There are many factors that determine who will develop osteoporosis. Some are uncontrollable but many others are inflenced by lifestyle and under your control. The first step in prvention is to determine whether you are at risk.

UNCONTROLLABLE FACTORS

Age. The older you are, the greater your risk of osteoporosis. Your bones become weaker and less dense as you age.

Gender. Your chances of developing osteoporosis are greater if you are a woman. Women have less bone tissue and lose bone more rapidly than men because of the changes involved in menopause.

Family History and Personal History of Fractures as an Adult. Susceptibility to fracture may be, in part, hereditary. Young women whose mothers have a history of vertebral fractures also seem to have reduced bone mass. A personal history of a fracture as an adult also increases your fracture risk.

Race. Caucasian and Asian women are more likely to develop osteoporosis. However, African American and Hispanic women are at significant risk for developing the disease.

Bone Structure and Body Weight. Small-boned and thin women (under 127 pounds) are at greater risk.

Menopause/Menstrual History. Estrogen helps make bones strong. Whether you stop menstruating "naturally" or because of surgery, your risk of osteoporosis increases suddenly. You will experience the greatest bone loss in the first two post-menopausal years.

Normal or early menopause (brought about naturally or because of surgery) increases your risk of developing osteoporosis. In addition, women who stop menstruating before menopause because of conditions such as anorexia or bulimia, or because of excessive physical exercise, may also lose bone tissue and develop osteoporosis.

Medications/Chronic Diseases. A significant and often overlooked risk factor in the development of osteoporosis is the use of certain medications to treat chronic medical conditions. Medications to treat disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, endocrine disorders (i.e. an under-active thyroid), seizure disorders and gastrointestinal diseases may have side effects that can damage bone and lead to osteoporosis.

One class of drugs that has particularly damaging effects on the skeleton is glucocorticoids. The following drugs also can cause bone loss:

1. excessive thyroid hormones
2. anticonvulsants
3. antacids containing aluminum
4. gonadotropin releasing hormones (GnRH) used for treatment of endometriosis
5. methotrexate for cancer treatment
6. cyclosporine A, an immunosuppressive drug
7. heparin and cholestyramine, taken to control blood cholesterol levels.

CONTROLLABLE FACTORS ARE LIFESTYLE RELATED

Smoking. Osteoporosis in smokers seems to be related to how many years smoking has been a habit.

Excessive alcohol consumption especially in teen and young adult years compromises the quality of bone building.

Low in Calcium Diet. Calcium is mandatory for strong bones. Follow the link to calcium needs based on age and food sources of calcium.

Failure to exercise including "on your feet" cardiovascular conditioning and strength training. Since bone is "alive" it responds to the physical forces that exercise places on the bones when the flexible muscles pull against stable bone—especially if it is "on your feet" activities such as walking or dancing. Weight lifting also strengthens bones in the same way and is particularly useful for making bones in the upper body strong.

Eating Disorders. If you have been diagnosed with anorexia or bulimia your risk is significantly higher because your calorie needs are not being met and calcium is removed from bone to maintain other functions in the body.

If you believe you are at risk for osteoporosis, visit your doctor and ask for a DEXA Scan that will measure the strength of your bones.

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