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There are many reasons why a person would get affected by osteopenia or osteoporosis. These days, the number of patients falling victim to this bone disease are staggering. The population at the highest risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis is women who have crossed the age of 55 years and are at the postmenopausal stage. The reason why they are at higher risk at this stage will be discussed in a bit. However it is estimated that in the United States alone, 1 in every 5 women will be a patient of osteopenia or the more severe osteoporosis in her lifetime. This statistic is very alarming.
A woman reaches the peak of bone density between the ages of 25-30. If at this time she falls below that line that means she has just upped the risk factor in her getting osteopenia if not osteoporosis. After a woman reaches the age of 30, her bone density diminishes faster than it can grow back. It is at this stage that the stages of osteoporosis start showing up, beginning with osteopenia. The unfortunate part is that there are no outward symptoms of osteopenia. Only when a woman has an injury and a resultant bone fracture, is she then diagnosed with the bone disease. So, it is imperative that after the age of 25 years, regular bone density checks are made to combat the onslaught of osteopenia or osteoporosis.
Estrogen is the hormone that is responsible for building bones in the body. In the postmenopausal phase, there is an imbalance in this hormone which causes women to be at a risk of getting osteopenia and osteoporosis. It is important, therefore, for a woman to consult a doctor at this stage to ask for medication that can ease that hormonal imbalance. Another important thing to remember is that if there is any other disease being suffered by the patient, she should check with her doctor to see if there are any hormones involved in the medication. Sometimes medicine will cure one illness but will give rise to another, and this is another way of putting a woman at risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis.
You need to also check your family history. If there are women in your family who have had osteopenia or osteoporosis, then go through regular bone density checks for osteoporosis. Hormonal imbalances run the in the family, at this might be a sign that you are at risk. Another factor is based on race. Studies suggest that Caucasian and Asian women are at a higher risk of suffering from osteopenia and osteoporosis as well as those who have smaller body frames.
Whatever medical reports suggest, it is always important to inculcate a healthy lifestyle from an early age. The earlier on you start to take care of your health by eating healthy, not developing bad habits like smoking and drinking alcohol, exercising, etc the less likely you are to fall prey to one of the silent diseases that doesn’t seem life threatening and yet is taking over the world by storm. Osteopenia and osteoporosis are not easily curable and take time and constant upkeep to maintain bone density. Do not ignore your health and consult doctors at the slightest sign of bone deformity.
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