Every year in America, more than 400,000 people break their hips as a result of falling. This number is expected to be around 700,000 annually in 2050.
It is seen 3 times more in women than in men. The rate of hip fracture increases after the age of 50, and the risk doubles with every 5 years of age. One in every 2 women at the age of 90 has a hip fracture.
Hip fractures;
- 25% heal completely,
- 40% They become home care patients,
- 50% have to use a walker,
- 25% die within a year.
Everyone in America. Total hip replacement surgery is performed on 250 000 people every year due to hip fractures.
Risk Factors
- Age: The risk increases significantly over the age of 65
- Gender: 3 times more common in women, especially after menopause
- Genetics: More common in Asians
- Personal: Alcohol and cigarette consumption
- Nutrition: Reduce milk and dairy products consumption
- Physical disability: Balanced gait is disrupted in arthritis
- Mental Status: Common in dementia patients
- Drug-related side effects
- Diseases: Kidney failure
Hip fractures and how serious are they?
Technological advances and increased care in orthopedic surgery provide good results in bone healing. Many hip fractures require home care or assistance from family members for the rest of their lives. Many hip fracture patients are taken to long-term care and rehabilitation services after their hospital treatment is completed. Approximately half of them survive by using a walker.
Their hospital stay can last approximately 2 weeks. Their annual health budget costs are 11 billion dollars in America.
Why do bones become weak and brittle?
Bone is a living tissue. It consists of calcium and protein. High calcium content makes bones strong. Bones are constantly renewed. Calcium is constantly given to the blood and replaced with new ones. However, calcium is released in the bone and becomes irreplaceable. If this occurs, bone loss called osteoporosis occurs. In this case, the strength of the bone decreases and it becomes brittle.
Bone loss in the body is first seen in the waist, hips and wrists, which are the most common fracture points in the elderly.
Bone resorption usually begins after the age of 35 and progresses further. With age, they generally lose 30-50% of their body weight in women and 20-30% in men.
Bone resorption accelerates in women due to the deterioration of estrogen balance after menopause. A bone scan should be performed with a bone mineral densitometry every year after menopause.
What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis means porous bone. Osteoporosis is common, especially in women, after menopause.
The exact cause is not clearly known. But there are a number of risk factors;
- Aging
- Smoking and alcohol
- City life
- Genetics: Common in Asians
- Excessive cortisone and steroid use
- Sedentary life
With early diagnosis, its progression can be prevented and treated by taking some precautions. This point is important because osteoporosis is a common risk factor for hip fractures.
Bone loss can be reduced with current treatments, but there is no definitively proven treatment method.
How can I prevent osteoporosis?
Nutrition
Hip fractures can be prevented by taking some simple and inexpensive precautions.
Namely:
Calcium and Vitamin D
A daily diet rich in calcium and vitamin D should be taken.
A daily calcium intake of 800mg is recommended.
National. The Institutes of Health recommend the following;
- Pregnant under 19 years of age 2000 mg per day
- Pregnant over 19 years of age 1400 mg per day
- Premenopausal 1000 mg per day
- 1000 mg daily if using estrogen after menopause
- 1500 mg daily if not taking estrogen after menopause
- Middle-aged men 1000 mg daily
400 IU of vitamin D daily is recommended. A glass of milk contains 100 IU.
Exercise
Exercise minimizes bone loss. Simple sports such as walking, running, climbing stairs can be done. national According to the recommendation of the health institute, you can start with 5-10 minutes twice a week at the beginning and gradually increase it to reach 15-30 minutes 4 times a week.
Making the house safe to prevent hip fractures!
Most hip fractures occur due to falls at home. Some safety precautions;
Stairs
- Good lighting should be provided and each step should be visible
- No rugs or rugs that will cause you to trip. Remove carpets or glue their edges
- Do not leave objects and ornaments on the stairs and walking areas
- Do not place carpets on the stairs
- There must be railings on the edges of the stairs or on the wall
Bathroom
- Remove slippery mats
- Place grab bars on the sides of the bathtub
- Low for ablution Provide a sink and a stool for sitting Room
- Your belongings should not be messy
- There should be a lantern or lamp next to the bed
- Install a night lamp between the bedroom and the bathroom and keep it on at night.
- Living Room or Living Room
- Remove low-level magazine racks or flower pots
- Remove electrical or phone cords
- Do not stand on chairs and stools
Kitchen
- Immediately clean up spilled food
- Non-slip floor polishes use
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