In addition, certain medical conditions may increase the risk. Liver, kidney, or heart trouble, as well as conditions that necessitate prolonged bed rest, can increase the risk of osteoporosis. Other possible causes include eating disorders, such as anorexia, and the consumption of certain medications, such as thyroid hormones and steroids. Lifestyle also plays a very important role. A diet low in calcium, lack of exercise, cigarette smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption can harm our bones.
Bones are vulnerable because they are alive and subject to wear and tear.
While men can and do develop osteoporosis, women are four times more likely to get it. The higher incidence in women is due to the hormonal changes that happen during menopause. A key factor is estrogen, a hormone produced in the ovaries which protects bones from osteoporosis. Bone mass, or bone strength, is pretty stable until around the age of 50. In women, at the time of menopause, the loss of estrogen causes very rapid bone loss.