Prevent osteoporosis

The prophylaxis of osteoporosis is just as essential as an optimal therapy. Various measures are available for prevention. An important aspect is lifestyle and nutrition.

Since, in contrast to many other diseases, a rather higher BMI is considered protective, care should be taken to ensure a sufficient calorie intake (BMI in about > 20kg/m2). A daily supply of calcium (approx. 1000mg), for example in the form of effervescent tablets, is also recommended.

In addition, care should be taken to spend at least 30 minutes a day in the fresh air and ideally in the sun to ensure vitamin D3 formation. Otherwise an additional intake of vitamin D3 preparations is advisable. Vitamin B 12 and folic acid should also be taken in sufficiently with food.

Smoking is considered a risk factor for osteoporosis, so that nicotine abuse should be avoided. In addition, it is necessary to check the medication plan and, if necessary, adjust it or switch to other preparations. A handful of medications increase the risk of osteoporosis, especially during long-term therapy.

These include above all glucocorticoids, but also antiepileptic drugs, antidepressants, sedative drugs or proton pump inhibitors. Since osteoporosis mostly affects older people, osteoporosis prophylaxis also includes preventive measures such as regular physical activity and avoiding prolonged periods of immobilization. The aim is thus to improve both muscle strength and coordination.

In addition, good physical activity and basic fitness alone reduces the risk of osteoporosis, as a lot of exercise promotes the build-up of bone mass. Patients older than 70 years of age should also have an accurate history of falls: This means that the exact causes of past falls should be investigated and possible avoidable reasons should be treated accordingly. Since the hip is particularly at risk in the event of falls, wearing hip protectors is considered a preventive measure. The use of walking aids or a rollator is also helpful. Further supporting measures are heat and heliotherapy.

Is osteoporosis curable?

Opinions differ as to whether osteoporosis is curable. If we look at the disease as a whole, osteoporosis is not considered to be completely curable, because despite optimal therapy, the former bone condition can never be reached and possible fractures that have occurred cannot be reversed.In fact, healing would mean that the complete bone mineral balance could be restored and that pathological fractures associated with osteoporosis would also have to have healed optimally and without permanent restrictions. This last aspect is particularly difficult to achieve in old age.

Nevertheless, there are also those who believe that osteoporosis is curable. However, the restriction must be made here that it is an early stage of osteoporosis without the presence of pathological fractures. In this case, a disorder of bone mineralization that has occurred passagally can be restored to its normal state through optimal therapy with sufficient vitamin D and calcium intake, sufficient exercise and appropriate medication. A generalizing statement as to whether osteoporosis is curable or not can therefore not be made. It is always necessary to assess the individual clinical picture depending on the stage and existing risk factors and to decide on the basis of this information whether osteoporosis is curable or not.