Recognize Healthy Steps to Prevent Osteoporosis from an Early Age

Osteoporosis merupakan kondisi yang menggambarkan adanya pengeroposan tulang. Osteoporosis tidak hanya menyerang usia tua, tetapi bisa terjadi pada usia muda pada kondisi-kondisi seperti faktor hormonal, gaya hidup dan pola makan turut berperan penting. Osteoporosis terjadi secara bertahap dalam beberapa tahun tanpa gejala yang jelas. biasanya baru terdeteksi setelah mengalami kerusakan tulang. Tidak akan terasa sakit kecuali terjadi di keretakan pada tulang.

What is Osteoporosis?
According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, osteoporosis is a disease that occurs when bones lose their strength or become porous. As a result, bones become weak, brittle and in severe cases can break easily. It is very risky to do certain activities.

When viewed under a microscope, healthy bone will look hollow like a honeycomb. But when osteoporosis strikes, the visible hole will look bigger. This is because the bone has lost its density or mass. When bones lose their density, they become weak.

Although it seems trivial, over time osteoporosis can also interfere with daily activities and daily movements. If not treated immediately, osteoporosis can also make bones break easily. The dangerous thing is, osteoporosis is often referred to as a silent disease because the symptoms are often invisible and not even felt. Therefore, it is necessary to know for sure what are the signs and symptoms of osteoporosis, as well as an early diagnosis by a doctor so that it can be treated immediately.

Can Osteoporosis Affect Young People?
Diseases of the bones such as osteoporosis, can occur more quickly than imagined. Indeed, it is common for a woman to develop osteoporosis several years after experiencing menopause. But in some cases, osteoporosis can also occur before menopause.

Some of these conditions warn a woman of this disease of the bones:

• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

In PCOS conditions, osteoporosis can occur more quickly, because menopause is earlier than it should be.

• Athletic Energy Deficiency (AED)

This condition is defined as a nutritional deficiency experienced by people who are very active in sports.

• Hereditary factors

Women whose parents develop osteoporosis early, are at risk of developing a similar condition.

• Medication side effects

Consumption of prednisone-type drugs can trigger early osteoporosis. In addition, treatments to treat cancer, can also trigger the same thing. In addition to the four conditions above, diseases such as Crohn's disease are also said to increase the incidence of bone disease at a young age. Not to be left behind, lifestyle factors such as rarely exercising, having a smoking habit and consuming alcohol frequently, are also at risk for making Sahabat Hermina experience early osteoporosis.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is often considered a silent disease or a disease that has no symptoms. This is because the signs and symptoms of this disease are often not very visible to the sufferer. Some of the symptoms that can be noticed related to Osteoporosis are:

1. Stooped posture. Back posture stooped as in the elderly
2. Decrease in height
3. Frequent injuries or fractures. It usually occurs in the spine, wrist or groin.
4. Back pain Usually sufferers will experience back pain that is sustainable in the long term

Take these steps to prevent osteoporosis at a young age
The risk of osteoporosis at a young age makes many people worry. Because osteoporosis causes physical symptoms that can interfere with activities. Therefore, you are recommended to prevent the risk of osteoporosis at a young age in the following ways:

1. Get enough calcium and vitamin D. Both are important nutrients that bones need. You can get calcium by consuming green vegetables, nuts, seeds, and seafood. Meanwhile, you can get vitamin D by consuming fish (such as salmon, tuna, sardines, mackerel), egg yolks, beef liver, and milk and its processed products. Vitamin D can also be obtained by regularly basking in the sun for approximately 10-15 minutes, while still using sunscreen. If needed, Friends of Hermina can also take vitamin D supplements according to the doctor's recommendations.
2. Do regular exercise, especially those that function in maintaining bone health and strength. For example swimming, basketball, and soccer.
3. Avoid smoking. Nicotine in cigarette smoke can reduce blood flow to bones, inhibit the production of bone-forming cells, and inhibit calcium absorption. As a result, people who actively smoke are at high risk of experiencing bone loss at a young age.
4. Avoid consumption of alcohol and soft drinks. Implementing a healthy lifestyle by not consuming alcohol and reducing soft drinks is one of the beginnings of forming healthy and strong bones. This is because the alcohol content can reduce the body's ability to store calcium, as well as soft drinks that can trigger the release of calcium, thereby reducing bone density.

Consult hermina's friend's bone health problems early on to an orthopedic specialist at RSU Hermina Pandanaran.