''Osteoporosis is a public health problem with increasing prevalence in societies''

Fırat University Hospital Department of Internal Diseases Faculty Member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Erhan Önalan made a statement on the occasion of World Osteoporosis Day and said that osteoporosis is a public health problem with increasing frequency in societies.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Erhan Önalan noted that osteoporosis is an important public health problem in which bone fragility increases as a result of deterioration of bone mineral structure and bone mass. Stating that the incidence of osteoporosis is gradually increasing in societies as a result of sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy diet, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Önalan emphasized that in a study conducted in 2010 in Turkey, especially in 25 percent of individuals with osteoporosis over the age of fifty, increases in bone fragility occurred and fifty percent of individuals with increased fragility resulted in osteoporosis disease. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Önalan stated that osteoporosis does not easily cause complaints in patients unless there is a complication, but after the development of complications in patients, patients apply to them with various problems such as headache, back pain, hunchback, bone fractures, short stature due to bone fractures, widespread bone pain, inability to walk due to fractures in the hip. In addition, underlining that hip fractures, which cause fatal consequences in patients as a result of the resulting fractures, constitute an important cause of hospitalization, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Önalan said that osteoporosis patients and individuals with risk factors should be diagnosed early.

''Skeleton should be supported with calcium and vitamin D in the early period''

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Prof. Dr. Erhan Önalan stated that the mineral structure of the bone is strengthened and the mass of the bone increases as a result of calcium and healthy nutrition, especially until the thirties, and that our bone structure will be very strong as a result of nutrition with protein structures and animal foods, otherwise unhealthy nutrition, insufficient calcium intake, As a result of insufficient movement and insufficient sports, bone mass does not reach the desired ideal level in the thirties, and as a result, bone destruction increases after the thirties, especially after menopause in women and after the age of seventy in men.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Erhan ÖNALAN, Faculty Member of Internal Diseases Department of Fırat University Hospital, emphasized that if the human skeleton is not supported with sufficient calcium and vitamin D in the early period and if the foundation is not formed firmly, we will have a high risk of encountering osteoporosis in the future.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Erhan Önalan added that women should be screened for osteoporosis after menopause and men should be screened for osteoporosis after the age of seventy, and patients with rheumatic diseases, endocrine diseases and chronic drug use that may cause osteoporosis should be screened for secondary osteoporosis in the early period.