After a fracture, it often reoccurs.
Osteoporosis is more likely to occur in older and postmenopausal women. However, it is considered a ‘silent disease’ because there are no symptoms until it actually occurs. Once a fracture occurs, the risk of fracture increases, so early diagnosis and correction of eating and lifestyle habits are necessary.
When osteoporosis occurs, bone strength and density decrease, making it more likely to cause fractures. Contrary to popular misconception, bone is not tissue that has stopped growing. It continually repeats the process of creation, growth, and absorption. Bone density is highest in people in their 20s and 30s and then gradually declines. In particular, women’s bones weaken rapidly during the first 5 years of menopause.
According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, out of 1.12 million osteoporosis patients in 2021, women accounted for the majority of patients, with approximately 1.06 million. The number of female patients increased from the age of 50, when menopause began, and was highest in the 60 to 69 age group.
Unlike women, men have a much lower incidence of osteoporosis because they do not experience menopause, which is a rapid hormonal change. However, as calcium intake decreases and bone formation decreases with age, men should also be careful of osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis patients have low bone density, which increases the risk of fracture when they fall or experience mild shock. According to the Korean Orthopedic Association, 1 in 2 women and 1 in 5 men over the age of 65 will break a bone due to osteoporosis.
If osteoporosis develops in the weight-bearing vertebrae, even the act of lifting heavy objects can cause vertebral fractures, resulting in reduced height or a bent back. The femur and wrist near the pelvis are also common sites for fractures due to osteoporosis. Once a fracture occurs, the risk of a subsequent fracture increases 2 to 10 times, and the risk of death is particularly high if the femur is broken.
The bone density of Korean women is lower than that of Westerners, so prevention is important, and for this purpose, excessive drinking or smoking should be avoided. It’s good to do a lot of aerobic exercise, stretching, and exercise like running instead. Eating habits are also important. If you eat a lot of salty food, it is easy to lose calcium along with salt.
Situations where breaks can occur should be avoided as much as possible. Dim light and high thresholds cause falls. Orthostatic hypotension patients or people with low muscle strength should take adequate vitamin D and increase physical activity to maintain muscle strength and balance.
Yang Ik-hwan, head of the Artificial Joint Center at Seran Hospital, said, “If you have osteoporosis without fractures, it is important to improve your lifestyle and eliminate the risk factors for fractures.” It has to be synthesized,” he said. .
