Unhealthy lifestyle leading to pre-menopausal osteoporosis

Bengaluru: “I have been having severe joint aches and have to take rest for some time and my physician has advised me go to an orthopaedic doctor,” said Krishna Anu (42) from Whitefield, who keeps complaining of pain in her right foot. This made her consult an orthopaedist who informed her that it might be “pre-menopausal osteoporosis”.

“Osteoporosis has traditionally been considered a disorder of post-menopausal women, but low bone mass and accelerated bone loss can also occur early in life causing pre-menopausal osteoporosis,” said Dr  Ajith Benedict Rayan Medical Director, HOSMAT Hospital, who added that there are a few risk components that increase a woman's chances of pre-menopausal osteoporosis, including drugs, hormonal and nutritional factors and physical inactivity, which need to be identified and managed accordingly.

“Because of unhealthy lifestyle we suggest lifestyle modification to prevent progressive bone loss in pre-menopausal women and this should be actively encouraged,” he added. 

“Certain groups of pre-menopausal women are at a higher risk of osteoporosis, and these include women with diseases such as primary hyperparathyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome and thyrotoxicosis, that promote accelerated bone loss,” explained Dr Basavaraj S Kyavater at Sagar Hospitals.

Pre-menopausal osteoporosis is defined as low bone mineral density in combination with risk factors such as chronic malnutrition, eating disorders, hypogonadism, glucocorticoid exposure, and old fractures. As for the risk factors Dr Ajith added, “Risk factors of pre-menopausal osteoporosis include the following: genetic influences, ethnicity, hormonal influences, nutritional factors, physical inactivity, disease factors, medications, and smoking.”