Women are prone to Osteoporosis more than men and the studies that make this obvious point out to reasons why 85 per cent of women in Goa are suffering from it. Taking a serious note of what makes bones weak TGLife delves deep into the illness on World Osteoporosis Day - October 20
TGLife
Time is money for Rashmee Naik, a working woman from Margao who does evreything she can to reach her workplace in time to avoid late marks. But in the bargain she has to literally rush and complete her errands, home chores and cooking before she starts for her office in Panaji. Of late she has been complaining of knee pain. In her early forties, Rashmee has been advised to take precautions while climbing the steps and not to exert her knee.
On the other hand her mother Suman, who is in her late sixties, seems to be able to climb the two floors to Rashmee’s apartment quite easily. Rashmee’s orthopaedic doctor advised her to check her bone mineral density and the results showed signs of osteoporosis while her mother who was more than thirty years elder to her seemed to be healthier as compared to her. What could have been the reason, wondered Rashmee.
“Women who are physically active and whose food intake is wholesome generally do not suffer from osteoporosis before 50. Compared to you, your mother seemed to be eating well and doing lot of physical activity even at this age, which is why her bones are not as weak as yours. She might have suffered from osteoporosis at some point of time in her life, especially during post-menopause but her healthy diet took care of her calcium needs and that’s why it didn’t assume a serious form,” explained the orthopaedic surgeon.
There are many young women like Rashmee in Goa who have been found to have weak bones at early age. Today, people walk less, using bikes and cars even to go to a short distance. Lack of physical activity, no exercise and no proper intake of food weakens the bones. When joints, muscles and bones don’t get enough exercise, they lose flexibility and endurance, her doctor told her.
The orthopaedic department at Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) saw 9-10 new cases of osteoporosis at OPD in 2014, which indicated that the number is on the rise. And what surprised the doctors that more of the women were at premenopausal stage, than post-menopause.
Osteoporosis is the disease of the bone or a condition of weakening bones, developed as a result of decrease in calcium concentration per square unit of the bone with deficient matrix. Those who were diagnosed with this disease at a pre-menopausal stage were from professions that needed minimum physical exertion. The Estrogen level drops during menopause resulting in increased bone loss. But what is the reason for weak bones even before 40?
“It’s the inappropriate intake of calcium, through food,” says a physician who mentions that the intake of calcium per day has to be 1000 miligrams but women consume far too less than this. “Men too suffer deficiency of calcium as they age,” he maintains, adding, “Asthma and certain steroids increase the risk of osteoporosis and persons having these should take calcium supplements compulsorily.”
As Rashmee had underwent hystrectomy after she was diagnosed with fibroids in her uterus when she was 38, this also increased her susceptibility for osteoporosis. “It is a silent disease. At an early age it is mostly asymptomatic and even a blood test may not give an accurate reading,” her doctor explained. Once sets in, the person increases the risk of fractures - hip, wrists, vertebra… During the last stage, the disease leaves only one option, that of surgery. The best thing is to stick to appropriate diet with vitamin D and calcium and not to neglect it at any stage of life. And most importantly, to avoid falls.
Osteoporosis, once observed among women in the pre-menopausal and post-menopausal stage, is now seen afflicting women in their early 40s. And the percentage of females is more - 80-85 per cent in Goa, compared to men and these women are from younger age bracket, which is also a new trend, says doctors from Goa.
Most of them attribute the reason to modification in lifestyle. Women, particularly working women, ignore their health. Most don’t eat a balanced diet which is the main contributing factor. Sedentary lifestyle too increases the chances of developing osteoporosis. “Yes, it can be prevented, if one starts adopting right measures - change your lifestyle, take proper medications on the advice of your consultants, eat a wholesome, healthy diet on time, take enough sleep and maintain a regular exercise regime,” advises a physiotherapist who admits that lot of her patients are young than elderly.
