Osteoporosis: An Overview
Article Navigation:
- Introduction to Osteoporosis
- Definition of Osteoporosis & Symptoms of Osteoporosis
- Causes of Osteoporosis
- Risks for Osteoporosis
- Diagnosing Osteoporosis
- Treating Osteoporosis
- Preventing Osteoporosis
- Osteoporosis and Calcium
- Osteoporosis and Vitamin D
- Exercise and Osteoporosis
- Diet and Osteoporosis
- Natural Treatments
- Osteoporosis in Women
- Caffeine and Osteoporosis
- Osteoporosis References
Causes of Osteoporosis
What Causes Osteoporosis?
It's normal for your bone to turn over, that is, be made and broken down.[5] This happens all the time. Up until you are about age 30, more bone is being made than is being broken down. After about 35 years of age though, more bone may be broken down than is being made causing a net loss. It's normal to see some overall bone loss after age 35. If there is too much loss, though, you may develop osteoporosis. In women, estrogen protects against bone loss. Estrogen is a female hormone, which declines after menopause and bone loss occurs more rapidly in women after menopause.
This Elder Health Guide was published on October 18, 2009 and was updated on January 20, 2010.
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