Osteoporosis – often referred to as a silent disease – is a condition that weakens bones, leading to unexpected fractures and falls. Osteoporosis can progress slowly and without pain or any symptoms, making the bones porous, and eventually resulting in the loss of bone mass and strength. It is estimated that one osteoporosis-related fracture occurs every three seconds.
Many scientifically backed theories exist about women being more susceptible to the risks associated with osteoporosis than men. A woman over 45 years of age has more chances of being at a hospital due to an osteoporosis-related fall and also spending more days in a hospital than due to other diseases like diabetes or heart attacks.
Reasons For Osteoporosis In Women
The bones of women are thinner and smaller when compared to men. The hormone estrogen produced in women is responsible for keeping them healthy and away from many diseases like osteoporosis, heart attacks and strokes. The production of this hormone in a woman’s body decreases once she reaches menopause. This directly influences the strength and mass of the bones, making them weaker.
Premenopausal women have higher levels of estrogen than men. This keeps them protected from osteoporosis and other conditions affecting bone health. The bone mass of an adult woman peaks in her early twenties and remains almost the same until the onset of menopause. Older women experience a rapid decline in their estrogen levels when menopause happens. This makes them more inclined to develop the disease faster than men of the same age. In North America and Europe, women in the age groups of early 50s experience menopause, while the age can be as early as 42 in Latin America and Asia.
Osteoporosis In Younger Women
It is a misconception that only older women are at risk of developing osteoporosis. Women in their 20s and 30s sometimes get affected by osteoporosis due to their decreased bone density. The low bone density in younger women can be due to an underlying medical condition or the use of certain medications for a long time. This is a medical condition termed secondary osteoporosis. In some younger women, the reason for the onset of osteoporosis is sometimes unknown.
Osteoporosis treatment and care may become an inevitable part of many women’s lives as they become older. Unlike earlier, the advancement of medical science has made treating and managing the symptoms of this disease much easier.
