There are also tremendous health care costs related to this disease, in addition to severe effects on the sufferers' quality of life. Excruciating chronic pain and loss of mobility, along with increased dependence upon others for care can be disheartening experiences for the elderly. And complications arising from resulting necessary operations are a significant cause of death in women over 65. Recent research suggests that there are a number of causes of this disease, among them are increased bone loss over bone formation, and reduced ability to absorb calcium. But it is becoming more and more clear that insufficient development of bone mass by young adulthood predisposes a person to osteoporosis later in life.
Women are at greater risk because they lose bone much faster than men.
By her mid-20's, a woman is already losing bone. Estrogen has been linked to osteoporosis since it protects bones from the leaching process. After menopause, estrogen levels in the body drop, leaving bones more susceptible to osteoporosis. Lack of exercise increases bone loss, but moderate exercise such as walking, jogging, and tennis stimulates bone production. Watch that you don't overdo it, though.