have increased rates of bone loss. |
| for long periods, talk to your doctor about monitoring | | | | |