Home » Health & Wellness  » Osteoporosis »  Are you vulnerable to osteoporosis Certain factors in life will make one more prone to osteoporosis. Find out if you're vulnerable. Go through the list below and check if any of the points are applicable to you. Be extra cautious if most of them are!

The people most susceptible to osteoporosis and the causes for osteoporosis are:

• Women- they are three times more likely to get it.
• Slim, small boned people.
• Asians and Caucasians.
• Smokers.
• Excessive alcohol consumers.
• Certain drugs for thyroid, anti coagulation/certain steroids
• Sedentary life style
• Family history- you are a likely candidate if it's in the genes.
• Age -older people are more likely to get it.
• Women who undergo menopause or a hysterectomy.
• People with lactose intolerance.
• Consumers of carbonated drinks.
• Diseases of the lungs, stomach or intestines.
• People with low calcium and vitamin D intake.

Telltale signs that serve as a warning to the onset of osteoporosis:

• Curvature of spine -giving the impression of a hunch or hump - which one cannot straighten out.
• Severe back pain that occurs regularly.
• Loss of height usually occurs with age. But it could happen earlier in life too if the case is a severe one.

But you can do your bit to delay this progressive disease. The important thing is to work on it every day.

• Get your daily dose of calcium. This promotes bone development and prevents osteoporosis. The amount of calcium you require depends on your age. Check with your doctor
• Your body needs vitamin D to help absorb calcium
• Iron and calcium supplements must not be taken together as they interfere with each other's activities.
• Avoid taking calcium supplements with high fibre meals. They lower the amount of calcium your body can use.
• Drink lots of water with your supplement. You can avoid getting kidney stones.
• 99% of the calcium taken in by your body is stored in the bones. The other 1% is in blood and tissues. If your body is starved of calcium it keeps drawing it from your bones. So your calcium requirement is on a daily basis.
• Work out regularly, concentrating on weight bearing exercises.