After hip fracture caused by osteoporosis, the mortality rate of patients due to various complications in the first year is as high as 20% to 25%, and more than 50% of the survivors will have different degrees of disability. The consequences of osteoporosis are very serious, but there are still many misconceptions about the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.
Myth 1: Calcium supplementation is equal to the treatment of osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is caused by the osteoclasts in the human body having a greater impact than the osteoblasts, which simply means that the rate of bone loss exceeds the rate of formation, so the treatment is not just calcium supplementation, but a comprehensive treatment to improve bone mass, enhance bone strength and prevent fractures. Patients should go to the relevant departments of regular hospitals for standardized treatment.
Myth 2: Drinking bone broth can prevent osteoporosis
Experiments have proved that the calcium content in the same amount of milk is much higher than that in bone broth. At the same time, the large amount of fat in bone broth can cause other health hazards to the elderly. Attention should be paid to diet diversification, less oil, not more high protein and caffeine-containing food.
Myth 3: Weight loss is weight loss
The mineral content of the human skeleton reaches its highest peak bone mass in the 30s. Many young people, especially young women due to dieting and weight loss, seriously affects the bone health. Weight loss to lose body fat, do not lose bone weight at the same time, it is best to maintain the body shape through moderate exercise.
Myth 4, the main cause of damage to bone health is too much phosphate in the body
The main causes of damage to bone health include lack of calcium in food (especially in adolescence), changes in female hormones and lack of weight-bearing exercise. Back in 1997, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences found that phosphates do not negatively affect calcium absorption, and that for most people it is unnecessary to link calcium absorption to phosphate intake. Phosphate is a mineral that occurs commonly in nature and plays an important role not only in the body’s energy metabolism, but also as a major component of human bones and teeth. Compared to other sources of phosphate, 98% of phosphate in food comes from high-protein foods such as meat, cheese, nuts and cereals, and about 2% from beverages. Therefore, with adequate calcium intake, proper consumption of soda does not directly and additionally lead to the development of osteoporosis.
The mineral content of the human skeleton reaches its highest level in the 30s, which is medically known as peak bone mass. The higher the peak bone mass, the greater the “bone mineral bank” reserves in the body, and the more delayed and less severe the onset of osteoporosis in old age. In simple terms, osteoporosis prevention and treatment can start from the following three aspects: First, a balanced diet. Increase the intake of calcium and moderate protein in the diet, and maintain a low-salt diet. Second, moderate exercise. Exercise can make bones stronger, and it also helps to enhance the body’s responsiveness, improve balance and reduce the risk of falls. Third, increase sunlight exposure. The Chinese diet contains very limited vitamin D. A large amount of vitamin D3 depends on the synthesis of the skin after receiving ultraviolet radiation from the sun, and the average normal person needs at least 20 minutes of sunlight per day.
Common misconceptions about osteoporosis prevention and treatment
Osteoporosis is the most common disease of the skeletal system in middle-aged and elderly people, especially women. Many people have the following misconceptions about osteoporosis. In fact, osteoporosis is preventable and treatable, and it is crucial to pay more attention to the disease, prevent it early and monitor it closely.
Myth 1, calcium supplementation is equal to the treatment of osteoporosis
Calcium intake can slow down bone loss and improve bone mineralization, but when used for the treatment of osteoporosis, it should be used in combination with other drugs. There is not sufficient evidence that calcium supplementation alone can replace other anti-osteoporosis drug therapy. Therefore, the treatment of osteoporosis is not just calcium supplementation, but a comprehensive treatment to improve bone density, enhance bone strength and prevent fractures. Patients should go to the regular hospital’s osteoporosis center for standardized treatment.
Myth 2: Drinking bone broth can prevent osteoporosis
The calcium content in bone broth is yet to be determined. At the same time, the large amount of fat in bone broth can be harmful to the health of the elderly. To prevent osteoporosis, we should pay attention to a diversified diet with less oil and salt, and it is not advisable to eat more food with high protein and caffeine.
Myth 3: Osteoporosis has nothing to do with young people
Osteoporosis is not a disease specific to the elderly, young people also need to pay attention. The mineral content of the human skeleton reaches its highest peak bone mass in the 30s. The higher the peak bone mass, the more bone mineral reserves in the human body, the more delayed and less severe the occurrence of osteoporosis in old age.
Many young people, especially young women dieting to lose weight, weight down at the same time, to the bones also laid a hidden danger. Weight loss is the loss of body fat, do not lose bone weight at the same time, it is best to maintain the body shape through moderate exercise.
Myth 4: It’s too late to treat osteoporosis in the elderly
Many elderly people believe that osteoporosis cannot be reversed and that treatment is not very effective in old age, so they give up treatment. From the perspective of treatment, the earlier the treatment, the better the effect. Therefore, once an elderly person is diagnosed with osteoporosis, he or she should receive regular treatment as soon as possible to prevent fractures and improve the quality of life.
Myth 5: Finding osteoporosis depends on self-perception
Most of the patients with osteoporosis do not have abnormal sensation at the initial stage or do not feel obvious. You should not rely on self-perception to detect osteoporosis, and you should not wait until you notice back pain or fracture before going for medical treatment. People at risk should go to the hospital regularly for bone density checkups to help understand changes in bone density, regardless of whether they have symptoms or not.
Myth 6: You don’t need to see a doctor for osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a chronic disease that is often overlooked. People at risk should go to the osteoporosis center of a nearby regular hospital to receive diagnosis and treatment in a timely manner. For patients who have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, they should go to a regular hospital early to receive comprehensive treatment from a specialist.
Myth 7: Osteoporosis is prone to fracture, so it is better to stay still than to move
Maintaining normal bone density and bone strength requires constant exercise stimulation, and lack of exercise will result in bone loss. Physical exercise has a positive effect on the prevention of osteoporosis. In addition, if you do not pay attention to physical exercise, osteoporosis, muscle strength will also be reduced, the stimulation of the bones will further reduce, not only will accelerate the development of osteoporosis, but also affect the flexibility of the joints, easy to fall, resulting in fractures.