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Medical Guide
| Women's Health |
Osteoporosis
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 Bone
is alive and constantly changing no matter what age you are. Old, worn out bone
is broken down by cells called osteoclasts and replaced by bone building cells,
called osteoblasts. This process of renewal is called bone turnover.
In childhood the cells that make new bone work faster, enabling the skeleton to
increase in density and strength. During this period of rapid bone growth it
takes the skeleton just two years to completely renew itself; in adults this
takes seven to ten years. Bones stop growing in length between the ages of 16-18
but continue to grow in strength into your mid-twenties. By this age your bones
have reached their maximum potential strength (peak bone mass).
It is therefore very important to ensure that children and teenagers have a diet
high in calcium and take plenty of exercise. The more you use your bones, the
stronger they become. These two factors are very important throughout our life.
Up until the age of 35 a balance between bone breakdown and new bone formation
means that bone density stays stable. After this age bone loss increases as part
of the natural ageing process. This can lead to osteoporosis and an increased
risk of fracture, particularly in women, due to accelerated bone loss at the
menopause. |
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 Who is
at risk? |
We are all potentially at risk of osteoporosis because of the bone loss
that occurs as we get older, particularly as we are living longer as a
population. There are also many other factors which can increase your risk.
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What
can cause Osteoporosis? |
- A lack of oestrogen, caused by
- Early menopause - before the age of 45
- Early hysterectomy - again bore the age of 45 and especially if both
ovaries removed
- Missing periods for 6 months or more as a result of over-exercising
or over-dieting.
Women and men:
- Long-term use of corticosteroid tablets (for conditions such as
asthma)
- Maternal history of a hip fracture or family history of osteoporosis
- Malabsorption, inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or
ulcerative colitis) and gastric surgery
- Long-term immobility
- Heavy drinking
- Men - Low levels of the male hormone testosterone
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General Health Information |
Keeping My Family Healthy |
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Women's Health |
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