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 What Are Our Bones Made Of?
Building strong bones during childhood and adolescence can be the best defense against developing osteoporosis. Bone is a living tissue and is constantly changing. The bones in our skeleton are made of a thick outer shell and a strong inner mesh filled with collagen (protein), calcium salts and other minerals. The inside looks like honeycomb, with blood vessels and bone marrow in the spaces between the bone. Old, worn out bone is broken down by cells called osteoclasts and replaced by bone building cells, called osteoblasts which means your body keeps your bones strong by replacing old bone with new bone. This process of renewal is called bone turnover.
 When osteoporosis occurs, the holes between the bone become larger and the body begins to lose more bone than it can replace, making the bones weaker. Weak bones are more likely to fracture. Osteoporosis usually affects the whole skeleton but it most commonly causes breaks or fractures in the spine, hip and forearm.
Risk Factors
- If you smoke or drink too much alcohol, you are at a greater risk of developing osteoporosis.
- The older you are, the greater risk you have of thinning bones.
- Women are at greater risk of developing osteoporosis because of the changes that occur during menopause.
- If you have a family history of osteoporosis or hip fracture.
- Caucasian and Asian women are at a greater risk than African American and Hispanic women of developing osteoporosis.
- Small-boned and thin women weighing less than 127 pounds are at greater risk.
- Early menopause brought on naturally or because of surgery increases your risk of developing osteoporosis.
- Low Calcium and/or Vitamin D intake
- If you have or are currently taking Prednisone or other corticosteroids for a long time.
Are you worried about osteoporosis or bone health?
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