Osteoporosis: A silent threat that often goes unnoticed.

For example, a fall can cause a spinal fracture, resulting in severe pain. In some cases, osteoporosis can lead to spinal collapse, causing kyphosis or scoliosis, resulting in loss of balance while walking and chronic back pain.

Who is at risk?

According to World Health Organization statistics, 4% of women worldwide aged 50-59 years have osteoporosis, increasing to 8%, 25%, and 48% in the 60-69, 70-79, and over 80 year age groups, respectively.

The Osteoporosis Foundation of Thailand revealed that in 2010, more than 1 million Thais aged approximately 70-80 years old were found to have osteoporosis, and about 25%, or 1 in 4, of the country were affected.

Causes of osteoporosis.

It can be divided into 3 factors.

1. Genetics

In families where a parent has osteoporosis and has experienced fractures, their children have a higher chance of developing osteoporosis and a greater risk of fractures.

2. Lifestyle factors that affect the development of osteoporosis.

• Medication

Some medications, when used for extended periods, can lead to bone thinning. These include steroids, certain hormone medications, and anticonvulsants.

• Malnutrition

A deficiency in calcium and vitamin D can lead to stunted bone growth and decreased bone mass formation.

• Alcoholic beverages

Drinking more than 3 glasses of liquor, beer, or even wine per day increases the risk of developing osteoporosis more quickly.

• Smoking

The nicotine in cigarettes damages bone-building cells, leading to thinner bones. Smoking more than 20 cigarettes a day increases the risk of fractures by 1.5 times compared to non-smokers.

3. Age

As we age, the number of bone-forming cells decreases, leading to an increased rate of bone mass loss.

How does osteoporosis affect the spine?

1. Spinal deformities, such as kyphosis or scoliosis, can disrupt body balance.

2. Spinal fractures or compression of the spine may also cause compression of the spinal nerves.

Diagnosis

In cases where vertebral collapse is suspected, a motion view x-ray combined with an MRI can help diagnose this abnormality.

📚 If you have back pain…should you get an X-ray or an MRI?

Treatment

There are two approaches to treating patients diagnosed with osteoporosis.

Medical treatment

Currently, medications used to treat osteoporosis are divided into three groups based on their mechanism of action on bone balance:

1. Anti-resorptive agents (group of drugs that inhibit bone resorption)

2. Bone-forming agents

3. Drugs that both inhibit bone breakdown and stimulate bone formation (Dual action agents).

Surgical treatment

If a vertebrae fracture, collapse, or deform due to osteoporosis, causing pain and spinal misalignment, bone cement injection is a low-risk surgical procedure with good results, allowing patients to return to normal life more quickly.

📚 Cement for healing bone fractures…completed in one day.

Reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

1. Prolia injections are a group of medications that help reduce bone mass loss. They are typically injected every six months to reduce the risk of fractures, especially in the hip and spine. They can be used in patients with kidney failure.

2. Consume foods rich in calcium and vitamin D, essential nutrients for bone formation. Include a balanced diet from all five food groups, especially adequate amounts of protein from both plant and animal sources to build muscle and prevent falls.

3. Get some gentle sunlight in the morning and evening for at least 15 minutes a day. Allow your body to be exposed to only 15% of the sun, as sunlight helps the body synthesize vitamin D naturally. Vitamin D helps improve the absorption of calcium from food or supplements into the bloodstream.

4. Age-appropriate exercise: Exercise that helps increase bone mass should be weight-bearing exercises that put pressure on the joints, such as brisk walking, jogging, or aerobics for older adults. These activities help increase bone mass and strengthen bones. Exercise also improves muscle strength and fitness, which can help prevent falls.