Osteoporosis: Why it affects Women more as compared to Men?

Osteoporosis is a bone condition that causes the bones to thin and weaken over time and be prone to fractures. In other words, osteoporosis is a bone disease that occurs when your body loses too much bone, makes too little bone, or both. If you have osteoporosis, you are most likely not to show any symptoms in the early stages of bone loss but you may develop back pain over a period of time.

Although it is not fair yet it is true: If you are a woman, you are automatically at greater risk for osteoporosis than men. An estimated information states that an osteoporotic fracture occurs every three seconds. Also, one in three women and one in five men at the age of 50 suffers a fracture in their remaining lifetimes.

Hence, there are several reasons why women are more prone to suffering from osteoporosis than men:

• Women have smaller and thinner bones compared to men – Men and women of the same age group with comparable height and weight, if studied for bone mass, men will have more bone density than females. Before puberty, bone mass in both male and females grow at the same rate but after puberty, males tend to have higher growth in bone mass than females.
• Oestrogen – Estrogen, a hormone is produced in your ovaries. Ovaries are the main pair of organs of your reproductive system, responsible for secreting hormones and releasing eggs for fertilization to prepare for pregnancy. It is also responsible for maintaining bone health as it metabolizes calcium. With the onset of menopause, the production of estrogen starts decreasing rapidly causing bone loss.
• Faster Aging – Aging process is naturally faster in women than in men. Menopause is one of the causes of faster aging in females but it is not the only reason. Another reason is muscle mass. The amount of muscle in your body, including skeletal muscles, smooth muscles, and cardiac muscles is known as muscle mass, which can be measured as part of your total body composition, along with fat mass and bone mass.

How can women Prevent Osteoporosis?

• Eat a healthy diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, such as cooked salmon, dairy products, mushrooms, egg yolk and greens including broccoli, bok choy and kale.
• Get at least 30 minutes a day of weight-bearing physical activity. balance.
• Get outdoors in the sun. The sun’s rays help the body to process vitamin D, which is essential for calcium absorption.
• Get your vitamin D and calcium levels checked by your health care if you are over the age of 50 or post menopause.

Over to you:

Osteoporosis risk is different for men and women, but the disease is dangerous for anyone who gets it. Talk to your doctor about getting an osteoporosis screening if you know you have risk factors.