Certain conditions, meds up the odds of a resident having the condition.
One risk for osteoporosis: being female and over age 65 or being postmenopausal under 65 with a family history of osteoporosis or personal history of low-trauma fracture after the age of 50. Other risk factors include:
• Advanced age
• Previous fragility fracture
• Family history of bone disease
• Current cigarette smoking
• Excessive use of alcohol
• Low body weight and/or small body frame
• Lifetime of low calcium intake
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Inactive lifestyle
• Some prescription medications (e.g., steroids, radiation, chemotherapy, excess thyroxine replacement, antiepileptic medications, gonadal hormone suppression, immunosuppressive agents)
• Certain medical conditions (e.g., hyperthyroidism, chronic lung disease, hyperparathyroidism, cancer, chronic liver or kidney disease, Cushing's disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, endometriosis, vitamin D deficiency, sarcoidosis, hemochromatosis, estrogen deficiency, amenorrhea, low testosterone levels in men)
Source: Becky Dorner, RD, LD, of Becky Dorner and Associates. Used by permission.
