It is a known fact that postmenopausal women are more likely to have osteoporosis and therefore are at higher risk of breaking their wrists, hips and backbones. This is because at menopause, a woman's estrogen level falls dramatically, and she usually loses bone more quickly. During the first five years after menopause, a woman loses 3 percent to 5 percent of her bone mass a year. After five years, she loses between 1 percent and 2 percent of bone mass yearly.
To date, no single cause for osteoporosis has been identified. However, certain risk factors do seem to play a role in the development of this potentially debilitating disease, and some of these include:
- Age -- the risk of fracture increases with age
- Family history of osteoporotic fracture (especially if your mother had a hip fracture)
- Fracture with minimal trauma after age 40
- Early menopause (before the age of 45)
- Low calcium intake
- Excessive intake of caffeine (consistently more than four cups a day of coffee, tea, cola)
- Excessive intake of alcohol (consistently more than two drinks per day)
- Smoking
- Body weight less than 125 pounds
Tips to prevent bone loss >
