Osteoporosis or bone loss is known as a disease that attacks many elderly, especially women. This is because aging is one of the factors that can cause osteoporosis. However, it turns out osteoporosis can also occur at a young age. Some young people may already have osteoporosis. What causes osteoporosis at a young age?
Factors that cause osteoporosis at a young age
Osteoporosis occurs when the bone loses its density so that the bone is easily porous and fragile. This problem can certainly interfere with your daily activities, especially if you are young who is a productive age to work.
There are several things that can cause you to experience osteoporosis at a young age, namely:
Amenorrhoea
This condition occurs in women, where women do not experience menstruation in a long time. Amenorrhea causes the female hormone estrogen levels to decrease causing osteoporosis. Usually women who have amenorrhoea are those who have a thin body and excessive exercise, such as female athletes on gymnastics and ballet. In addition, women who severely limit their dietary intake are also at risk of developing amenorrhoea.
Low calcium intake
As you know, calcium is an essential mineral needed for bone formation. This mineral composes and strengthens your bones. Thus, a low calcium intake can make bones easy and fragile porous.
Unfortunately, there are still many people who lack calcium intake because of poor diet. Do not like the consumption of vegetables and fish, and do not like to drink milk. In fact, certain vegetables and some fish is also a good source of calcium in addition to milk.
Diseases associated with hormones
Many hormones in the body turned out to affect the process of formation and destruction of bones. Thus, the presence of disorders of certain hormones can increase the risk of osteoporosis. Some conditions associated with hormones that can trigger the occurrence of osteoporosis are:
• Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland)
• Hyperparathyroidism (overactive parathyroid gland)
• Disorders of the adrenal glands, such as Cushing's syndrome
• Decrease in the amount of sex hormones (estrogen and testosterone)
• Disorders of the pituitary gland (pituitary)
Use of certain drugs
Certain medications may also increase the risk of osteoporosis at a young age. As long-term use of high-dose corticosteroid drugs, which can affect bone strength. Corticosteroid drugs are usually used to treat asthma and arthritis (arthritis).
Other causes
Some other causes that can increase your risk of having osteoporosis are:
• Family history of osteoporosis
• Like smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages
• Malabsorption problems of nutrients, such as celiac disease and Crohn's disease
• The body is inactive for long periods, such as bed rest (rest) for a long time
Is there a way to prevent osteoporosis at a young age?
Lifestyle changes can prevent you from osteoporosis at a young age. Some of the changes you can take to prevent osteoporosis are:
• Inadequate calcium and vitamin D requirements. These are the two essential ingredients that bones require. You can get enough calcium from milk and dairy products, green vegetables, and bony fish (like anchovies). Meanwhile, vitamin D you can get from exposure to sunlight.
• Perform regular exercise, especially those that give the bone the burden. Exercise that loads the bones (such as weightlifting, running, basketball, soccer, and so on) can help strengthen bones so bones are not easily porous.
• Avoid smoking. Nicotine in cigarette smoke can reduce blood flow to bone, inhibit bone-forming production of cells, and inhibit calcium absorption. Thus, smoking can make the bones become weak.
• Limit your alcohol consumption. Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages can harm health, including bone health.