Osteoporosis can cause fractures if you fall! Doctors recommend screening once every two years and don’t forget to take nutritional supplements.

Each detection tool has its own characteristics, and DXA has the highest accuracy.

Bone density is the standard for determining osteoporosis. The inspection instruments include the gold standard diagnostic tool DXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), quantitative ultrasound, CT, and chest X-ray combined with AI software. Among them, DXA has the highest accuracy and can diagnose and track the bone density status of the waist and pelvis. It takes about 10 minutes, and people need to go to the hospital for testing. Quantitative ultrasound measures osteoporosis through the heel with an accuracy of about 60%, and CT can check the lumbar spine with an accuracy of 70%. Both take only 1 minute and are commonly seen in community screening activities or osteoporosis tour buses. In addition, there are currently institutions that combine chest X-ray AI artificial intelligence to analyze subtle bone textures that cannot be seen by the naked eye to see if they are degenerated and not so dense, in order to detect the risk of osteoporosis.

Drugs and nutritional supplements can slow down osteoporosis, and high-risk groups should undergo regular screening.

For patients with low bone mass whose bone density T value is between -1 and -2.5, Peng Sixiang, a doctor in the Department of Radiology at Far Eastern Hospital, said that calcium can be supplemented through nutritional supplements. Calcium tablets, calcium carbonate, and amorphous calcium are all good choices. In addition, milk, soy milk, and sun exposure are also needed to increase calcium and vitamin D and slow down osteoporosis.

For osteoporosis patients with a T value less than -2.5, Peng Sixiang recommends medication to accelerate bone formation in the body through oral and injection. As for the intake of nutritional supplements, you can consult a doctor, pharmacist, or nutritionist to find the most appropriate dosage. If dental surgery such as tooth extraction is required during treatment, it is necessary to discuss with the doctor, and the medication will generally be discontinued for about 3 months. In addition to taking medication on time, Peng Sixiang also emphasized the importance of diet, sun exposure, and exercise. A multi-pronged approach can achieve the best recovery effect.

Many people think that osteoporosis is only for the elderly, but young people also need to pay attention to bone condition. Bone health is hereditary. If an elder in the family has suffered osteoporosis fractures, the family should also go for a check-up. In addition, people over 50 years old, heavy smokers, heavy coffee drinkers, and those with a family history of osteoporosis are recommended to be tested once every two years. If there are screening activities in the community, you can also actively participate.

Osteoporosis prevention is better than treatment

Osteoporosis can be prevented. Here are four tips to love your bones, build good bone strength, and avoid fractures caused by osteoporosis.

Technique 1. Adequate nutrition
Maintaining the skeletal muscle system requires nutrients such as calcium, vitamin D and protein. Dairy products (fresh milk, yogurt, cheese) are the easiest sources of calcium, and proper sun exposure is needed to activate vitamin D to help calcium absorption.

Technique 2. Regular weight-bearing exercise
Weight-bearing exercise can help increase bone density and strengthen muscles, help improve body coordination and balance, and reduce the risk of falls and fractures. Therefore, it is recommended to perform exercises such as walking, jogging, climbing stairs, dancing, mountain climbing, and dumbbell lifting (about 0.5~1 kg).

Tip 3: Avoid bad habits
Smoking and drinking will affect the maintenance of bone density. To ensure bone health, quitting smoking is the best option. Drinking should be moderate. At the same time, avoid excessive coffee drinking and staying up late, etc. Unhealthy habits.

Tip 4: Know if you have high risk factors