There are two kinds of osteoporosis. Type one usually affects women after menopause
and is caused by a decrease in the amount of estrogen (a hormone) produced in
the body. This type of osteoporosis causes a woman's bones to "age"
more quickly than they should. Type two osteoporosis affects men and women equally
and is caused by the natural aging process.
You are at risk of developing osteoporosis if you are elderly, and especially
if you are a post-menopausal woman. However, you are at a much higher risk of
developing osteoporosis if you smoke, if you are relatively inactive, if you
are sick and lying in bed for a long time, or if you drink a lot of alcohol
or caffeine.