Why are women more likely to suffer from Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis or porous bones is a preventable but insidious form of bone loss. It is more likely to happen in women because the bones of women are about 30% less massive than those of men. Secondly, the intake of calcium in women’s diet is less than in men’s diet which becomes even lesser as they grow older. An-other factor unique to women which is one of the causes of osteoporosis is the role of hormone Estrogen. In women Estrogen stimulates bone forming cells and helps maintain bone density. After menopause, when Estrogen production drops, women lose 3% to 5% of their bone mass each year for several years. And lastly the lack of weight bearing exercise such as walking, running, dancing etc. from the women’s daily life is also an important factor that contribute to Osteoporosis. Bones thrive on moderate stress, but as women grow older they tend to be less active which causes a rapid loss of bone calcium.
