A recent survey of more than 60,000 women from different countries explored the women’s knowledge of the risk factors that increased their likelihood of getting a fracture. The survey found that only about a third of the women who reported two or more major risk factors for fracture considered themselves to be at higher than average fracture risk for their age group, and 43% of the women diagnosed with osteoporosis believed their bone fracture risk was not higher than that of other women their age.
Risk factors for bone fracture include:
- Being postmenopausal. Estrogen helps protect bone, and its loss at menopause is associated with bone weakening.
- Being female. Osteoporosis does affect men, but about 80% of cases occur in women.
- Being small-framed or thin.
- Having a parent who has had a hip fracture.
- Breaking a bone after age 45.
- Having a sedentary lifestyle, smoking cigarettes, or abusing alcohol.
- Taking steroids or certain other medications.
- Having a history of certain diseases and conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, anorexia nervosa, and some gastrointestinal disorders.
Women over 50 who have any of these risk factors should discuss bone mineral density testing with their doctor. Read more about the osteoporosis study here.
Contact Aunt Ann’s Home Care to learn how we can assist with rehabilitation activities after a fracture.
