Health Tip: Risk Factors for Osteoporosis

By
Diana Kohnle
July 18, 2008, 5:24 AM ET
1 min read

July 18 -- (HealthDay News) -- Osteoporosis -- caused when the body can't replace bone calcium as fast as it is lost -- is common as people age, particularly among women.

More than 1.5 million Americans each year sustain a bone fracture related to osteoporosis.

Here are common risk factors for osteoporosis, courtesy of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons:

  • Getting older.
  • Not doing enough weight-bearing exercises.
  • Insufficient estrogen levels after menopause.
  • Not getting enough calcium or vitamin D in your diet.
  • Certain hormonal imbalances.
  • Heredity, including being white or Asian.
  • Drinking alcohol or smoking.