Osteoporosis (OP) is a condition of brittle and fragile bones due to loss of bone tissues. It is crucial to be aware of the risk factors of this ‘silent disease’ to prevent injurious fractures. Risk factors associated with OP may be pertaining to lifestyle, age, gender, family and medical history.
Your lifestyle affects your body’s health, not only in the present, but also in the long run. Lack of sun exposure and low calcium intake may mean your body isn’t getting enough vitamins to maintain proper absorption of calcium and vitamin D. If you are excessively under or overweight, have low levels or physical activity, has am excessive intake of alcohol or if you smoke, you are likely to have a higher chance of experiencing OP. Oestrogen levels in women are known to decrease rapidly during menopause, thus resulting in increased rate of calcium and mineral loss in the bones. 1,000 mg of calcium intake a day is recommended for adults. Once women reach over 50 and men over 70, this amount is increased to 1,300 mg. Part of preventing the consequences of OP is also being aware of your medical history. Additional to what has already been mentioned, low hormone levels in men (testosterone), thyroid conditions (overactivity of the parathyroids), chronic liver or kidney disease, long term corticosteroids use; conditions leading to malabsorption such as coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease; and use of medications for breast/prostate cancer, epilepsy and some antidepressants may all affect your bone health. Bone health may also be strongly inherited. Warning signs that can indicate low bone density may be a family history of rapid height loss or broken bones from minor falls.
In summary, if you are over 50, experiencing rapid height loss, or have had a fracture after a minor fall, you should be investigated by a medical professional for possible OP!
My Rehab Team offers mobile dietetics, mobile exercises physiology, physiotherapy and a rehabilitation assistant – health coach, who are happy to assist you in improving your healthy lifestyle and reducing your risk factors of developing OP and the consequential injuries. Our mobile occupational therapist and podiatrist can also help improve the safety of your home and footwear to help prevent falls. Please do not hesitate to contact us at 1300MYREHAB (1300 469 794) or at info@myrehabteam.com.au.
Osteoporosis Australia (2014) [Online]: http://osteoporosis.org.au.tmp.anchor.net.au/what-it [Online] (Accessed 12th March, 2015)
Osteoporosis Australia (2014) [Online]: http://osteoporosis.org.au.tmp.anchor.net.au/risk-factors [Online] (Accessed 12th March, 2015)
Image courtesy of cooldesign at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.au available on: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net [Online] (Accessed 12th March, 2015)