Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is often considered to be a condition that frail elderly women develop. However, the damage from osteoporosis begins much earlier in life. Because peak bone density is reached at approximately 25 years of age, it is important to build strong bones by that age, so that the bones will remain strong later in life. Adequate calcium intake is an essential part of building strong bone.

 One in two women and one in eight men are predicted to have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime.

Osteoporosis in the vertebrae can cause serious problems for women. A fracture in this area occurs from day-to-day activities like climbing stairs, lifting objects, or bending forward. Signs of osteoporosis:

 

• Sloping shoulders
• Curve in the back
• Height loss
• Back pain After age 35,

Both men and women will normally lose 0.3%-0.5% of their bone density per year as part of the ageing process. Estrogen, a hormone in women is important in maintaining bone density. When estrogen levels drop after menopause, loss of bone density accelerates.

During the first five to 10 years after menopause, women can suffer up to 2%-4% loss of bone density per year! This can result in the loss of up to 25%-30% of their bone density during that time. Accelerated bone loss after menopause is a major cause of osteoporosis in women. Hormone replacement therapy post-menopause prevents this loss, but is of no major help once the window period of six years post-menopause is over.