Is it our fate to become more fragile with age?
Not necessarily. Keeping your bones healthy can change your fate, helping you to live longer and stronger.
We replace bone all the time. However, degeneration occurs when the creation of new bone can’t keep pace with the loss of old bone.
Is osteoporosis genetic?
Osteoporosis, the disease that causes serious bone loss, is bad news. Part of the key to avoiding it is to watch out for its early warning sign, osteopenia — lower-than-normal bone mineral density (BMD).
Why Bone Health Is Critical
The more porous or brittle our bones, the more serious and life-altering even a small fracture can be. If your bones are frail, you may suffer a painful break by simply bumping your arm against a doorframe, putting the limb out of commission for six weeks. A broken foot could easily curb your mobility for a couple of months.
For some, the consequences are even more dire. Falling and breaking a hip should be a shorter-term inconvenience; however, if your bone density is weak, it suddenly becomes a long-range quality-of-life issue. Hip-fracture patients have a higher mortality rate over the next year. Startlingly, one in three adults over 50 who break a hip die within a year of the break.
But don’t worry. If you wonder, “Is osteoporosis genetic?” there are ways to halt its progress. Let’s address a few questions about bone density, how to avoid or detect weakened bones, and how to improve their condition.
Is Osteoporosis Genetic?
Yes. Some people worry that their lifestyle may directly cause their weak bones. However, medical science believes that osteoporosis is due to more than lifestyle factors. It’s a complex polygenic disorder.
Changes in one or more genetic markers can act to weaken an individual’s bone structure. Learn more about these genes and the impact they have on osteoporosis.
These Gene Types May Affect Bone Health
But while changes in gene sequencing may contribute to your risk, they don’t guarantee you’ll get osteoporosis. It’s still best to consider your environmental and lifestyle factors, such as diet, exercise, and overall health. Those factors can also influence your bone strength and your risk.
If Osteoporosis Runs in My Family, Can I Still Prevent or Manage It?
Although osteoporosis is hereditary, there are several ways to fight back and support your bone health.
If osteoporosis runs in your family, the earlier you begin these activities, the better:
- Practice weight-bearing exercise
- Follow a consistent walking program
- Consume calcium and vitamin D in a dosage recommended by your doctor
- Quit smoking, or don’t start
- Limit alcohol intake
Who’s Most at Risk for Osteoporosis?
Both males and females may suffer bone degeneration and loss. However, women are much more likely to experience it and should focus on bone health at all stages of their lives.
BMD peaks earlier in women than in men, so female bone weakens over a more extended period, accelerating with menopause. By the time women reach their 60s and 70s, they’re more likely to have weak bones and osteopenia or osteoporosis.
At What Age Should We Become Bone-Health-Aware?
Changes in bone strength begin slowly but proceed steadily. If we wait until our bones get weak to take action, it can take many years to reverse bone loss through medication and lifestyle changes.
Young adults ask, “Is osteoporosis genetic? If my parents have it, am I going to get it?” Despite being young, they must consider their bone density because it’s a slow-changing process. We encourage thinking about and working on it. The earlier, the better.
Who Needs a Bone Density Screening?
All adults 65 and up, regardless of gender, should have their BMD screened so they know what their risks are.
A DXA scan is an easy, painless test to measure bone density and mineral loss. A fracture risk calculator (FRAX) can estimate if you’ll likely develop a fracture in the next 10 years. These scans can help your doctor evaluate your bone health and whether any action is needed.
Can I Strengthen Already-Weak Bones?
Depending on the degree of bone degradation, your doctor may recommend a medication to help, such as:
- Boniva can slow bone loss and help prevent bone pain and fractures. Boniva is a pill taken once a week (or once a month).
- Prolia, a twice-a-year injection, is particularly helpful in decreasing fracture risk in high-risk post-menopausal women.
Be aware that medications used in excess can put bones at risk, too. Taking a medication for too long can cause brittleness — making bones easier to break. At Priority Physicians, we generally recommend that you use a medication for approximately five years, and then we reassess your risks.
Take Your Bones Seriously
People didn’t experience much osteoporosis even a century ago. Humans spent more time outdoors getting bone-strengthening vitamin D from sun exposure. They were engaged in more physical exertion throughout the day.
But in today’s tech-based culture, we’re mostly inside under artificial lighting, so we don’t get natural vitamin D. We sit too much and do less weight-bearing activity.
Our advice is to stay aware of your need for strong bones. Your Priority Physicians doctor can work with you to determine any risks and keep your bones healthy.
Reach out; let’s get you screened.
