[Check! Health] Parents' Bones Becoming Porous... Check Bone Health for the Holiday Season

The Chuseok holiday, a major traditional festival for the Korean people, is ongoing. The long holiday provides an opportunity to visit one's hometown and see beloved parents after a long time, as well as to check on their health. Among various diseases, osteoporosis is considered one of the representative conditions that threaten healthy living in old age. As bones gradually weaken, fractures can occur suddenly even from minor impacts, earning it the nickname "the silent bone thief." Since fractures caused by osteoporosis can significantly disrupt daily life, preventing and managing osteoporosis is a key factor in protecting the healthy later years of parents.

Professor No Jaewhee of the Department of Orthopedics at Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital emphasized, "Especially when osteoporotic fractures such as wrist fractures, hip fractures, and spinal fractures occur, continuous osteoporosis treatment and management are necessary to prevent additional fractures," highlighting the importance of prevention, treatment, and management not only for the first fracture but also for subsequent fractures.

Osteoporosis That Silently Harms Bones… How Can You Detect It?

The bones in our body are maintained through lifelong cycles of formation and absorption. When young, more bone is formed than absorbed, but as we age, absorption activity surpasses formation, gradually lowering bone density. When this condition persists and bone density falls below a certain threshold, a diagnosis of osteoporosis is made.

In particular, women experience a significant impact on bone density due to decreased secretion of female hormones caused by menopause. During the first three years after menopause, bone density rapidly decreases by about 4-5% annually, and thereafter continues to decline by 1-2% each year. Since approximately 94% of osteoporosis patients are women, special attention to osteoporosis is necessary around menopause after age 50.

Professor No Jaewhee stated, "Osteoporosis usually shows no specific symptoms during its progression, and most cases are only recognized after a bone fracture occurs,” adding, “It is very difficult for patients to feel the decrease in bone density themselves, so it is extremely important to check bone health in advance through bone density tests before fractures happen.”

The Korean Society for Bone and Mineral Research has prepared a 'Osteoporosis Risk Checklist for Koreans' to help identify osteoporosis risk even without clear symptoms. It includes key risk factors such as ▲age over 60 ▲fracture experience after age 50 ▲smoking and drinking habits ▲family history of hip fractures and osteoporosis ▲related comorbidities and medication history, as well as ▲height loss after age 40, recommending bone density testing if any of these apply.

Professor No Jaewhee recommended, “Height loss among osteoporosis risk indicators can be easily observed externally, so this Chuseok, I suggest checking whether your parents’ height has decreased. If their height has dropped by 3-4 cm or more compared to before, spinal fractures due to osteoporosis may be suspected, and an immediate bone density test should be conducted.” He added, “Women aged 54 and 66 can receive free bone density tests through the national health screening program, and even if not in these age groups, tests can be easily done within about 10 minutes at nearby hospitals.”

No Jae-hwi, Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital

When bones break due to osteoporosis, not only is there pain, but basic activities such as standing or walking become difficult, greatly reducing quality of life in old age. Since basic daily living becomes difficult alone, hiring caregivers or family nursing becomes necessary, causing economic and psychological burdens not only for the patient but also for family members. Additionally, prolonged bed rest due to fractures can lead to various complications such as pressure ulcers and thrombosis, which in severe cases may result in physical disability or death.

Once an osteoporotic fracture occurs, the risk of additional fractures anywhere in the body increases up to 10 times. This is why preventing the first fracture is crucial. The highest fracture risks are in the spine, femur, and wrist. Unlike general fractures, bones weakened by osteoporosis can fracture from minor impacts during daily life, requiring caution. In particular, femur fractures in the thigh area are known to have a 20% mortality rate within one year, so if diagnosed with osteoporosis, it is very important to start treatment immediately before fractures occur.

Professor No Jaewhee said, “When bones weaken due to osteoporosis, even the impact from coughing or sneezing can break ribs in severe cases, so awareness is necessary,” emphasizing, “Even if there is no immediate pain, osteoporosis patients can suddenly experience fractures, so to ensure a healthy old age, it is important to start osteoporosis treatment early and reduce fracture risk.” He also noted, “Especially when osteoporotic fractures such as wrist, hip, or spinal fractures occur, continuous osteoporosis treatment and management are necessary to prevent additional fractures.”

The main goal of osteoporosis treatment is fracture prevention, and like hypertension and diabetes, bone density must be managed through lifelong continuous treatment and care. However, only about one in three osteoporosis patients receive drug treatment, and more than half of those who start treatment discontinue it within six months, resulting in a very low treatment adherence rate.

Professor No Jaewhee explained, “Consistent treatment is important to increase and maintain bone density lowered by osteoporosis, but due to the nature of osteoporosis, which often has no immediate uncomfortable symptoms, many patients delay or stop treatment,” adding, “Recently, treatments like denosumab, administered once every six months, have been shown in long-term clinical studies over 10 years to continuously increase bone density and reduce fracture risk, allowing convenient osteoporosis treatment without daily medication. Therefore, I recommend consulting a specialist to start a treatment plan that can be maintained long-term.”