World Osteoporosis Day: Healthy lifestyle can help avoid fractures, say experts

Elderly people and pregnant women are more prone to the disease

LAHORE: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, balanced diet and regular exercise are essential to reduce the risk of osteoporosis, said Ameeruddin Medical College Principal Professor Gayas-un-Nabi Tayyab.

He was speaking to the media after an awareness walk organised at Lahore General Hospital in connection with the World Osteoporosis Day on Thursday. The day is marked on October 20 every year across the world.

Osteoporosis, in which bones become fragile and break easily, is one of the common chronic diseases in the world.

Elderly people and pregnant women are more prone to osteoporosis, he said, adding deficiency of calcium in human body weakens the bones.

World Osteoporosis Day focuses on a specific theme every year and his year’s theme is ‘Love Your Bones’. Professor of orthopedic Dr Irfan Mehboob said pregnant women faced health issues due to malnutrition. He added that deficiency of calcium aggravates their health problems and their bones become more vulnerable and minor accidents can cause fractures.

Women can reduce the risk of osteoporosis by maintaining a reasonable gap in child birth, he said. He added due to the lack of awareness and poverty women do not take proper diet which results in osteoporosis.

Hip-joints, backbone, heal, ribs and ankle joints are most likely to be affected due to the diseases, he pointed out.

A large number of doctors, nurses, students and people from different walks of life participated in the walk.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21^st, 2016.