Conditions
Most of us take for granted the health of our bones. Other than a rare break from an accident or overenthusiastic sports activity, we just expect our bones to hold together and allow us to keep active.
A healthy, active lifestyle will certainly help maintain bone health. Keeping to a varied, balanced diet should deliver all the vitamins and minerals needed for good bone health. In many cases supplements may go some way to ward off any possible bone disorders that might be developing in the early stages.
Nevertheless, age, genetics and other unavoidable influences may contribute to eventual bone deterioration.
Bone Strength
Bone strength is determined by its quality and mass. The better quality and the stronger a person’s bone mass, the less likely the bones are to break.
Peak bone strength is achieved at the age of 30, after that there is a steady deterioration in bone mass. This decline is partly determined by a person’s age and genetic history but there are other important health and lifestyle issues that may be contributing factors.
Figures 1 & 2: Bone density scan of ordinary bone mass and Bone density scan of poor bone mass
Risk Factors
The biggest risk factor in developing bone problems is age. So it is important to maintain a healthy diet and to exercise to keep the bones strong.
While arthritis is often closely linked to the age of sufferer, which is frequently in middle-aged and older patients, the disease does appear in younger people.
Osteoporosis is most often seen in women over 60 years old, but men too can suffer. Low calcium intake, smoking and excessive alcohol can be risk factors.
Patients who have had a longstanding illness like rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease may be affected, as are people who have used some prescription drugs for other health conditions, particularly steroids.