Osteoporosis can occur as easily in the hot summer as in winter, so it is necessary to have a habit to keep bones healthy in daily life. (Image = iClick Art)
[뉴스토마토 동지훈 기자] If you suffer from the sweltering heat of midsummer, your body tends to sag. Bones that support the human body and protect organs are no exception. Weakened bones are brittle even with a small impact. According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, the number of osteoporotic patients with decreased bone mass and density increased from 906,631 in 2017 to 1,126,861 last year. 40% of women over the age of 50 and 10% of men have osteoporosis.
Osteoporotic fractures from falls are as common in summer as in winter. When it rains and the floor gets wet, it is more slippery than an icy road, making it easy for young people to slip as well. Older people who lose their sense of balance as they get older are more at risk. As we get older, osteoporosis occurs as there are more cells that destroy bones than cells that make bones.
In particular, the reason why many fall accidents occur in the summer is because of the shoes. Sandals or slippers can become slippery, and the shoes do not support the bones, so many fractures occur after a fall.
If you do not get a good night’s sleep, a hormone called calcitonin decreases, and calcitonin functions to inhibit bone resorption by osteoclasts.
Alcohol found in tropical nights is also harmful to bone health. It is thought that drinking alcohol helps sleep, but it interferes with deep sleep and causes water loss due to the diuretic effect of alcohol. Bone is composed of 45% calcium and minerals, 34% protein, and 20% water, so if there is a problem of hydration in summer, it will affect bone health.
Osteoporosis does not show any obvious prognostic symptoms, so prevention of fractures is the top priority. The usual way to know if your fracture risk is high is to check your grip strength. In order to have a strong grip, the strength of the muscles holding the bones must be good, and muscle health is closely related to bone health. If it is difficult to open the fruit jam container or turn the doorknob, it is a sign that the grip strength is weak.
Hearing loss is also a sign that bones are weakening with aging. When the bones that make up the cochlea of the ear become weak, they break down and affect sensory nerve cells, increasing the risk of hearing loss. Gradual hearing loss is a natural symptom of aging, but if you suddenly lose your hearing or have sudden hearing loss in your 50s, you should suspect osteoporosis.
Periodontal disease is also involved. When other bones are weak, the gum bone also weakens, causing periodontal disease. In addition, if the height has decreased over the past 3 years or if the nails are broken frequently, it should be suspected as a symptom of weakened bones.
Calcium and vitamin D deficiency leads to osteoporosis because the body can compensate by decomposing bones when there is not enough calcium. Calcium is best obtained through food. A diet rich in protein that helps bone formation, including dairy products such as anchovies and milk, and seaweed is recommended.
Taking calcium supplements is okay if you have osteoporosis, but you should be careful if you have other diseases. The Korean Society of Bone Metabolism has stated that supplementing calcium through calcium supplements helps to improve bone density, but increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. In particular, high-dose calcium is a problem. When calcium accumulates in the blood vessels, the blood vessels become hard and block blood flow, which can worsen cardiovascular disease.
Vitamin D supplementation should also be considered. Vitamin D is necessary for the absorption and utilization of calcium and phosphorus, and for the formation and maintenance of bones. Sun exposure naturally produces vitamin D, but as we age, our ability to synthesize decreases, so supplements can be effective. Above all, bones need external stimulation to become stronger. You should try to do exercises that feel gravity, such as easy walking or lifting dumbbells.
Kim Tae-hyeon, director of Orthopedic Surgery at Mokdong Himchan Hospital, said, “People who are underweight are more likely to develop osteoporosis than those of normal weight, and those who lack physical activity are also at high risk. Efforts should be made to prevent the risk of fractures by supplying minerals and vitamin D,” he said.
By Dong Ji-hoon, staff reporter [email protected]
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