More than 200 million people are affected by Osteoporosis worldwide. It is a disease that weakens the bones and leaves a person prone to fractures. Osteoporosis affects both men and women, but the reasons behind it may differ. But is bone wear and tear with age sure to cause osteoporosis, or is it preventable from an early age? Let’s find out.
Osteoporosis is a condition in which your bones loses its mass and density. Bones are porous living structures that are storehouses of calcium and other minerals that our body normally needs. These structures are constantly growing, gathering bone mass and density through childhood, adolescence, and youth until the age of 20, after which the skeleton continues to 'remodel' itself: old bone tissue gets discarded, and fresh, healthier tissue is accumulated.
This process is also called bone resorption. When the normal resorption process is inhibited by a lack of nutrition or calcium in our diet or other factors such as an increase in alcohol consumption, smoking, or steroidal treatment, bone tissue is lost faster than it can be replaced. This widens the holes or pores within the interior structure of the bones and consequently increases the risk of osteoporosis.
There are some risk factors that can result in osteoporosis that you cannot control. They are:
While some risk factors cannot be controlled, there are other lifestyle factors that contribute to the onset of Osteoporosis. But a few changes can help you prevent Osteoporosis in the long run:
Symptoms of Osteoporosis may not show themselves even long after damage has already begun. Here are some of the early signs of Osteoporosis.
With dietary and lifestyle changes, and regular physical exercise, you can strengthen your bones and prevent yourself from osteoporosis or any future bone damage. But if you’ve already been diagnosed with Osteoporosis, here are some coping strategies for Osteoporosis.
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