What causes osteopenia and osteoporosis?
As we age, our body simply absorbs bone minerals at a pace that overrides our body’s ability to replace bone minerals. When bones lose minerals they become weaker. Bones that lose their mass and density often fracture immaturely. Most of us lose bone mass and strength as we age, which can result in weaker bones, osteopenia and/or osteoporosis. Statistically, women are more likely to lose bone mineral density and develop osteopenia and/or osteoporosis than men. Women are more likely to develop osteopenia and osteoporosis because women have a lower peak bone mineral density and because hormonal changes occurring during menopause speed degeneration of bone mineral density. In addition, hormonal changes in both men and women, specifically estrogen in women and testosterone in men, can assist in the general degeneration of bone structure. As a result of osteoporosis a person can have a fracture before becoming aware that the disease is present. At this point the disease is in its advanced s
