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 “dual-energy x-ray bone densitometry”, 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 (Table 1 and Figure 1)
2. Eat foods rich in vitamin D, such as milk with vitamin D and marine fish
3. Take calcium and vitamin D tablets (in case of not getting 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 the intake of alcohol, up to 1-2 cups a day (generally 1 cup amount: 350ml of beer, red wine 150ml, white wine 50ml.)
You also want to avoid falls as much as possible – sounds simple, but reducing the occurrence 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. Keep cords tucked away as much as possible and make sure there are no cords in the aisles
3, keep the room with light
4.Beware of slippery floors
5.Wear sturdy, comfortable shoes with rubber soles
6.Check your eyes
7, ask your doctor if the medication you are taking can make you dizzy or increase the risk of falling
Q: 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 ineffective or cause side effects that you cannot tolerate, there are other drugs to try.
Q: How do I know 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.