Bone health for women

October 20^th is International Osteoporosis Day. It is important for you to understand what osteoporosis is, whether you are at risk for developing it and if there are any ways of preventing it.

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a condition where bones thin and weaken to the point where they break easily. This often affects bones in the hip, spine, and wrist.

In young healthy adults, bones continue to grow, reaching their greatest strength around ages 20 to 35. After that, bones slowly become weaker as one gets older. The risk of osteoporosis increases with age. Osteoporosis usually starts developing in women after menopause. After menopause, women produce much less of the hormone estrogen. Estrogen helps women's bones stay strong. For example, it helps deposit calcium in the bones. Low levels of estrogen cause a weakening of the bones.

Other than aging, causes of osteoporosis are:

• a family history of osteoporosis
• too little calcium in the diet  or not enough weight-bearing exercise such as walking or climbing stairs
• surgical removal of the ovaries, which reduces estrogen levels
• long-term use of certain medicines, such as steroids, thyroid medication, anticonvulsants, and aluminum-containing antacids
• chronic diseases like diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and congestive heart failure
• long periods of bed rest during serious illness, which speeds up the loss of calcium from bones