The Osteoporotic Patient
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Osteoporosis Risk Factors

The effects of several risk factors influence whether you may get osteoporosis. Low bone mass is an important risk factor: the more bone mass you have at around age 30, the less likely you are to develop osteoporosis. Many factors determine how much bone mass you will have — genetic, nutritional, and environmental.

Osteoporosis Risk Factors
Being female
Advancing age
Having a family history of osteoporosis
Having a thin and/or small frame
Being Caucasian (white) or Asian, although African Americans and Hispanic Americans can be at risk as well
Being postmenopausal, including early or surgically-induced menopause
Suffering from anorexia nervosa or bulimia
Having a diet low in calcium and/or vitamin D
Using certain medications, such as corticosteroids, thyroid replacement therapy, and some anticonvulsants
Having an inactive lifestyle
Smoking cigarettes
Excessive use of alcohol

Discuss these — and any specific health concerns — with your healthcare professional. He/she may offer you options to help strengthen your bones. For example, supplemental calcium and/or vitamin D should be added to the diet if daily intake is inadequate. Treatment options may include taking a prescription drug.

  • *This discussion of risk factors is to be used as an educational guide only. It is not designed to provide you with medical advice or to assess your actual risk of developing osteoporosis. You may have other risk factors or circumstances not discussed here that increase or decrease your risk for this disease.

Take the First Steps
Since women with osteoporosis often do not have symptoms until they break a bone, now is the time to talk to your healthcare professional about tests to help determine if you have osteoporosis. To help determine if you might be at risk, take a risk assessment.

Next: Risk Assessment Guide