Osteoporosis in Elderly Men: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Prevention

■ 46. Elderly men and osteoporosis

Question: What are the symptoms of osteoporosis in elderly men?

Answer: Osteoporosis is characterized by bone pain and easy fractures. Although this disease is common in women...

Sexual activity is more common in women than in men, but it is also common in men over 65.

The main symptoms of osteoporosis:

(1) Pain. Pain is the most common symptom of primary osteoporosis, especially in the lower back.

Pain is most common, accounting for 70% to 80% of pain patients. The pain radiates along the spine to both sides, especially when lying down.

The pain is relieved when lying down or sitting, but worsens when standing upright, stretching back, or standing or sitting for a long time, or when bending over.

Bone pain worsens with coughing or straining during bowel movements. Bone pain typically occurs when bone mass loss exceeds 12%.

(2) Shortened stature and kyphosis. These symptoms often appear after pain develops. The anterior part of the vertebral bodies bears a heavy load.

The 11th and 12th thoracic vertebrae and the 3rd lumbar vertebra, in particular, bear a greater load and are more prone to compression and deformation, causing spinal cord injury.

Forward tilting of the spine leads to kyphosis (hunchback). As we age and osteoporosis worsens, the curvature of the kyphosis increases.

When elderly people develop osteoporosis, their vertebrae compress, with each vertebra shortening by about 2 millimeters, resulting in an average reduction in height of 3 to 6 centimeters.

(3) Fractures. Fractures are the most common and serious complication of degenerative osteoporosis.

(4) Decreased respiratory function. Compression fractures of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, kyphosis, and thorax.

Malformations can significantly reduce vital capacity and maximum ventilation, often causing chest tightness in patients.

Symptoms include shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.

The diagnosis of osteoporosis in the elderly first requires ruling out other causes of osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis caused by various factors, such as hyperparathyroidism, multiple myeloma, and osteomalacia.

Renal osteodystrophy, metastatic tumors, leukemia, and lymphoma, among others. Effective treatment measures.

There are several types.

(1) Exercise. Various types of exercise help maintain bone mass. Exercise can also improve bone density.

Its high sensitivity and balance encourage osteoporosis patients to be active as much as possible.

(2) Nutrition. Good nutrition is of great importance in preventing osteoporosis.

This includes sufficient calcium, vitamin D, vitamin C, and protein. It is advocated that calcium intake should be...

The recommended daily intake is 800-1000 mg for adults, and for men over 65 years of age and others with osteoporosis.

For patients with risk factors for the disease, the recommended calcium intake is 1500 mg/day.

(3) Prevent falls. Efforts should be made to minimize the likelihood of falls in patients with osteoporosis.

Lesser hip fractures and Colles' fractures.

(4) Drug therapy. Effective drug therapy can prevent and treat osteoporosis, including...

Including estrogen replacement therapy, calcitonin, selective estrogen receptor modulators, and diphosphates.

Salt, these medications can inhibit bone resorption, but have very little effect on bone formation. Used to treat...

Drugs that treat and prevent the development of osteoporosis fall into two main categories: the first category is drugs that inhibit bone resorption.

Medications, including calcium supplements, vitamin D and active vitamin D, calcitonin, bisphosphonates, and estrogen.

Hormones and isoflavones; the second category consists of bone-forming drugs, including fluorides, anabolic steroids,

Parathyroid hormone and isoflavones.

(5) Surgical treatment. Surgical treatment is only necessary after a fracture has occurred due to osteoporosis.