How to Prevent and Treat Osteoporosis?

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a condition that affects the bones. Bone is continuously being broken down and replaced, and osteoporosis occurs when bone breaks down faster than it can be replaced. This causes the bones to become weak and brittle, and thus easily fractured. Asian women are particularly susceptible.

Picture this: You’re at the wet market buying fish and vegetables, and you see an elderly lady in front of you slip and fall. Due to osteoporosis. Which has weakened her bones, she breaks her hip bone and is unable to get up. Someone has to call an ambulance to send her to the hospital.

It may sound alarming to you, but this situation happens more than 6 times every day in Singapore, and it is becoming more common with our ageing population. 1 in 4 people who fracture their hips will also pass away within 12 months of the injury.

Osteoporosis in women

Osteoporosis is more common in women than men. Women have a higher risk of developing osteoporosis if they have:

• Reached menopause
• Had their hormone-producing ovaries removed early

Likewise, men with low testosterone levels also face higher risk of developing osteoporosis.

Risk factors for osteoporosis

A family history of osteoporosis can เว็บพนันออนไลน์ UFABET สมัครง่าย โปรโมชั่นมากมาย increase your risk for developing the disease, as well as being petite or thin because this typically means you have less bone mass.

Individuals on long-term medications such as long-term steroids, taken by patients with chronic medical problems such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, can also develop osteoporosis.

It is important to note that some traditional Chinese medicines can also contain significant amounts of steroids.

Lifestyle habits like excessive smoking and alcohol consumption may also increase the risk of osteoporosis.

How can I prevent and reduce the risk of osteoporosis?

Bone mass and density

Your bone mass is the greatest when you’re in your 20s. After 30, it will begin to decline. Breastfeeding mothers, in particular, experience significant bone loss when they are lactating.

It is therefore very important to strengthen your bones as much as you can when you are young.

Diet and lifestyle

Eating well and leading an active lifestyle can help build strong bones when you are young.

A healthy diet with sufficient calcium and vitamin D is important for strengthening bones. You can consume more calcium through diet choices by having more dairy, leafy greens, and soy products, while vitamin D can be produced by your skin through adequate sun exposure.

Regular exercise, strength training and weight-bearing exercises also stress the bones and stimulate them to strengthen.

Osteoporosis in postmenopausal women

Postmenopausal women are at increased risk of osteoporosis due to several reasons.

Hormones and osteoporosis

Women who reach menopause have reduced levels of oestrogen, which leads to reduced bone mass.

Increasing age

Bone mass and density also decrease with age. This is because the rate of new bone growth slows, to the point where bone loss occurs faster than it can be replaced.

How is osteoporosis diagnosed?

You can assess your risk of developing osteoporosis by visiting your family doctor.

Bone mineral density (BMD) test

If required, your doctor may send you for a bone mineral density test, which will help your doctor find out if your bone mass is normal, slightly deficient (osteopaenia) or very deficient (osteoporosis).

Your doctor will then be able to advise whether you need an anti-fracture treatment.