Understanding Osteoporosis: The Hidden Danger

Osteoporosis is a common disease in the elderly, especially postmenopausal women. The main characteristic of the disease is a decrease in both the quality and quantity of bone mass, which causes the bones to lose strength, leading to an increased risk of fractures from minor accidents. Common fracture sites include the spine, hip joints, wrists, and shoulders.

Osteoporosis is a disease without symptoms, meaning patients do not feel any symptoms from the disease such as pain, stiffness, or weakness. These symptoms are usually caused by other diseases, such as osteoarthritis or spinal degeneration compressing nerves. These conditions may coexist with osteoporosis.

When should you get tested for osteoporosis?

For patients in Thailand, the clear guideline is that women aged 65 and older or men aged 70 and older should be tested. However, those at risk, such as women who experienced menopause before age 45, those with autoimmune arthritis, those who have had thyroid surgery, or those using steroids for chronic diseases, can be tested before reaching the above age criteria. It is recommended to consult a doctor before deciding to undergo testing.

Why treat osteoporosis?

Although osteoporosis does not cause any symptoms that patients can feel, it increases the risk of fractures, such as hip fractures from falls or vertebral compression fractures. These conditions reduce the patient’s ability to walk, especially hip fractures, which if not surgically treated, can cause deformity and unequal leg length, leading to difficulty walking and repeated falls. Additionally, vertebral compression fractures, even if treated non-surgically in some patients, can result in spinal curvature and deformity, causing sagittal imbalance, which also increases the risk of repeated falls.

How to start treating osteoporosis?

If you meet the age criteria, you can start by consulting a specialist. If indicated, bone density tests and blood tests to assess bone strength and calcium levels will be performed. If osteoporosis is diagnosed, treatment with anti-osteoporotic medication can increase bone mass and strengthen bones, reducing the risk of fractures after falls. Anti-osteoporotic medications should be prescribed by a doctor to ensure effective treatment and reduce the risk of complications.

Treatment of osteoporosis requires continuous and regular follow-up to achieve good results and treatment goals. Studies show that patients who continuously receive osteoporosis medication have a lower risk of recurrent fractures or disability after fractures compared to those who do not receive continuous treatment. Therefore, for good bone and joint health, elderly patients diagnosed with osteoporosis are recommended to regularly follow up on their treatment.

Reference:

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