Why are women more susceptible to osteoporosis? How to prevent it?

A netizen asked: I am 61 years old. Several women of my age in the community have osteoporosis, but men of similar age do not have this problem.

Are women more likely to suffer from osteoporosis than men? How can we prevent it?

Clinically, the incidence of osteoporosis in women is indeed higher than that in men.

As people age, they lose bone mass in middle and old age, but the factors that cause bone loss are different for men and women, and the degree of bone loss is also different.

Generally speaking, the main factors causing bone loss in men are the aging of cells and organs in the body, and the failure of their functions. This process is slow, so there is no period of rapid bone loss.

After women enter menopause, the estrogen level in their bodies decreases significantly and their bone mass is lost rapidly.

Moreover, this bone loss in women will continue for 5 to 10 years, with an annual loss rate of 1.5% to 2.5%.

Therefore, rapid and massive bone loss makes women's bones porous, and the probability of developing osteoporosis increases significantly.

The question is, how to prevent and treat osteoporosis?

If you already have osteoporosis, simply eating calcium-rich foods or taking calcium tablets will have little effect.

In the treatment of osteoporosis, in addition to calcium supplements, drugs that promote calcium absorption and utilization should be taken so that the supplemented calcium can effectively reach the bone tissue and be utilized by the bone tissue.

Of course, the treatment plans and goals are different for patients of different ages, and the specific measures should be taken under the guidance of a doctor.

For middle-aged and elderly people who do not have osteoporosis, especially menopausal women, they can prevent it from the following points:

Eat more calcium-rich foods and take calcium tablets under the guidance of a doctor.

Do more exercises such as jogging that can improve bone strength.

Ensure an average of 20 minutes of sun exposure per day to promote the production of vitamin D and calcium absorption.

Reduce factors that cause osteoporosis, such as quitting smoking, quitting drinking, increasing exercise, and reducing salt and meat intake.

Have bone density checks regularly after age 35.