The age of osteoporosis: from youth to menopause

There are some normal side effects of aging: wrinkles, thinned hair, weaker vision, and even shrinkage (in height, not the Seinfeld kind). Until a few years ago it was thought that osteoporosis was a normal, unavoidable part of the aging process, but now researchers may have a different opinion.

Until about age 30, women are generally building more bone mass than they are losing it, but all of that changes at about age 35. At this time, the bone loss will naturally outweigh the gain which can result in a lower bone density and osteoporosis unless you take preventative measures. Osteoporosis shouldn't just pop into your mind when you reach menopause, you should be conscious of your bone density long before that. Read below to find out preventative measures towards menopausal osteoporosis including treatment options.

Why does bone loss occur?

Bone loss is a natural part of aging; Osteoporosis is not. The teenage years are when most of a person's bone density is acquired, making it a very important time to be active and to eat a lot of food rich in calcium and vitamin D. However, as a person gets older, the body reabsorbs bone tissue more quickly than it produces it.

What can I do to prevent it?

As with most things, it is easier to prevent osteoporosis than it is to treat it. That's why as soon as you read this article, regardless of your age you should:

• Eat lots and lots of calcium and vitamin D. Researchers are finding now that vitamin D intake is almost as important as calcium, as vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium.
• Exercise. Both weight bearing and resistance exercise are necessary to prevent osteoporosis.
• No smoking! There has been some evidence of a correlation between smoking and lower estrogen levels.

Menopause and osteoporosis

During menopause, a woman naturally looses estrogen, or she doesn't produce the amount she once did. Estrogen is a hormone in the body that has many responsibilities including bone protection. When estrogen levels are low, some of its duties go undone, in this case bone loss prevention. This may be why women who enter menopause are more prone to developing osteoporosis.

Treatment options for osteoporosis

First, it is helpful to have a painless bone density test as you have no way of knowing you actually have osteoporosis unless you get checked. Or you could wait to fall and break a hip. Once you know you have osteoporosis you can:

• Take calcium supplements.
• Exercise.
• Estrogen therapy.
• Other medications ranging from injection to oral capsules.
• Hormone replacement therapy.

For more information

Talk with your doctor about the dangers of developing osteoporosis; it's an excellent motivator for living a bone-friendly lifestyle. If you do develop osteoporosis, it is not the end of the world by any means. There are plenty of treatments available, though it is best to start with the least invasive first. For more information on how to choose the appropriate osteoporosis treatment, follow this link.

To learn more about Osteoporosis