Don't think "bone laxity" is far away from you

        "Osteoporosis" is a common disease in orthopedic clinics, but it is the most often overlooked disease. Because the symptoms are not easy to detect at the initial stage, when they affect the body, the consequences are often unimaginable. This issue of "Health Column" will introduce you to this silent disease.

        At what age will "osteoporosis" occur?

        Many people think that "silver haired people" will suffer from osteoporosis, but in fact, it is not. There was a young mature woman in her early 40s who came to see her because of a lumbar fracture. She thought that the patient was engaged in labor work or had a car accident. After consultation, she found that the cause of the injury was only a "transfer car".

        I believe many people wonder why the mobile locomotive will cause serious lumbar fracture? It turns out that the patient stopped menstruation early, and the family inheritance made osteoporosis come to the door in advance. Finally, after 2-3 years of rehabilitation treatment, the symptoms improved slightly.

        Understanding "Osteoporosis"

        Human bones change with age. In Taiwan, about 30% of people over 50 years old suffer from osteoporosis, especially after menopause, estrogen decreases, bone loss is faster, and the probability of suffering from osteoporosis is 6-8 times higher than that of men. In addition, living habits and personal physical conditions will also affect the speed of bone loss. When the bone is hollowed out to the extent that it cannot perform the original supporting function, osteoporosis has become a serious problem.

        At the initial stage of the symptoms, most patients only found their height shrunk, and thought it was an aging phenomenon. However, with the loss of bone to a certain extent, the bone may break at any time due to slight external force impact. In severe cases, even daily behaviors such as coughing and moving things can lead to fracture.

        Once the fracture occurs, the most terrible thing is the cost of follow-up care and complications. It is common for patients with osteoporosis to have hip fractures due to falls during diagnosis. According to statistics, the average medical cost of a patient with hip fractures is more than NTD200000. The mortality rate of hip fractures due to osteoporosis is as high as 20%, which is equivalent to the mortality rate at the end of breast cancer. In addition, if the patient stays in bed for a long time after surgery, it is also easy to develop urinary tract inflammation, bedsores, and even pneumonia caused by inability to expectorate, which may endanger life in serious cases. Not only that, but the data also shows that the rate of patients who have suffered serious fractures within 5 years is as high as 30%. Therefore, "prevention is better than treatment" is the correct concept.

        How to self test?

        People can know whether they have osteoporosis symptoms through simple self testing. First, stick the buttocks and back tightly to the wall. If the posterior dipper cannot stick to the wall and the gap is more than 3cm, it means that the hunchback is abnormal. It is recommended to go to the hospital as soon as possible to have a bone density test.

        Prevention and treatment of "osteomalacia"

        The bone density will reach its peak at the age of 20-35 years, and then it will lose at a rate of 0.5-2% every year. Therefore, it is recommended to conserve bone resources from the age of 35, and maintain moderate exercise, sun exposure, calcium and vitamin D supplementation.

        If you have osteoporosis, the current drugs for treatment are generally divided into oral and injection types, and the frequency of use varies from once a day to once a year. Among them, bisphosphonates have a lasting effect. Patients aged 45 to 64 only need to inject one dose every two years, while those aged 65 and above need to inject once a year and a half, which can protect bone for a long time and is relatively convenient to use. Although the drug will inevitably have side effects, it is not necessary to worry too much. You should receive treatment regularly and have a bone density test every two years to maintain bone health as much as possible.

        #