One of the most important health issues for middle-aged women is the threat of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become thin, fragile, and highly prone to fracture. Numerous studies have linked estrogen insufficiency to this gradual, yet debilitating disease. In fact, osteoporosis is more closely related to menopause than to a woman's chronological age. Fine-boned women should pay special attention to preserving their bone mass, because they can't afford to lose any of it.
Hereditary factors are important in determining peak bone mass.
Black women attain a greater spinal mass and therefore have fewer osteoporotic fractures than white women. These elements also help slow the rate of bone loss. Certain physiological stresses can quicken bone loss, such as pregnancy, nursing, and immobility. The biggest culprit in the process of bone loss is estrogen deficiency. Bone loss quickens during perimenopause, the transitional phase when estrogen levels drop significantly.