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Bone Disease

There are several kinds of bone disease⁴. The most common is osteoporosis. In this disease, bones become fragile and break easily.

bone_disease

Risk factors for osteoporosis are:

  • Age

    Your bones thin and weaken as you age.

  • Gender

    70% of people with osteoporosis are women.

  • Ethnicity

    Although adults from all ethnic groups are susceptible to developing osteoporosis, Caucasian and Asian women and men face a comparatively greater risk.

  • Menopause

    Oestrogen deficiency is a primary risk factor for osteoporosis in women.

  • Body type

    Osteoporosis is more common in people who have a small, thin body frame and bone structure.

  • Lifestyle factors

    Dietary factors. Diet plays an important role in both preventing and speeding up bone loss in men and women. Calcium and vitamin D deficiencies are risk factors for osteoporosis

    Exercise. Lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of osteoporosis.

    Smoking. Smoking can affect calcium absorption and oestrogen levels.

    Alcohol. Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages can increase the risk of bone loss.

    Lack of sunlight. Vitamin D is made in the skin using energy from the ultraviolet rays in sunlight. Vitamin D is necessary for the absorption of calcium in the stomach and gastrointestinal tract and is essential companion to calcium in maintaining strong bones.

  • Family history of fractures associated with osteoporosis

    People whose parents had a fracture due to osteoporosis are themselves at increased risk for osteoporosis.

Reference

4. http://www.umm.edu/health/medical/reports​/articles/osteoporosis Accessed: 16/01/2014