Risk Factors for Osteoporosis

List of Risk Factors for Osteoporosis

The list of risk factors mentioned for Osteoporosis in various sources includes:

• Age
• Gender - females more commonly
• Menopause
• Low-calcium diet - especially inadequate dietary calcium in younger years
• Poor diet
• Low protein diet
• Low vitamin D diet
• Female athlete syndrome
• Family history of osteoporosis
• Race - more common in Caucasian or Asian race
• Absent periods
• Anorexia nervosa
• Bulimia
• Low testosterone levels - in men
• Inactive lifestyle
• Glucocorticoids - long-term use
• Cigarette smoking
• Tobacco use
• Excessive alcohol
• High salt diet
• High protein diet
• Excessive caffeine
• Pregnancy - usually a temporary effect; very rarely a severe form caused "pregnancy-associated osteoporis".
• Breast feeding - however the effect is usually temporary.

Risk factors discussion:

Osteoporosis: NWHIC (Excerpt)

Factors that can increase your chances of developing osteoporosis include:

• being female;

• a small, thin body frame;

• a family history of osteoporosis;

• postmenopausal status or advanced age;

• Caucasian or Asian race;

• abnormal absence of menstrual periods;

• anorexia nervosa or bulimia;

• low testosterone levels in men;

• diet low in dairy products or other sources of calcium and vitamin D;

• inactive lifestyle;

• long-term use of glucocorticoids (medications prescribed for many diseases, including arthritis, asthma, and lupus) anti-seizure medications; gonadotropin releasing hormone for treatment of endometriosis; aluminum-containing antacids; certain cancer treatments; and excessive thyroid hormone;

• cigarette smoking; and

• excessive use of alcohol and high salt, protein, and caffeine intake.

Osteoporosis: NWHIC (Excerpt)

Although significant amounts of bone mineral can be lost during breastfeeding, this loss tends to be temporary. Studies consistently have shown that when women have bone loss during lactation, they recover full bone density within six months after weaning. (Source: excerpt from Osteoporosis: NWHIC)

Osteoporosis - Age Page - Health Information: NIA (Excerpt)

The risk factors for men are similar to those for women—smoking, not enough calcium or vitamin D, too much alcohol, family history, too little exercise, and taking certain drugs. Low levels of testosterone in older men seem to increase their loss of bone and chance of hip fracture. (Source: excerpt from Osteoporosis - Age Page - Health Information: NIA)

Risks factors for Osteoporosis: medical news summaries:

The following medical news items are relevant to risk factors for Osteoporosis:

• Calcium is a vital mineral in our diets
• Calcium supplementation during puberty may reduce risk of osteoporosis later in life
• Celiac disease more common than thought
• Fairfield County Weekly
• Heart disease established from embryonic stage
• High salt consumption can cause a range of health problems
• HRT may help men with prostate cancer without the negative side effects
• Improved treatment for osteoporosis
• Inhaled steroids may increase risk of osteoporosis
• Insufficient magnesium may increase the risk of osteoporosis
• Men and osteoporosis
• New surgical interventions for osteoporosis
• Osteoporosis and 'the pill'.
• Osteoporosis detectable in nails
• Osteoporosis rates expected to increase with reduced useage of HRT
• Osteoporosis risk defined for degenerative disease treatment being developed
• Osteoporosis, a burdening disease
• Osteoporotic drugs fight on bones
• Poor glucose control in teenage diabetics may compromise their bone formation
• Prevention of osteoporosis in cystic fibrosis
• Prostate cancer victims need more focus on osteoporosis prevention
• Some health facts about diet soda
• Testicle removal to treat prostate cancer may increase osteoporosis risk
• Top sportsman returns to professional sport after kidney transplant
• Vitamin D essential for more than just bone health
• More news »

About risk factors:

Risk factors for Osteoporosis are factors that do not seem to be a direct cause of the disease, but seem to be associated in some way. Having a risk factor for Osteoporosis makes the chances of getting a condition higher but does not always lead to Osteoporosis. Also, the absence of any risk factors or having a protective factor does not necessarily guard you against getting Osteoporosis. For general information and a list of risk factors, see the risk center.

 » Next page: Symptoms of Osteoporosis

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• Symptoms of Osteoporosis
• Diagnostic Tests for Osteoporosis
• Diagnosis of Osteoporosis
• Signs of Osteoporosis
• Complications of Osteoporosis

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