What is osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass and degeneration of bone tissue microarchitecture, accompanied by increased bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture.
Characteristics of osteoporosis.
”silent”: patients often do not know until a fracture occurs.
More women than men: the loss of bone mass is accelerated due to a sharp decrease in female hormone production during menopause.
As age increases, the prevalence of osteoporosis also rises one after another.
Who is at risk for osteoporosis?
Women with premature menopause; genetic factors; small body size; calcium deficiency; lack of exercise; smoking, alcohol abuse; excessive coffee or tea consumption; long-term use of certain drugs, such as steroids, excessive thyroid hormones, hormones, etc.; certain diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, hyperthyroidism or gonadal dysfunction.
Dangers of osteoporosis.
Low back pain: the most common symptom of osteoporosis patients.
Shortening of the body and hunchback: it is another important clinical manifestation after low back pain.
Fracture: It is the main consequence of osteoporosis, causing the most pain to patients and severely limiting their activities, even shortening their life span.
Detection methods of osteoporosis.
X-ray diagnostic method; bone mineral density (BMD) measurement method: dual-energy X-ray (DEXA) method to determine the amount of bone minerals.
Prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.
(1) Dietary treatment.
Eat enough calcium-rich foods: e.g., dairy products, soy products, seafood, vegetables, nuts, and other calcium-added foods.
Adequate vitamin D from food or sunlight can help with calcium absorption.
Eat meat in moderation (about four to six taels per day) to avoid excessive protein intake and increased calcium loss.
Eat one to two fruits a day, including oranges, mandarins, grapefruit and kiwi fruit, which are rich in vitamin C and are good for bone health.
Reduce the amount of salt and eat less pickled foods, such as squash, preserved foods, canned foods, etc., can reduce calcium loss. Reduce phosphorus-rich foods such as Coca-Cola.
(2) Physical activity.
Through exercise, bone growth may be specifically regulated.
Prevention of loss due to inactivity as well as improved muscle and increased flexibility, thus reducing falls and their adverse consequences.
(3) Reduce alcohol consumption.
(4) Quit smoking.
(5) Prevention of falls.
Falls are the main factor associated with osteoporotic fractures, and it is advocated to improve lifestyle to minimize accidents.
Pharmacological treatment of osteoporosis.
(1) Choice of calcium supplements :
Inorganic calcium: such as calcium carbonate, calcium chloride, calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, etc.; organic acid calcium: such as calcium gluconate, calcium lactate, calcium citrate, calcium citrate, etc.; inorganic calcium and organic acid calcium absorption rate of 4-30%, stimulate the gastrointestinal, easy to cause diarrhea, constipation, abdominal distension and other adverse reactions.
Organic calcium: such as giant calcium, calcium gold, gold milk calcium, amino acid calcium absorption rate of more than 90%, does not consume stomach acid, no stimulation to the gastrointestinal tract, high solubility in the gastrointestinal tract, non-toxic side effects.
(2) Vitamin D.
The elderly take 400-800IU (10-20ug) of vitamin D orally every day, which has a certain effect on increasing the absorption of calcium in the intestine of the elderly, and can increase the absorption of calcium in the intestine.
(3) Estrogen replacement therapy.
Hormones are particularly suitable for slowing down the rate of bone loss in women before and after menopause. For example: Neil estrol, Pemeril, Levi’s and so on. They are usually started during menopause. Endometrial hyperplasia or uterine bleeding may occur with long-term estrogen use, but the incidence is low. It is not recommended for patients with breast cancer and endometrial cancer. The combination of estrogen and progestin can reduce complications.
(4) Calcitonin.
Acts specifically on osteoclasts, reduces bone resorption, and has a central analgesic effect, promotes PGE2 synthesis, and is associated with reduced calcium ion efflux from cells. Its commonly used preparations such as calcitonin and calcitonin.
(5) Bisphosphonates.
Reduce the metabolic activity of osteoclasts, and act on osteoblasts, inhibit the stimulating effect of osteoblasts on osteoclasts, reflected in the stability of bone trabeculae or even increase in bone volume. Such as Fosamax, etc.