Watch out! Osteoporosis Stalks Menopausal Women

Osteoporosis is a condition where bones become brittle or porous, so there is a high risk of fractures or even fractures. The problem is that a person usually doesn't know about the condition of bone fragility until something happens that causes a fracture. Osteoporosis doesn't even have obvious symptoms. This is what makes osteoporosis a silent disease.

Unfortunately, osteoporosis is still often considered trivial, and prevention is ignored. In fact, if a bone fracture occurs, it can cause permanent disability, limit activities, and reduce the quality of life. It should be noted that the parts that often experience fractures in osteoporosis sufferers are the wrists, pelvis, and spine. Where the majority of sufferers are over 40 years old and female. WHO even predicts that in 2050, there will be a 2-3x increase in the incidence of hip fractures in women. And as many as 20% of people with osteoporotic fractures die after one year.

 

Women are more susceptible to osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is often considered a disease unique to women and the elderly, despite the fact that osteoporosis can affect anyone of all ages, even children. The reason women are more susceptible to osteoporosis is because of the following characteristics :

• Smaller bones
• Reduced estrogen hormone levels

Estrogen plays an important role in producing bone mass and controlling bone-forming and bone-resorbing activities. All of these activities will experience a drastic decrease when entering menopause as estrogen levels in the body decrease.

• Low calcium intake

Due to diet and other things, women's calcium intake tends to be low. Coupled with the fact that most Asian women experience lactose intolerance, they cannot consume animal milk and its derivative products.

• Small body posture

Because the bone frame is smaller, the body posture is smaller. This applies specifically to Asian women. 

Other factors that make a woman susceptible to osteoporosis are :

• Irregular menstrual cycle.
• Menstrual phase that comes at a young age
• Have a history of ovary removal.
• Experience menopause more quickly.

 

Osteoporosis Risk Factors

Apart from the causes above, there are also several risk factors that influence whether a person will develop osteoporosis or not.

• Degenerative processes or increasing age
• Experience a decrease in hormone levels.
• Experiencing hormonal disorders
• Poor diet
• Suffering from digestive disorders that prevent nutrient absorption
• Suffering from a disease that attacks the hormonal glands or having a hormonal disorder
• Taking certain medications long-term
• Smoking and/or consuming alcohol
• Inactive lifestyle, lack of movement, and rarely exercising
• Have a family history of osteoporosis

Can osteoporosis be cured? In the initial phase, yes, you can. By using bone-strengthening drugs and supplementing with calcium and vitamin supplements, bone density can be improved and maintained. With a doctor's recommendation, of course. However, even so, prevention is always better than cure. So it's a good idea to take preventative steps for osteoporosis early on.

 

Osteoporosis Prevention

Peak bone density is around 25 years of age. And then the body's ability to regenerate bone mass will begin to decrease around the age of 35. In women, it will continue to decrease after experiencing menopause. Therefore, for the sake of healthy bones throughout your life, prevent osteoporosis at the age of 30 by :

1. Improve your diet : Start by consuming calcium-rich foods on your daily menu and adding calcium supplements if deemed necessary.
2. Start a healthy lifestyle : Stop smoking and consuming alcohol
3. Adopt an active lifestyle and exercise regularly : There is no need to immediately do high-intensity exercise. Just start by walking for at least 30 minutes every day. And be more active in everyday life.
4. Enough sun exposure.
5. Do a bone density test.

To determine bone density and function, early detection is needed if loss occurs so that treatment can be given quickly. Especially for women who have experienced menopause, this prevention should be supplemented with regular check-ups with specialist doctors at the nearest Hermina Hospital and following the doctor's advice and recommendations. For the elderly (over 60 years), please be careful to avoid the risk of falling. Avoid slippery and uneven roads, use footwear, and pay attention to room lighting.