Though the obvious problems of osteoporosis usually occur later in life, research shows that the invisible damage begins earlier - much earlier than most Australian women realise. For some women, it starts during the early twenties when women reach their peak bone mass. Bone health and the risk of osteoporosis continues to be of concern throughout the twenties and early thirties. Then, around age 35, women start to lose up to one per cent of their bone mass each year. These losses accelerate rapidly after menopause when women can loose up to 20 per cent of their bone mass each year.
Pregnancy is a critical time for women to be conscious of bone health.
If a pregnant women does not get enough calcium in her daily diet her bones may be stripped of calcium to nourish the baby which can lead to increased risk of osteoporosis later in life. Preventing and reducing the risk of osteoporosis is important because, while there are treatments for osteoporosis, there is no cure. Building strong bones during childhood and adolescence is the best way to ensure healthy bones throughout life. Younger women need to think of their peak bone mass as a savings account - the more deposits made into bone health early in life, the more there will be later in life when it is needed most. A women's peak bone mass is determined by a number of factors including family history, ethnicity, oestrogen levels as well as lifestyle factors such as exercise, diet, smoking and alcohol consumption.