Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis causes bones to become weak and brittle — so
brittle that a fall or even mild stresses such as bending over
or coughing can cause a fracture. Osteoporosis-related
fractures most commonly occur in the hip, wrist or spine. Bone
is living tissue that is constantly being broken down and
replaced. Osteoporosis occurs when the creation of new bone
doesn't keep up with the loss of old bone.
Osteoporosis affects men and women of all races. But white and
Asian women, especially older women who are past menopause,
are at highest risk. Medications, healthy diet and
weight-bearing exercise can help prevent bone loss or
strengthen already weak bones.
What causes osteoporosis?
Researchers understand how osteoporosis develops even without knowing the exact cause of why it develops. Your bones are made of living, growing tissue. The inside of healthy bone looks like a sponge. This area is called trabecular bone. An outer shell of dense bone wraps around the spongy bone. This hard shell is called cortical bone. When osteoporosis occurs, the "holes" in the "sponge" grow larger and more numerous, which weakens the inside of the bone. Bones support the body and protect vital organs. Bones also store calcium and other minerals. When the body needs calcium, it breaks down and rebuilds bone. This process, called bone remodeling, supplies the body with needed calcium while keeping the bones strong. Up until about age 30, you normally build more bone than you lose. After age 35, bone breakdown occurs faster than bone buildup, which causes a gradual loss of bone mass. If you have osteoporosis, you lose bone mass at a greater rate. After menopause, the rate of bone breakdown occurs even more quickly.
Dietary factors
Osteoporosis is more likely to occur in people who have:
- Low calcium intake. A lifelong lack of calcium plays a role in the development of osteoporosis. Low calcium intake contributes to diminished bone density, early bone loss and an increased risk of fractures.
- Eating disorders. Severely restricting food intake and being underweight weakens bone in both men and women.
- Gastrointestinal surgery. Surgery to reduce the size of your stomach or to remove part of the intestine limits the amount of surface area available to absorb nutrients, including calcium. These surgeries include those to help you lose weight and for other gastrointestinal disorders.