Although osteopenia, which is low bone density, is thought to occur mainly in postmenopausal women, it is not. There are likewise many older men and the fracture mortality rate is actually higher in men.
This was reported by medical journalist Yoo Seung-hyun.
A, in his sixties, fell while walking two weeks ago.
I thought it would be okay, but the pain became so bad that I couldn’t walk, so I went to the hospital.
[A 씨/고관절 골절 환자 : 오른쪽은 약간씩 절뚝절뚝하면서. 밥 먹고 그런 데는 지장이 없었으니까. 도저히 안 되겠다 싶어서 병원을 가야겠다.]
As a result of the diagnosis, it was found that the bones were so weak that they could not withstand a hip fracture or even a slight impact.
[윤재연/동국대학교 일산병원 정형외과 교수 : 골다공증이 꽤 있는 걸로 나왔어요.]
The pre-osteoporosis stage is called osteopenia and I would like to think there are many women, but men and women with osteopenia in Korea are similar.
The causes of women and men are different: in women, the decrease in female hormones after menopause, and in men, underlying diseases, alcohol, smoking, etc. which interfere with bone metabolism are the main causes.
Osteopenia tends to lead to serious injuries such as hip fractures. In Korea, the rate of hip fractures over the age of 60 is higher in men than in women.
After the diagnosis of weakened bones, women are treated well, but 8 out of 10 men are not treated.
The death rate from hip fractures in Korea was also 40% higher in men than in women.
BMD should be taken from the age of 65 for women and from 70 for men.
[윤재연/동국대학교 일산병원 정형외과 교수 : 칼슘과 비타민D 같은 약제나 영양제를 복용하는 것도 도움이 되겠고 가장 중요한 것은 낙상을 예방하기 위해서 좀 주의를 하는 것이 중요하겠습니다.]
Strength training helps prevent fractures, but excessive exercise can lead to fractures, so it should be adapted to your physical strength.
(Video coverage: Kang Dong-cheol, video editing: Hwang Ji-young, CG: Kim Jong-un)
