[Health Tip] 'Goldagongjeung' Arriving with the Cold... Efforts Needed for Treatment and Management

As winter approaches, the cold weather is intensifying. When the cold becomes severe, the risk of fractures in osteoporosis patients also increases.

Osteoporosis is a condition where calcium is lost from the bones, causing them to weaken and develop holes. The problem is that with osteoporosis, even minor impacts like coughing can easily cause bones to break. Especially in winter, sidewalks become slippery due to snow and ice, and wearing thick clothing increases the risk factors for fractures compared to other seasons. Fractures in old age can lead to serious health problems.

Dr. Ha Hae-chan, an orthopedic surgeon at Bareunbon Hospital, said, “Among men over 80, 3 to 4 out of 10 die within a year if they suffer a femoral fracture due to osteoporosis. Fractures in old age are not just broken bones; they can lead to decreased physical function and result in death from cardiovascular diseases or pneumonia, making them more frightening than cancer.”

According to the National Health Insurance Service on the 26th, the number of osteoporosis patients last year was 1,181,805, an increase of over 200,000 from 972,196 in 2018. Women account for more than 90% of the patients. This is because after menopause, women experience a significant drop in bone density due to a decrease in female hormones that regulate osteoclasts, which destroy bone.

Osteoporosis, known as the “silent bone thief,” is difficult to detect until fractures occur. Particularly, vertebral compression fractures can happen without any significant trauma in severe osteoporosis cases, so caution is necessary. Vertebral compression fractures refer to the collapse and flattening of vertebrae when the spinal bones fracture and the connected bones sink.

Ha Hae-chan, Director of Orthopedics at Bareunbon Hospital
Photo by Bareunbon Hospital

Dr. Ha explained, “Vertebral compression fractures cause severe back pain that can make breathing difficult, and once they occur, the front part of the vertebral body collapses, causing the back to hunch. Osteoporosis patients can suffer spinal fractures even from light falls or while lifting and moving objects.”

Vertebral compression fractures are treated by injecting bone-strengthening agents into the fracture site through a needle under local anesthesia. The procedure takes about 30 minutes, is relatively short, and patients can usually walk within 3 to 4 hours afterward, with effective pain relief.

Since osteoporosis cannot be completely cured, continuous treatment and proactive management are essential. ▲Perform strength exercises for more than 30 minutes a day ▲Consume the recommended daily amount of calcium and supplement with vitamin D ▲Wear light but warm clothing when going outside ▲Start outdoor activities preferably after 10 a.m. when the outdoor temperature rises. Above all, it is important to regularly check bone density through osteoporosis screenings and not to stop osteoporosis treatment.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.