8% of Pakistanis over 60 vulnerable to osteoporosis
Doctors urge need for awareness about the disease
KARACHI:
People need to be outdoors with their hands and feet uncovered for five to 10 minutes for direct exposure of sun between 10am and 3pm, advised Dr Amir Riaz of Liaquat National Hospital. He said that all kinds of exercise and sufficient amount of vitamin-D and calcium intake are enough to avoid developing osteoporosis.
He was addressing a press briefing on World Osteoporosis Day at the Karachi Press Club on Friday. We really need to take care of our bones, urged consultant rheumatologist and assistant professor at Aga Khan University Hospital Dr Saleha Ishaq. She said healthy bones ensure a healthy life.
Dr Ishaq added that it is high time to create awareness about bone health in order to prevent the spread of osteoporosis, as more than 8% of Pakistan's population is more than 60 years of age and thus vulnerable to the disease.
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"The government needs to give importance to create awareness by taking preventive measures against the disease," she said, adding that one-third of women above the age of 50 worldwide have suffered fractures due to osteoporosis.
Dr Ishaq remarked that vitamin D deficiency is a common issue in the region. Both men and women crossing the ages of 60 and 70 respectively should undergo a dexa-scan to get to know the density of bones as a preventive step against osteoporosis.
Orthopaedic surgeon and Karachi’s Health Director Dr Muhammad Tofique said that people are usually unaware about vitamin D deficiencies. Vitamin D helps in the absorption of calcium by the bones until the symptoms of osteoporosis are felt and bones are fractured, he said.
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“Bones play an important role in daily life," he said. "No one can have a healthy life until a sufficient amount of minerals are consumed by individuals for stronger bones," Dr Tofique added.
Minerals are deposited in the bones until the age of 25 and remain stable between the ages of 25 and 35, after which demineralisation starts, he said.
"Osteoporosis is a silent disease as most cases come to the surface when people experience osteoporosis fractures," said Dr Riaz.
While explaining the vulnerability of those being affected by the condition, he said that women during post-menopause, early menopause and those on medications such as steroids and anti-epileptic pills are prone to developing osteoporosis.
People need to be outdoors with their hands and feet uncovered for five to 10 minutes for direct exposure of sun between 10am and 3pm, advised Dr Amir Riaz of Liaquat National Hospital. He said that all kinds of exercise and sufficient amount of vitamin-D and calcium intake are enough to avoid developing osteoporosis.
He was addressing a press briefing on World Osteoporosis Day at the Karachi Press Club on Friday. We really need to take care of our bones, urged consultant rheumatologist and assistant professor at Aga Khan University Hospital Dr Saleha Ishaq. She said healthy bones ensure a healthy life.
Dr Ishaq added that it is high time to create awareness about bone health in order to prevent the spread of osteoporosis, as more than 8% of Pakistan's population is more than 60 years of age and thus vulnerable to the disease.
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"The government needs to give importance to create awareness by taking preventive measures against the disease," she said, adding that one-third of women above the age of 50 worldwide have suffered fractures due to osteoporosis.
Dr Ishaq remarked that vitamin D deficiency is a common issue in the region. Both men and women crossing the ages of 60 and 70 respectively should undergo a dexa-scan to get to know the density of bones as a preventive step against osteoporosis.
Orthopaedic surgeon and Karachi’s Health Director Dr Muhammad Tofique said that people are usually unaware about vitamin D deficiencies. Vitamin D helps in the absorption of calcium by the bones until the symptoms of osteoporosis are felt and bones are fractured, he said.
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“Bones play an important role in daily life," he said. "No one can have a healthy life until a sufficient amount of minerals are consumed by individuals for stronger bones," Dr Tofique added.
Minerals are deposited in the bones until the age of 25 and remain stable between the ages of 25 and 35, after which demineralisation starts, he said.
"Osteoporosis is a silent disease as most cases come to the surface when people experience osteoporosis fractures," said Dr Riaz.
While explaining the vulnerability of those being affected by the condition, he said that women during post-menopause, early menopause and those on medications such as steroids and anti-epileptic pills are prone to developing osteoporosis.