The prevention and care of osteoporosis is a common issue people are familiar with; however, most people do not know its danger. The risk factors for osteoporosis include:

• Parents had fractures due to osteoporosis.
• The weight is below the 25^th percent of that of the peer (BMI<20 kg/²M).
• Any fractures occur in adulthood (except for finger, toe, facial bone, or skull).
• Menopause before the age of 40.
• Accumulated more than 2 years of time of amenorrhea during child-bearing age.
• Use steroid for more than 3 months.
• Long-term smokers or alcohol consumers.
• Positive family history.
• Dementia with abnormal mobility.
• Hyperthyroidism for more than 1 year.
• History of hyperparathyroidism.
• Patients with liver cirrhosis.
• Patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
• Patient with cancer.
• Patient with COPD.

Please visit http://www.shef.ac.uk/FRAX/tool.jsp?country=26 to look up your fracture incident rate for the next 10 years. For bone mass check, please make an appointment with us for bone mass density examination.

Bone mass density can be tested through DXA and ultrasound. The T score obtained will define your bone mass density.

In 2008, US National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) issued “Clinical Guidelines for Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatments” suggested women in menopause or   males above the age of 50 should receive treatments when the following conditions occur:

• Spine or hip fracture
• Other body part fracture with low bone mass (BMD T score is between -1 ~ -2.5)
• BMD < -2.5
• Low bone mass with other causes, such as use of steroid or difficulty walking
• Bone fracture risk is greater than 20% or hip fracture risk is greater than 3% based on FRAX (10 years of fracture risk by WHO)