I. Q: What is osteoporosis? A: Osteoporosis is a disease that can make your bones weak, and people with this disease are prone to fractures. For example, people with osteoporosis sometimes suffer fractures at home after an accidental fall. Fractures can lead to very serious consequences, especially if the fracture occurs in the hip. Such patients sometimes lose the ability to walk, and most of them end up in a nursing home. That’s why it’s so important to avoid having a fracture in the first place. B. Q: How do I know I have osteoporosis? A: Osteoporosis does not usually cause symptoms until you have a fracture, but your doctor will detect osteoporosis by examination. The best test is a bone densitometry test called a “dual-energy x-ray bone densitometry test”, which is a special type of x-ray. Bone densitometry is recommended for women over the age of 65 because they are at the highest risk of developing osteoporosis at this age. Of course, other people sometimes need to have a bone densitometry test, so consult your doctor who will tell you if you need this test. Some people learn that they have osteoporosis because they have a fracture after a fall or minor collision. Patients with “fragility fractures” are at high risk of re-fracture. Q: What can I do to keep my bones healthy? A: You can: 1. eat calcium-rich foods, such as milk, yogurt and green leafy vegetables 2. eat vitamin D-rich foods, such as milk with vitamin D and marine fish 3. take calcium and vitamin D tablets (if you cannot get enough calcium and vitamin D through food) 4. do at least 30 minutes of physical exercise a day, ≥5 days/week 5. quit smoking 6. limit alcohol intake to a maximum of 1 to 3 days a day intake, a maximum of 1-2 cups a day (generally 1 cup of the amount of
You also need to avoid falls as much as possible – it sounds simple, but reducing the number of falls can obviously prevent most fractures. You can: 1. Make sure all your blankets are non-slip and place them in the right place 2. Stow cords away as much as possible and make sure there are no cords in the aisles 3. Keep the room lighted 4. Beware of slippery floors 5. Wear sturdy, comfortable shoes with rubber soles 6. Have your eyes checked 7. Ask your doctor if the medications you take can make you dizzy or increase the risk of falls 4. Is osteoporosis treatable? A: Yes, there are medications that can treat osteoporosis. These medications can reduce your chances of having a fracture. Your doctor will usually first recommend that you take a diphosphonate. If these drugs are not effective or cause some side effects that you cannot tolerate, there are other drugs to try. V. Q: How do I know that the treatment is working? A: Your doctor will recommend bone densitometry to check if the medications used to treat osteoporosis are effective. These are the same tests that were done to confirm your first diagnosis of osteoporosis. Sometimes blood and urine tests are also required.