Osteoporosis is one of the representative diseases with no symptoms at all. Gradually, without any symptoms, the bone tissue weakens, and at some point, you go to the hospital with a fracture. Since there are no symptoms and it is difficult to confirm the effect of taking medication, it is easy to dismiss it as insignificant. However, fractures due to osteoporosis often recur, and fractures in old age can be life-threatening, so prevention and management are important.
After menopause, osteoporosis is common due to hormonal decline.
Osteoporosis is a condition where the bones themselves weaken like a sponge with a hole in them, making them easy to break. If the T score, which evaluates bone density, is below -1.0 and above -2.5, it is called osteopenia, and if the T score is below -2.5, it is called is osteoporosis. There are no symptoms that the patient feels at all, so it is often only discovered after the fracture. In particular, once a break has occurred, it is easy to break again.
According to National Health Review and Assessment Service statistics on diseases of public interest, the number of patients seeking hospital for osteoporosis reached 1,126,861 in 2021 alone. Of these, 1,061,874 female patients accounted for almost 95% of all patients. Especially in women, it increased after menopause due to a decrease in hormones. Both male and female hormones play a role in sending calcium to bones, and as female hormones decrease during menopause, it greatly affects bone density. In fact, during the first 5 to 10 years after menopause, bone density can decrease by about 25 to 30 percent.
If you fear a fracture due to osteoporosis, you should prepare for it by measuring your bone density in advance. Postmenopausal women and men over 50 are advised to take it once. If there is a family history of osteoporotic fractures, early menopause, chronic diseases, long-term drug use, excessive drinking and smoking, they need to be investigated. If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, you should start treatment immediately.
Need a habit of filling bone health from a young age
Bone tissue, which was at its strongest between the ages of 10 and 20, gradually weakens as we age. The strongest bone condition during life is known as ‘maximum bone mass’, and maximum bone mass determines bone health for the rest of your life. To prevent osteoporosis, it is best to increase the maximum bone mass sufficiently from a young age. Genetic predisposition is the most important factor in peak bone mass, but physical activities such as walking and running during puberty and adequate vitamin D intake can help.
After becoming an adult, you should have the right lifestyle that helps bone health. Don’t smoke and drink too much, and try to get regular exercise and a healthy diet. It is good to do aerobic exercise for 150 minutes or more a week and strength training exercise for 2 or more times a week. As exercise itself is anti-aging and increases stamina and balance, it is highly recommended as it can reduce the risk of falling. Calcium and vitamin D intake are the most important for osteoporosis, but it is best to have a healthy diet that consumes all nutrients equally.
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Dietary practices to prevent osteoporosis 1. Protein 3-4 times a day |
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Osteoporosis prevention lifestyle 1. Refrain from smoking and drinking too much. |
If it is broken, treat it as soon as possible
The most important goal of osteoporosis treatment is to prevent fractures. Bone density is increased through oral medication or injection treatment in severe cases. In particular, in the case of osteoporosis patients who have suffered a fracture, a fracture can occur at any time, so active treatment is required as soon as possible. You should not neglect treatment just because you have passed the danger point. Even with drug treatment, bone density does not become normal in a very low state, and since bone density naturally decreases with age, it is important to maintain bone density through constant treatment.
