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Millions of older people suffer from osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is considered the most common bone disease in this country. More than six million people are affected by the disease, which in most cases means a massive reduction in quality of life, according to the Board of Trustees of Bone Health. Nevertheless, the so-called "bone loss" receives relatively little attention and is not treated sufficiently well in the opinion of experts. The World Osteoporosis Day 2015 on October 20 will now provide more information and education.
Disease causes no discomfort at the beginning
Osteoporosis (bone loss) is a chronic disease that progressively breaks down the bone structure and structure. As a result, the skeleton becomes increasingly unstable and porous, which increases the risk of bone fractures, which can occur without major violence even in everyday stress. Characteristic of osteoporosis is that it usually causes no symptoms for a long time. If, however, fractures occur in the further course, the pain can be so severe that further movement becomes impossible. In the long term, the fractures cause permanent impairments of function and ability, which often means a severe loss of quality of life and a self-determined lifestyle leading to long-term care for those affected.
In osteoporosis, the bone density is so low that fractures can easily occur. (Image: eranicle / fotolia.com) Especially women affected after menopause
In addition to gender, age is the main risk factor for osteoporosis. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), around 15% of women over the age of 50 and 6% of men in this age group report diagnosed osteoporosis. From the age of 65, the proportion of women increases to 21%, but for men this increase in age is not observed, the RKI continues. In total, more than six million people in this country are already affected. However, demographic change will intensify this trend over the next few years as the likelihood of illness increases with age.
Therefore, the numbers would actually startle today. But experts criticize that the disease continues to be underestimated, underdiagnosed and, above all, not adequately treated. According to the orthopedist and member of the board of directors of the Federation of Osteology (DVO), Hermann Schwarz, this could be due to the fact that the disease is still comparatively young and is often not recognized immediately. "We have only since the 1980s, treatment options, in many of my colleagues, osteoporosis was not an issue in education," reports Schwarz the news agency "dpa".
Theme old bones is not "sexy"
Despite the strong prevalence, osteoporosis is still a "foreign word" for many, says Irene Buddendick in an interview with the news agency. The head of a self-help group from Münster has taken on her illness so early that by now she has been able to largely stop the bone loss and sell the medication. But not many sufferers are so offensively deal with their disease, instead, the bone loss in public is often still a taboo topic dar. "It is not sexy to talk about old bones," said the chairman of the Federation of Osteology (DVO), Professor Andreas Kurth.
Pain severely limits life
Some participants in Irene Buddendick's self-help group have already experienced some broken bones and have experienced the extent of the illness: "These are pains that change your whole life. You can not really participate anymore, "says a concerned person. The 48-year-old A. has been ill for ten years and is now so limited that she had to give up her job in an office. The fact that she is ill at such a young age, however, is more of a rarity dar. Because in most cases, the bone loss begins after the menopause.
Although the increasing fragility of bones is not immediately life-threatening - but it is not treated accordingly threatened massive restrictions on the quality of life to disability with long-term care. There is also an increased mortality due to osteoporotic fractures. According to information from the Kuratorium Knochengesundheit e.V., one in five dies within six months of a hip fracture, more than 80% of those affected are still limited in their mobility and quality of life one year later.
Patients are also responsible
But often the treatment is difficult, because even if diagnosed with osteoporosis and the treatment plan is set, many patients would not comply with this and instead stop the medication early. Patience is important because "it is not like a blood pressure medication whose success you see immediately," explains Professor Andreas Kurth. However, according to the experts, the patient is also obliged to do so and must inform himself about his or her personal risk of osteoporosis through regular visits to the doctor. Because in addition to age and sex, drugs such as Cortisone, smoking, underweight and a certain genetic disposition are other risk factors.
Affected people must pay attention to healthy bones
"One of our important goals is to inform patients and provide them with better and medically adequate treatment. We want to make sure that osteoporosis sufferers do more with their own responsibility for their bone health, "says Prof Dr. Dr. med. Christian Kasperk in the run-up to the annual World Osteoporosis Day on 20 October. On the one hand, this means regular medical check-ups and the consistent use of the prescribed medication. On the other hand, however, a "healthy bones lifestyle with a balanced diet and regular exercise" is important, summarizes Kasperk.
Difficulties in the treatment also know the women of the Muensteraner self-help group. "Every doctor says something else," said a person affected by the "dpa". Nevertheless, they would not give up and fight against the disease and associated restrictions. "I'm doing everything to avoid another break," says 48-year-old A. (nr)