Loss of height due to osteoporosis. Early check up can give insight for prevention

Osteoporosis is a silent threat to everyone, especially older people. The cause of this disease is loss of calcium in the bones that cause them to become thinner. After 40 years of age, bones will become thinner by 1-3% every year. However, in young people who engage in bone-destroying behaviors such as by drinking alcohol, smoking, having excessively low body weight and avoiding exercise, or people who use certain medications like steroids, anti-clotting medications and diabetes medications, perhaps it would be best for them to get a bone mass check-up before they grow old in order to identify future risk of osteoporosis.

What is ‘osteoporosis’?

It is a condition in which bone mass decreases to such an extent that the bone structure is affected, including the body’s load bearing capacity. This leads to breakage and collapse of the bone structure, which impact quality of life.

Do you know that you can lose your height due to osteoporosis?

Naturally, as a person grows older than 40 years, they lose about 1 cm of height each year due to degeneration in their spinal discs. However, if they lose more than 1 inch or 2.5 cm of height per year, it would be good for them to go for a check-up to screen for osteoporosis.

Are older women at greater risk of developing osteoporosis?

Like we said before that the bones become thinner with older age, women have greater risk of developing this condition than men. This is because when they enter into menopause, their bodies lose their female hormones. As a result, women older than 60 years have up to 25% chance of developing osteoporosis. At the same time, women who experience early menopause or who had their ovaries surgically removed before turning 45 are also very vulnerable.

How do you screen for loss of height?

1. Bone mass testing by use of dual-energy x-ray absorbtiometry (DEXA) takes only 30 minutes, and the test method is simple and uncomplicated, yet it is effective. As for how frequent you should receive this test, it probably depends on the bone condition of each person. If the bones are still good, a check-up can happen again after 4-5 years. However, if a person has a low bone score and require treatment, the person might have to receive a check-up every year.

2. Vitamin D level test.

3. X-ray of the spine from the neck to the waist (x-ray spine scoliotic view (lateral).

If you don’t want to grow shorter due to osteoporosis, there are ways for you to prevent it.

Osteoporosis is caused by degeneration following older age. Therefore, in order to treat it, you have to focus on prevention. You should put an importance on diet and exercise by focusing on two principles, namely, to strengthen and create the density of your bone before turning 30 years of age and then delaying bone loss after turning 30 years old. There are also medication, surgical and rehabilitative approaches to preventing osteoporosis. Furthermore, you should exercise regularly and receive adequate intake of Vitamin D and calcium, and undergoing some check-ups to determine a baseline bone score to determine whether or not you have to modify certain behaviors in order to strengthen your bones.

You may find our specialist here at Orthopedic Institute, Phyathai 2 Hospital

Phyathai 2 Hospital

International Correspondence Center

Tel: +66-2617-2444 ext. 2020 or 2047 E mail: onestop@phyathai.com

Loss of height due to osteoporosis. Early check up can give insight for prevention

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