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Introduction to Osteoporosis
Risk Factors for Osteoporosis
A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chances for developing a disease or condition. Risk factors for osteoporosis include:
- Advancing age
- Female gender
Genetic factors
- osteoporosis tends to run in families
- young women whose mothers have a history of osteoporotic fractures are at higher risk for developing osteoporosis
Hormonal factors
- menopause
- premenopausal amenorrhea (lack of menstruation)
- surgical removal of both ovaries
- hypogonadism
Nutritional factors
- inadequate dietary intake of calcium
- Vitamin D deficiency
Certain medications
- glucocorticoids
- anticonvulsants
- immunosuppressive drugs
- tamoxifen
- high doses of thyroxine
- lithium
- aluminum
- heparin
Miscellaneous risk factors
- smoking
- low body weight
- alcohol abuse
- inadequate physical activity
- poor balance
- impaired vision
- dementia
