World Osteoporosis Day is celebrated on October 20 every year. Osteoporosis is a systemic bone disease characterized by low bone mass and destruction of bone tissue microstructures, resulting in increased bone fragility and predisposition to fractures. Osteoporosis can occur at any age, but is more common in postmenopausal women and older men.
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Only older people get osteoporosis?
While it is true that older people are more likely to develop osteoporosis, the age of onset of osteoporosis is now showing a younger trend, which is a very interesting phenomenon because osteoporosis increases the risk of falls, fractures, and even death.
Bone is the main structure that supports the body's functions, but many young people do not pay enough attention to bone health. Some of their lifestyle habits, such as excessive weight loss, lack of nutritional supplements, frequent late stayups, irregular lifestyles, lack of exercise, smoking, and excessive drinking, can lead to bone loss and worsen bone health. At the same time, high-pressure work and poor lifestyle in modern life can also lead to early loss of bone mass.
Why are women more likely to get osteoporosis?
1
age
Women reach a peak of bone density around the age of 35, after which bone mass begins to gradually decrease, and women begin to lose bone mass earlier than men.
2
incretion
Estrogen helps maintain bone density. However, during perimenopause, its levels decrease, leading to a rapid decrease in bone mass.
3
diet
To stay in shape, some women opt for dieting, which can lead to inadequate intake of many nutrients needed for bones.
4
weight
Women who are underweight also tend to have lower bone density.
5
environment
Too little sun exposure or excessive sun protection may affect vitamin D synthesis, which in turn affects calcium absorption. Some women have excessive sun protection, and applying sunscreen all year round will affect the skin's absorption of ultraviolet rays and activate vitamin D, thereby affecting bone health.
6
Female Special Physiology
Such as pregnancy, childbirth and lactation. Women need to consume a lot of calcium during pregnancy and childbirth, especially women with multiple pregnancies and deliveries. During lactation, the pituitary gland secretes a large amount of prolactin, which puts the ovaries in a suppressed state, reduces estrogen levels, and reduces bone mass.
When the body has what symptoms appear,
Need to be wary of osteoporosis?
There may be no clinical manifestations in the early stages of osteoporosis, but osteoporosis should be considered when the following symptoms occur.
●Pain: Low back pain is a common symptom of osteoporosis, accounting for approximately 70 to 80 percent of patients with pain. When bone mass is reduced by more than 12%, bone pain may occur.
●Height shortening and kypback: The anterior part of the vertebral body of the spine is mainly composed of cancellous bone, and when osteoporosis occurs, the spine may tilt forward or compress deformation, resulting in shortened height and the formation of a hunchback. In the elderly with osteoporosis, the height may be shortened by 3-6 cm.
●Fractures: Minor trauma, even cough, can lead to fractures, often as a direct consequence of osteoporosis.
●Decreased respiratory function: Lung function declines gradually with age. Osteoporosis may cause thoracic deformity, which can worsen symptoms of chest tightness, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing.
Some misconceptions in the treatment of osteoporosis
1
Treatment of osteoporosis = calcium supplementation?
Although calcium is the main component of bones, the occurrence of osteoporosis is mainly caused by the breakdown of bone metabolic balance, that is, the rate of bone loss is greater than the rate of bone formation. Therefore, giving calcium alone to people with osteoporosis does not reduce the risk of fractures. Calcium and vitamin D supplementation with anti-osteoporotic drugs is also needed to prevent fractures. The currently accepted treatment for osteoporosis is based on calcium and vitamin D, plus at least one anti-osteoporosis drug.
Anti-osteoporotic drugs are divided into two main categories: "drugs that inhibit bone resorption" and "drugs that promote bone formation". Drugs that inhibit bone resorption mainly include bisphosphonates, calcitonin and estrogens, of which bisphosphonates are mainly used for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women and men; Calcitonin has a good effect on patients with osteoporosis and bone pain; Estrogen can be used for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis in women. Drugs that promote bone formation mainly include parathyroid hormone, which is mainly used for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women who are at high risk of fracture. Anti-osteoporotic drugs should be selected and used under the guidance of an osteoporosis specialist.
2
Osteoporosis is easy to cause fractures, easy to be static and not easy to move?
Many people with osteoporosis will stop physical exercise after the disease, because these patients think that osteoporosis is a disease that should be quiet and not active, but in fact this perception is wrong.
The metabolism and bone strength of bone tissue are inseparable from the pull and contraction stimulation of muscles. Lack of muscle activity, reduced external force on the bones, causing bone resorption to exceed bone formation, can lead to disuse bone loss or disuse osteoporosis.
Appropriate physical exercise such as walking, fitness running, climbing stairs, playing tai chi, etc. can not only stimulate bones, increase or maintain bone mass, prevent excessive bone loss, but also increase muscle strength, and can effectively prevent and treat osteoporosis, especially in outdoor sunlight, but also promote skin synthesis of vitamin D.
Even bedridden fracture patients should often have their families push themselves outdoors to bask in the sun, and allow their limbs to engage in passive activities and exercise with the help of their families.
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How to prevent osteoporosis?
●Increase calcium intake: Adults recommend about 1,000 milligrams of calcium per day, which can be achieved through food, milk, or calcium supplementation.
●Increase time outdoors: Daily outdoor activity can help improve bone strength, and at least 30 minutes of outdoor exercise per day is recommended.
●Maintain a moderate weight: Being overweight or obese increases the risk of osteoporosis, so maintaining a healthy weight is important.
● Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption: Both of these may impair bone health, thereby increasing the risk of osteoporosis.
●Regular exercise: Proper exercise can help maintain or increase bone density and relieve symptoms of osteoporosis.
●Regular bone density examination: help detect osteoporosis in time and adopt appropriate treatment and management strategies.
Written by: Yi Song, Deputy Chief Physician of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Sichuan Orthopedic Hospital
Reviewer: Li Xia, chief physician of the Department of Internal Medicine of Sichuan Orthopedic Hospital