Risk Factors for Osteoporosis

November 1, 2024

Osteoporosis is often considered a silent disease because it doesn’t cause many symptoms until a bone is broken. For the elderly, they may first find out they have osteoporosis when they fall and break a bone, causing a longer recovery time and perhaps a loss of independence. For those reasons, knowing the risk factors around osteoporosis is important so your loved one can take the needed precautions to reduce the risk of her developing the disease. Senior home care can help implement those changes for a better outcome for your loved one.

What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a progressive disease that makes a person’s bones thinner and weaker over the years. It’s natural to lose some bone density as a person ages, but a person with osteoporosis loses bone density at a rate higher than normal and creates brittle or weak bones. The bones that are most commonly affected are the wrist bones, spine, and hips.

While osteoporosis can affect everyone, women are twice as likely to develop it, and some studies show that more than half of women over the age of 50 have it to some degree.

Osteoporosis Risk Factors

Like many diseases or health conditions, there are risk factors that cannot be changed and those that can. If your loved one has a lot of risk factors that cannot be changed, then helping her focus on changing the ones she can will help reduce her risk of developing this disease.

Risk Factors That Cannot be Changed

Age. Because bones reach their peak density around the age of 30 and then slowly lose density over the years, just getting older increases the risk of developing the disease. This is the primary reason why the earlier a person starts to work toward better bone health, the greater her chances are of not developing osteoporosis.
Gender. Women have less bone tissue to begin with and lose bone density faster due to menopause, so they are more likely to develop osteoporosis.
Size. Smaller women with smaller bones will feel the effects of bone loss more acutely.
Race. Asian and Caucasian women are at the highest risk of developing osteoporosis. African American and Hispanic women also have higher than normal risk.
Family History. If a parent or sibling has the disease, your loved one is more likely to develop it as well.

Risk Factors That Can Be Reduced

Smoking. Smoking reduces the blood flow to the bones and reduces the production of bone-producing cells.
Drinking. Excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of bone loss and fractures.
Sedentary Lifestyle. Inactivity doesn’t allow the bones to build up strength or provide the body with needed blood flow to all areas.
Poor Diet. A diet lacking in calcium and vitamin D doesn’t provide the nutrients bones need to stay strong.

Making Lifestyle Changes to Reduce the Risk of Osteoporosis

A lifetime of habits can be difficult to change and your loved one might need the support of you, cessation groups (for smoking and drinking), and her senior home care provider. By including her senior home care provider with the need for a diet and exercise program that reduces bone loss, your loved one will have someone to help her succeed in changing her habits. Senior home care providers can help with healthy meal choices and incorporating daily exercise for your loved one.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Senior Home Care in Squirrel Hill, PA, please contact the caring staff at In-Home Quality Care today. Serving the Greater Pittsburgh Area since 1990! Call 412-421-5202

Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4443-osteoporosis