Cause of Osteopenia

If you're looking for the Cause of Osteopenia, you probably have been diagnosed with this condition.

It is natural to ask: Why do I have this? How did it happen?

But there is another reason why it is important to understand what led to your excessive bone loss. If you know why you have lost bone, you will be better able to reverse the condition.

There are many different things that can be a cause of Osteopenia.

(Do look over the whole page. Some sections have links to articles that explain things better. If you do not have time to read everything today, do Bookmark the page and come back later. It is really important for you to understand the cause of Osteopenia.)

Osteopenia is one condition where what we do and how we act has an enormous effect on our improvement ....or lack thereof. Here you may learn of things that you never realized could be a cause of Osteopenia. Perhaps ome small changes in your daily activities can help you improve your bone density!

There is NO ONE SINGLE cause of Osteopenia. You will find the success in rebuilding lost bone mineral density, when you figure out all the reasons that led to your own bone loss.

Understanding what is a cause of Osteopenia.

1. Genetics and age can be a cause of Osteopenia. We can not change these but we can 'off set' their effects:
• Genetics. Genetic inheritance is the most frequent cause of Osteopenia. If your mother, father or grandparent suffered a fracture after age 40 or had a back hump, a 'dowagers hump' or If this seems to be a factor for you, go to: Genetic factors as a cause of Osteopenia .
• Aging. Age 30 - 34 is a watershed time in bone growth. Whether you want to understand your own situation or be able to help your children and grandchildren from developing porous bones, do read: How Aging can be a cause of Osteopenia .
2. Lifestyle factors:
• Sedentary life style, Bed rest for 3 or more days, lack of weight bearing activities or exercise. Back when most people did heavy manual labor, there was less Osteopenia. The astronauts learned that when they came from a few days of weightlessness, they had lost bone density. See: Weight bearing exercises for your bones
• Stress. Yes, stress. To read more and find out what youcan do about it, go to: Stress and Bone Loss
• Dieting - if you have lost 10 pounds or more at least twice in your lifetime, you should read Dieting as a cause of Osteopenia .
• Alcohol use. Do you know the bone loss 'tipping point" in alcohol consumption? If not, do read: Alcohol and Osteopenia
• Caffeine use - Did you know that coffee, tea, soda pop, chocolate or sports can lead to bone loss? Find out who much is 'too much' at: Caffeine and your Bones
• Sodium can be another problem. Read more at Sodium and bone loss

• Tobacco use, Smoking, Second hand smoke, Exposure to Cadmium. Go to: Cadmium - Smoking and Second Hand Smoke
• Excessive exercise. Women whose excessive exercise leads to irregular or nonexistent periods or men who engage in excessive exercise or dietary manipulation that leads to a drop in testosterone levels will lose bone mass.
• Eating patterns: Eating less than 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day affects the amount of Calcium, Magnesium, vitamin D and Vitamin K you get. This can lead to low bone density after age 40.

  You can read
  How much Calcium?

  Magnesium and bone builder

  Vitamin D: who needs it and how much?

  Vitamin K for your bones .

• Phosphorous imbalance- Too much phosphorous upsets the balance needed to keep bones strong. This is a real problem for those who drink soda pop.
• Protein - many people in the developed world consume more protein than is good for the body. Too much protein makes for an acidic condition.

  Your body needs to keep in a 'acid-alkaline' balance or you woulddie so when your body gets too acidic, it pulls Calcium from bones and teeth to counteract the acid state and return yourbody to balance.

3. Medical Conditions and Treatments:
• Some medical conditions are directly related to developing Osteopenia. Anorexia, Asthma , Bulimia, Cancer , Celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, Colitis, Cushings syndrome, Diabetes, emphysema, food allergies, Gastrectomy. Hyperthyroidism, Hyperparathyroidism, Hypogonadism, Intestinal disorders - malabsorption , lactose intolerance, Liver disease, Lupus , Multiple Sclerosis , Multiple myeloma, Osteo-genesis imperfect, organ transplants, Sickle Cell anemia, Skin disorders, teen pregnancy, and Thalassemia are just a few of the conditions that can make for low bone density.
• Medical treatments for Chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis , Leukemia, Lupus lymphoma or Endometriosis can all be a cause of Osteopenia. So too can treatments for cancer , chelation therapy, gastric bypass surgery and stapling.
• Medically prescribed drugs: Depro-Provera , Dilantin (Phenytoin), Glucocorticoids (steroids); drugs with Aluminum; Anticonvulsants; Cytotoxic drugs; GNRH - agonsists-lupron etc.; heparin; Lithium; thyroid hormone replacement; Many of the Diuretics can all interfere with developing and keeping strong bones. Some studies show that some antibiotics may also be a risk factor for excessive bone loss .
• Over the counter drugs. Many pain relievers contain more caffeine than a cup of strong coffee. Others, can also be a problem, especially Antacids .

  Direct mail marketers often push Chelation as the 'cure' for cardiovascular conditions. But chelation can also remove important minerals, including calcium, from your body. This is why it is wise to consult your health care provider before using 'non-prescription medications' and remedies.

I hope to add articles about each of these potential causes of Osteopenia. If you want to read these, I suggest that youbookmark this page now or Add it to Favorites so you can find it easily. You mAY want to read what has been traditionallylisted as Osteoporosis Risk Factors