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 is reduced
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.
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