Osteoporosis is a bone condition where the bones become weak and brittle. They could become so weak that even a mild fall or activities such as bending over or coughing could cause the bone to break and lead to a fracture. This usually happens because creating new bone cells to replace the old ones is slow, leading to bone loss. Read on to find out more about which health conditions can increase the risk of this osteoporosis.

Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes mellitus, also commonly known as diabetes, is a condition where the body is unable to convert the sugar in the body into energy. This leads to the build-up of sugar in the bloodstream and can lead to severe health complications. Too much sugar in the bloodstream can damage tissue and various organs, including the heart, the eyes, and the kidneys. There are two different types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. 

Type 2 diabetes is when the body does not produce enough insulin or is unable to use the insulin in the bloodstream. People can also have gestational diabetes, where individuals develop this condition during pregnancy. Studies have found a link between type 1 diabetes and osteoporosis. People with type 1 diabetes tend to have lower bone density. Studies have shown that they may also have low bone turnover and low bone formation. This could lead to bone conditions such as osteoporosis and even arthritis.

Lupus
Lupus is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system starts to attack healthy cells such as tissues and organs in the body. This leads to other conditions and disorders. With lupus, there is often inflammation in the body. This condition can affect different organs, such as the brain, the blood cells, the heart, joints, kidneys, and lungs. This condition can often be very hard to diagnose because the symptoms are often like other conditions.

The most common signs of this condition include a facial rash that looks like a butterfly. But, these symptoms are not always seen in other cases. Those born with the tendency of lupus could develop this condition after an infection or sunlight exposure. Lupus is an autoimmune condition, and the inflammation of the joints and other areas of the body could lead to loss of bone and cause osteoporosis. In some cases, the treatments used to treat lupus could also lead to the loss of bone due to slow bone building and even increase the risk of osteoporosis.

Breast cancer
Breast cancer is a disease where abnormal cells multiply rapidly in the breast. This leads to the development of a tumor. Breast cancer can start in any part of the breast. The type of breast cancer depends on the cells in which the breast cancer starts. If left untreated or undiagnosed, the cancerous tissue can spread to other parts of the body and nearby tissue. There are two common types of breast cancer – invasive ductal carcinoma and invasive lobular carcinoma. 

Other rare types of breast cancer affect individuals across the globe. Many individuals with breast cancer are treated with aromatase inhibitors. These inhibitors reduce the amount of estrogen in the body. These lowered levels of estrogen can wreak havoc and lead to the loss of bone. It can also increase the risk of osteoporosis. To tackle this, healthcare professionals usually prescribe calcium and vitamin D supplements. This helps fight the bone loss occurring in the body.

Eating disorders
Eating disorders are very complex conditions. While the name suggests that it is related to food, these disorders are often categorized as mental health conditions. There are roughly 28 million individuals in the country who have dealt with an eating disorder at some point in their life. There are six most common types of this condition. Some common symptoms of this condition include loss of weight, intense fear of gaining weight, refusing to eat certain foods, repeatedly weighing oneself, and more.

Individuals may also show physical signs such as thinning in hair, poor immune system function, muscle weakness, dizziness, fainting, and irregularities in the menstrual cycle. With some types of eating disorders, you tend to lose a lot of weight and suffer from anorexia. This could lead to low levels of estrogen in the body. Low estrogen levels could lead to bone loss and increase the risk of osteoporosis. Not to mention, anorexia could also affect how your body absorbs the nutrients and delivers them to the bones.

Depression
Depression, much like eating disorders, is a type of mood and mental health disorder. Individuals who have depression often feel sadness and have a loss of interest in things around them. This then affects how they function in day-to-day life. It also affects their feelings and thoughts and causes emotional or physical issues. Studies have shown a link between depression and an increased risk of osteoporosis. And some have even shown that treatments used to tackle depression could lead to bone loss and, therefore, the development of osteoporosis. This risk increases further in individuals over the age of 40.