The chronic condition, osteoporosis impacts bone health as well as causes bone density and bone mass to come down. It can contribute to weaker bones and fractures. While any person can develop it, there are some key osteoporosis risk factors such as gender, genetics and age. Lifestyle and diet can also play a part in bad bone health, increasing your possibility of developing the chronic condition. Here, we will discuss how genes can play a part in one’s risk of osteoporosis development, why diagnosis matters and preventative measures.
Genetics
Does or did a person in your family have osteoporosis? If so, you are more in danger of developing this condition. As per the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, it applies especially to a person with their mother’s family member who had or has bone fractures.
GWAS has discovered that the existence of some genes could signify a person’s risk of experiencing osteoporosis as well. In genome-wide association studies, researchers get DNA types from an array of individuals with specific health conditions. It helps researchers to discover whether some genes contribute to osteoporosis.
There is still this form of research, but there are not enough definitive conclusions about genetics and osteoporosis. However, researchers expect to be capable of categorizing all the human genes that are associated with this condition.
Diagnosis
Usually, a form of imaging technology known as DEXA is used to evaluate suspected osteoporosis. A DXA scan can show one’s bone density; it would be safe to do the scan biannually or once every 3 years as per requirement. It comes with lower radiation as compared to standard X-rays.
When you are aged about 50 years, and your doctor feels that you are likely to develop osteoporosis, they might recommend the said scan. It usually involves laying one down on a piece of furniture and takes only a matter of minutes to finish.
As per AAOS, people’s DEXA scan results come as T-scores that compare their and healthy 30-something-year-old people’s bone densities.
Prevention
Whether you are genetically prone to osteoporosis or not, it pays to take preventative measures. Here, we will discuss some ways to make your bones stronger and keep those parts safe.
- A healthy food eating pattern that focuses on adequate vitamin D and calcium intake
- Limiting alcohol intake
- Quitting smoking
- Regular exercise, including weight-bearing exercise and strength training
- Getting regularly exposed to the sun for more vitamin D
You should also stop your possibility of falls when you get older. Even a minor accident leads to fractures in a person with bone density loss.
