Osteoporosis: Why Women Suffer

Today, a lot of people, women especially, are aware of this term. But do people really know what Osteoporosis is? This article will focus on giving the simplest definition of what Osteoporosis is and how this affects women in particular.

Basically, Osteoporosis is a bone disease. Like all diseases, the effects are damaging. In this case, the damage to the bone has a direct effect on the bone mineral density. When a person is suffering from Osteoporosis, the bone mineral density in a person’s body isreduced making him/her more prone to breakage or fractures. And since there are no real symptoms, a person does not really know that his/her bones are getting weaker and weaker until a bone actually breaks. The risk of women getting Osteoporosis is higher than men. This is due to the decrease in Estrogen levels in a woman’s life- at menopause or during pregnancy. It is Estrogen that blocks or slows down bone loss. Because Estrogen is a chief hormone in the female, the danger of Osteoporosis is very high for the female population. It is estimated that 1 out of 3 women over 50 get Osteoporosis compared to the statistic of 1 out of 12 men over 50.

Indicated are some reasons why a person can get Osteoporosis. Unfortunately, based on science, being female, as explained earlier, definitely increases a person’s chances for getting the disease. Other things factor into possible developing Osteoporosis as well. Being small, thin, or under 120 pounds, having a family history of the disease, being of postmenopausal or advanced age, being Caucasian or Asian more than any other race, having abnormal menses or eating disorders, having too little exercise, low testosterone levels in men, a diet devoid of dairy products or other sources of calcium or Vitamin D, having an inactive lifestyle, too much cigarette smoking or too much alcohol are all factors that increase the risk of a person developing Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is also a danger for pregnant women. This usually occurs during a first pregnancy, in the third trimester or after the woman has given birth. Women who suffer from this usually complain of backaches, experience a loss of height, or have vertebral fractures.

What does having Osteoporosis mean for a woman then. Such inconveniences as disability, pain, and loss of independence are the main complaints. Furthermore, back pains and deformity pose a challenge to anyone’s social functioning. In addition, considering that Osteoporosis happens later in life for most people, having to seek treatment is both stressful and not to mention time and energy consuming. The main reason why women are known to suffer more is basically because more women suffer form this disease than men. By virtue of scientific make-up, the chances of a woman developing Osteoporosis is uncomfortably high.

What can a woman do to prevent Osteoporosis? These are simple pieces of advice that can be applied by any woman. Have a balanced diet, never forgetting the recommended daily allowance for calcium and Vitamin D; exercising regularly or maintaining regular physical activity; avoiding cigarettes and alcohol; practicing good posture and avoiding falling or damage to the bones; and mostly, to be informed, both of family history and of the disease in general.

Source: Own Index article