The 5 things that nobody tells you about osteoporosis

The osteoporosis is a silent and progressive disease that, by not generating symptom nor pain, can cause fractures constant and significantly reduce the quality of life. It is estimated that in Spain there are 2.5 to 3 million affected and according to the World Health Organization (WHO) is a "condition that causes an increase in bone fragility"

Fractures suffered by patients with this condition are particularly frequent in patients with vertebrae, hip and forearm. These increase exponentially with age and represent an important cause of morbidity and mortality in populations of elderly. 30 out of every 100 women suffer after menopause and cause more than 1.3 million injuries in the world. Most of them require a delicate and expensive surgical operation that does not ensure the perfect recovery of the patient.

It is detected through a densitometry It measures bone mass and allows an early diagnosis of the disease. To prevent it, a change of habits is necessary under the supervision of a specialist. The best thing you can do is take a calcium-rich diet (dairy, blue fish and nuts), be prevailed and maintain a correct posture and perform all physical activity that you can, avoiding a sedentary lifestyle.

It does not only affect women

It is more frequent in them, but it also occurs, with even more problems, in men. In her case, the complications are the same as in women, but they maintain a worse evolution The osteoporotic fractures in them present a higher mortality rate, and they also have worse follow-up of pharmacological treatments.

Sport is always beneficial for bones, even if there is disease. But you have to adapt it to the possibilities of each one

What is certain is that it affects especially to women in menopause, by lowering estradiol (hormone that decreases with menopause), which activates the cell that destroys the bone, the otooclast. Therefore, in this stage should increase protection measures against this bone loss and increase calcium intake, as well as the level of exercise.

Medicines

There is a class of drugs, called bisphosphonates, intended to treat low bone density. These prevent the loss of bone by inactivating the osteoclast, a type of bone cell that reabsorbs the tissue, or prevents its formation. Other medications also promote growth, that is, they produce new bone. "But most of them they are only safe in a period of three years", assures Joseph Lane, professor of orthopedic surgery, to 'Prevention'.

"Beyond that point, the skeleton is altered and many adverse events such as femoral fractures, osteonecrosis of the jaw, general weakening and finally the end of bone can occur." Patients who have been taking these drugs revisions should be made after three / four years and make a new decision about whether to continue, stop or change the treatment, "he adds.

New drug

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just approved Evenity (romosozumab-aqqg) to treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at high risk of fracture of a bone. These are patients with a history of osteoporotic fractures or multiple risk factors for fractures, or those who have failed or are intolerant of other therapies for osteoporosis.

It is a silent and progressive disease that, by not generating symptoms or pain, can cause constant fractures and decrease the quality of life

"The approval gives women with postmenopausal osteoporosis that they run a high risk of fracture a new treatment that will reduce the likelihood of breakage, "he says. Hylton V. Joffe, director of the Center for the Evaluation and Investigation of Drugs of the Division of bone, reproductive and urological products, in a statement published by the 'CNN'. Although he points out that "it is important to carefully select patients for this therapy, which includes avoiding use in patients who have suffered a heart attack or stroke during the previous year. "

Sport

Many tell you that it is harmful to bone health, but it is a myth. It is beneficial for bones always and in all situations, even if there is disease. What you have to do is adapt it to the possibilities of each one. "It increases muscle power, decreasing the likelihood of falling, and improves balance and stability, making falls less frequent," says Lane.

Beware of tobacco and alcohol

It's known that Tobacco is very bad for bones. All bone disease evolves worse with this drug. But, in addition, along with alcohol, it is a risk factor of osteoporotic fracture and, of course, may increase the incidence of falls.

To have strong and healthy bones, apart from calcium, it is worth noting the importance of vitamin D so that it is absorbed in the intestine. The internationally accepted levels are above 30ng / ml, although the mild deficiency is not worrisome if there is no pathology that could aggravate the situation. It is a 'hormone' that is acquired by the sun and diet.