Things We Need to Know About Osteporosis
02/04/2012 23:55
The risk factors for osteoporosis may be modifiable or non-modifiable. Modifiable factors are those that may be changed to improve your well-being while non-modifiable factors are those which could no longer be changed. Despite being irreversible, it is still important to know the unchangeable factors to calculate your own risk of incurring the said illness.
There are already 10 million Americans and maybe 34 million more in the near future to have been affected of the brittle bone disease known as osteoporosis. In fact, thousands of researches are set out every year in order to discover more about this medical condition. One topic that is sure to top these researches may be about an osteoporosis drug called Fosamax. More issues may come rising as an organization showed concern about generic bisphosphonate.
The risk factors for osteoporosis may be modifiable or non-modifiable. Modifiable factors are those that may be changed to improve your well-being while non-modifiable factors are those which could no longer be changed. Despite being irreversible, it is still important to know the unchangeable factors to calculate your own risk of incurring the said illness.
Here are the non-modifiable factors of osteoporosis:
Gender. Compared to men, women are twice likely to incur the said illness. Men tend to have higher bone mass and slower rate of bone loss than women, hence, they are less inclined to the disease. Still, at least two million male Americans have already acquired the disease.
Age. For a certain period, your bone mass remains stable and there is a perfect balance between bone resorption and bone formation. However, as we grow older, bone mass begins to decrease leaning towards osteoporosis. In the case of women, bone loss activates a few years after menopause and the rate gradually increases.
Ethnicity. Though all adults may suffer from osteoporosis, Caucasians and Asians are especially more susceptible.
Body Type. Osteoporosis seem to pose a bigger threat to people with small and thin figure.
Family and personal history. This brittle bone disease seems to run in the family. In addition, a family history of fractures also poses a greater risk of having fractures. Also, people who have obtained a fracture in the past are more likely to endure another fracture than healthy individuals with the same age and sex.
If you are a candidate for osteoporosis based on the risk factors mentioned above, it is advised that you ask your doctor about your risk of having such disease. It may be an important factor for you to avoid experiencing femur fractures.
References:
mayoclinic.com/health/osteoporosis/DS00128/DSECTION=risk-factors
umm.edu/patiented/articles/who_gets_osteoporosis_000018_5.htm