Moving a countertop resulted in a broken lumbar spine? Doctor: Osteoporosis fracture has a higher mortality rate than cancer!
Osteoporosis is called the “silent killer” and causes fractures with a higher mortality rate than cancer?
“Dr. Yan, I have been suffering from back pain recently. Is it osteoporosis?” Patients in the orthopedic clinic ask this question from time to time. Dr. Yim Ko-lun from the Orthopedics Department of Kuang Tin General Hospital said that “osteoporosis” has no obvious symptoms. Many patients do not know they have suffered from osteoporosis for a long time until they fall or break a bone. Some patients even suffered compression fractures in their lumbar spine due to osteoporosis just by moving the sink while cleaning. Doctors remind that once osteoporosis causes hip fracture, the mortality rate within one year is even higher than that of cancer.
October 20 is “World Osteoporosis Day”. Dr. Yan Kelun said that osteoporosis can be called a “silent killer”. It usually hides in the dark without symptoms. However, when slight dizziness occurs or a collision or fall occurs, it may lead to osteoporosis. Patients suffer fractures and are at risk of becoming disabled. Surgical treatment and postoperative care bring a huge burden of time, money and manpower to patients and their families, and the impact cannot be underestimated.
Dr. Yan Kelun pointed out that common osteoporotic fracture sites include the shoulder (proximal humerus), wrist (distal radius), spine, and wide bone (proximal femur). Some patients can be treated conservatively, but most require surgery. . Once a leg is fractured, you will be unable to move normally for at least 3 months, and recovery after surgery varies from person to person. What’s more serious is that the mortality rate may be as high as 20% in the first year after a hip fracture, posing a huge threat to the patient’s life.
Dr. Yan Kelun explained that even if you choose not to undergo surgery for osteoporosis fractures, just being bedridden for a long time will increase the risk of pneumonia and urinary tract infection. In addition, most of the patients are elderly, which can easily lead to repeated infections and even sepsis, eventually leading to death. Elderly patients with osteoporosis will also face higher anesthesia risks if they choose surgery, which is why the risk of osteoporosis fractures is high.
A hunchback may lead to osteoporosis and “defeat like a mountain”. It is necessary to supplement calcium and vitamin D to protect bones.
Dr. Yan Kelun pointed out that because the human body is structured with eyes facing forward, most of the body’s movements are to stand upright or bend forward. When osteoporosis occurs, it will cause the bones to collapse forward, causing the spine to appear “low in the front and high in the back.” . The symptoms of hunchback will also push the body’s center of gravity forward, accelerating the risk of osteoporosis fractures, causing the bone tissue to “fall like a mountain”, and often require longer treatment and control to inhibit deterioration.
Age is one of the main risk factors for osteoporosis. Dr. Yan Kelun reminds that men should pay attention to the problem of osteoporosis after about 60 to 65 years old, and women after menopause. This is especially true for women after menopause or those who have had their ovaries removed for health reasons, because hormonal regulation will accelerate bone loss.
Dr. Yan Kelun said that to prevent osteoporosis, in addition to paying attention to calcium supplementation in daily diet, about 1,200 mg per day. Also pay attention to vitamin D3 supplementation, about 1,000 units per day. Doctors remind that calcium and vitamin D are like cement and bricks, indispensable for the stability of bones. There is no clear scientific evidence that there is a positive correlation between drinking coffee and osteoporosis. Drink it in moderation, and you can also mix it with milk to supplement calcium.
Insufficient awareness of osteoporosis screening is also one of the dangerous reasons. Dr. Yan Kelun pointed out that people often regard hunchback caused by osteoporosis as “old age” and ignore the importance of early detection of osteoporosis. The current standard bone density examination uses a “dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry” (DXA) to detect the bone density of the spine and hip joints. The radiation dose is low and the cost is more economical than fracture surgery and care expenses. Doctors remind that as long as you are of the right age or are worried about osteoporosis, you can consult an orthopedic clinic to receive a bone density test.
Weight-bearing exercise reduces bone density loss and more sun exposure helps vitamin D synthesis
Dr. Yan Kelun said that aerobic exercise mainly increases cardiopulmonary function. To enhance bone density, appropriate weight-bearing exercise is recommended to allow the bones to bear weight and stimulate their growth, strengthen the stability of the core muscles, help stabilize the spine and reduce falls. Probability. However, you must pay attention to the correct posture when exercising weight-bearing exercises to avoid injury to the spine. They should be performed under the supervision of a sports coach. Resistance training can also be performed to help slow down the loss of bone density.
Dr. Yan Kelun reminded that to reduce osteoporosis fractures, it is best to quit smoking as soon as possible. It is recommended that the daily alcohol intake be limited to 10 grams, which is about the same as a bottle of spleen wine. You can spend more time in the sun on weekdays to promote vitamin D synthesis. Dr. Yan Kelun said that basking in the sun does not need to be done under the scorching sun. The formula he invented is “before ten o’clock, after four o’clock, fifteen minutes is enough.” In addition, some diseases and drugs such as steroids may increase the risk of osteoporosis. Patients can consult a doctor for early intervention and appropriate treatment.
Choose osteoporosis treatment drugs and follow them regularly for 1-2 years.
As for patients who have already suffered from osteoporosis, Dr. Yan Kelun reminded that there are now many types of osteoporosis drugs, and there are many different ways to use them. Individual factors such as kidney function and gender will be taken into consideration to provide appropriate treatment methods. Patients with osteoporosis are also reminded to follow up once every 1-2 years after receiving treatment.
During the epidemic, do the administration of COVID-19 vaccines and osteoporosis treatment drugs need to be staggered? Dr. Yan Kelun said that according to foreign literature, some drugs need to be separated by four to seven days, some need to be separated by a week, and some have no effect. To keep it simple and easy to remember, you can use the formula “If the bone is stable, take the same dose, take it orally and it will be fine”, or simply do it every seven days, which is easier to remember. Patients with osteoporosis are reminded that they should continue treatment to maintain proper control of osteoporosis.
