Our bones are alive and constantly growing. Bones continually change by some bone cells dissolving and new bone cells growing back in a process called remodeling. Most of our skeleton is replaced every 10 years.
But for people with osteoporosis bone loss outpaces the growth of new making them porous, brittle, and prone to fracture. As many as 10 million Americans have osteoporosis and 34 million more have low bone mass.So what causes osteoporosis?
Bone density is greatest in your early 20s. But as you age, you can lose bone mass for a variety of reasons. Osteoporosis signals an imbalance in the remodeling process meaning too much bone is broken down, and too little new bone is built back up.
We know that calcium is needed to build strong bones, but a low calcium diet isn't the only cause. There are lesser known causes of osteoporosis. The experts now believe that a combination of causes is often to blame for bone loss.
In women, low estrogen is known to cause osteoporosis, According to Paul Mystkowski, MD, an endocrinologist at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle and clinical faculty member of the University of Washington in Seattle. After menopause, there is a quick drop in estrogen accelerating bone loss.
Also, younger women who stop menstruating -- such as thin athletes or girls with anorexia -- also have compromised bone density, says the U.S. Surgeon General's latest report, "Bone Health and Osteoporosis."
Having both ovaries surgically removed may also cause osteoporosis and low bone density. In one study, this surgery caused a 54% increase in hip, spine, and wrist fractures in postmenopausal women.
In men, low testosterone is known to cause Osteoporosis. Men need both testosterone and estrogen for bone health. That's because men convert testosterone into bone-preserving estrogen.
Lack of exercise is another cause of osteroporosis. Living a sedentary life causes rapid bone loss. Just like you need exercise to keep muscles mass, gentle workouts with weights will help keep bone loss in check. You can find all other useful information here on this blog always –Bob Top.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
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