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Posts Tagged ‘Women Osteoporosis’

In women approaching menopause, and after the commencement thereof, the balance between the removal and replacement of the bone is altered, and bone loss is greater than its renewal. In many cases, this leads to osteoporosis.

1. Women, the main affected
Worldwide it is estimated that 200 million women suffer from the disease, and that at least one third of women over age 50 may suffer an osteoporotic fracture during their lifetime. If we add the population of Europe and the U.S., it is possible that more than 30 million women are affected by this disease.

In general, the risk of osteoporosis is lower in males, because they have higher rates of bone mass and thus bone loss that can withstand is also greater.

Males also have a lower life expectancy and not suffer a sudden reduction in sex hormones as well as a period of accelerated bone loss, as is the case in women during menopause.

However, other factors such as sedentary lifestyle, the snuff, excessive alcohol consumption, poor diet or use of steroid medication can also increase the risk of fractures in both men and women. In fact, 30% of all fractures occurring in males occurs.

2. Menopause and osteoporosis
The human body’s amazing ability to renew and heal itself guarantees that a perfect balance between the losses suffered and what heals. Just as they do the skin cells, bone is removed and renewed constantly, which keeps the skeleton strong and healthy.

In this process, known as “bone renewal, cells called osteoclasts adhere to the bone surface, remove a small area of old bone and create a cavity.

Immediately after this, appearing osteoblasts, which are cells that synthesize the same amount of new bone tissue had been removed by osteoclasts. This perfect balance is maintained.

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