[파이낸셜뉴스] Recently, not only the elderly, but also the number of osteoporosis patients in their 20s and 30s is increasing. Who should be wary of osteoporosis? On the 14th, Nanoori Hospital pointed out the types of people who need special attention to osteoporosis and said that regular examinations and management are necessary.
According to the announcement of the National Health Insurance Corporation, as of 2021, female patients accounted for 94% of all osteoporosis patients.
Before menopause, bone density decreases by 0.3 to 0.5% per year, but after menopause, the rate progresses 10 times faster due to estrogen deficiency. One of the roles of estrogen is to prevent calcium from escaping from bones and to inhibit osteoclasts that destroy bones. During menopause, estrogen, which plays an important role in bone health, decreases, increasing the risk of osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis can also be caused by a family history. In one study, as a result of examining the BMD relationship between parents and children, it was found that if both parents had low BMD, the probability that the child also had low BMD increased by 7 to 10 times. Low bone density means that as a result, the risk of developing osteoporosis is high, so if your parents have osteoporosis, your children need regular checkups and management.
Weight also affects the development of osteoporosis. People who are overweight have a higher bone density than thin people and are less likely to get osteoporosis. This is because bones need proper stimulation in order to be healthy. When a stimulus called body weight is applied to a bone, osteoblasts that produce bone are activated in the bone, and the amount of bone increases. Excessive dieting on a daily basis can also be a problem. If dieting is excessive, you will not be able to eat nutrients evenly, so your muscle mass will decrease and your bones will dry out at the same time. Not only does fat decrease, but bone density also decreases.
If osteoporosis is left untreated, it is easy to break bones even with minor impacts such as bumps or falls. In particular, attention should be paid to hip fractures, and in the case of the elderly, hip fractures can lead to death. Therefore, even if there is no special problem, if a woman over 50 years old is recommended to have a bone density test periodically, if osteoporosis is found, active treatment is needed.
For normal bone health, it is good to avoid excessive smoking or drinking, and cola or coffee interfere with the absorption of calcium, so you should improve your usual lifestyle, such as reducing your caffeine intake. In addition, calcium is supplemented through foods with a high calcium content, such as milk and cheese, and vitamin D can be supplemented by sunlight, so it is good to get out in the sun 2-3 times a week.
Lee Gwang-yeol, director of Gangnam Nanuri Hospital Joint Center, said, “Osteoporosis can cause various joint diseases, including fractures, so regular bone density tests are essential.” It is important to manage it so that it does not become weak,” he advised.
“Constant exercise is essential for bone health. Strong muscles help build bones by providing tension and stimulation to bones,” he said. It is good to start with exercises that can be easily done in daily life, such as exercise, and slowly increase the time and intensity.”
camila@fnnews.com Reporter Kang Gyu-min