femtech:brief #09: Osteoporosis
👋🏽👋🏽 Hello and welcome to the 9th edition of femtech:brief. In this edition we discuss osteoporosis. We explore several resources and information that can be of much help to women experiencing this health condition. We also talk about one femtech startup that is working hard at developing solutions that will benefit those in need.
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis [is a health condition that] causes bones to become weak and brittle — so brittle that a fall or even mild stresses such as bending over or coughing can cause a fracture. Osteoporosis-related fractures most commonly occur in the hip, wrist or spine.
Bone is living tissue that is constantly being broken down and replaced. Osteoporosis occurs when the creation of new bone doesn't keep up with the loss of old bone.
Osteoporosis affects men and women of all races. Medications, healthy diet and weight-bearing exercise can help prevent bone loss or strengthen already weak bones.
- Mayo Clinic
While it is true that being diagnosed with osteoporosis means that life as you know it will have to be adjusted, it does not mean that you have to give up on hobbies, physical activities or, in general, an active lifestyle.
Shelly Gladstein, diagnosed with osteoporosis at 58, told HealthyWomen - an online educational platform women ages 35 to 64 to make informed health choices - how she manages to keep an active lifestyle, balancing a healthy diet, and educating others on being advocates for themselves as they live with osteoporosis. Shelly started a local chapter of a support group called OsteoBoston, in association with the National Osteoporosis Foundation.
Post-menopausal women are at higher risk of suffering osteoporosis. It is estimated that, on average, women lose up to ten percent of their bone mass in the first five years after menopause. Research suggests that menopausal women who have long term sleep disruptions and continuous hot flashes may have an increased risk of heart disease and greater bone loss than women who do not have hot flashes.
Experiencing menopause, however, is not the only factor increasing the risk of osteoporosis and weak bones. According to HealthyWomen, osteoporosis can be a result of several factors such as:
Physical
Genetics
Age
Race
Poor diet
Lack of exercise
Lifestyle choices
Poor access to prevention
Read more about all these factors and how we can avoid many of them here.
Startup of the week: Bone Health Technologies
We are addressing a problem that affects 50 million Americans, half of all women will have a fracture due to low bone density.
- Laura Yecies, CEO of Bone Health Technologies.
Bone Health Technologies recently raised $2.5M for OsteoBoost, the first vibration belt specifically designed to treat osteopenia and prevent osteoporosis.
💡 Did you know
👁️ Bonus Read
Baby2Body, the one stop shop when it comes to healthy lifestyle guidance, tells us about 4 supplements that women over 35 should consider taking. With regards to bone health, calcium could be the cornerstone.
Boost your bone health with calcium
As women, our peak bone mass is usually reached between the ages of 25-30. The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation has shown that a significant amount of bone is lost as women reach their 40s and 50s, increasing their risk for osteoporosis.
It’s in your favor to be proactive in this space, because the more you can support bone health now, the better off you’ll be down the line. Declining estrogen levels are associated with bone loss for women because estrogen is closely linked to calcium absorption, which is necessary for strong, healthy bones.
The European Menopause Society advocates calcium as the cornerstone of osteoporosis and bone loss prevention. To strengthen this recommendation, a number of studies have found that an increased intake of calcium in women is associated with lower loss of bone mass, effectively slowing the onset and progression of osteoporosis.
That’s all for this issue!
Hope you enjoyed this week’s edition of femtech:brief. See you next Thursday!