KARACHI, Jan 2: The Sobhraj Maternity Hospital will be organizing a "Free Bone Scan" programme within hospital premises on Jan 15 between 10 am to 12 noon.

The programme, particularly meant for women in their forties and above, will help screening out and ensuring timely intervention for women suffering from osteoporosis or vulnerable to the condition, characterized by reduced bone mass and high risk of hip or wrist fractures.

The Medical Superintendent of Sobhraj Maternity Hospital, Dr Shabeen Naz Masood, said that while women soon attaining age of menopause generally get inflicted with it, however, all women may not necessarily be exposed to post menopause induced osteoporosis.

According to her, sedentary and motorized life style, shrinking taste for green vegetables, fruits and milk made products are exposing local women to early onset of ailments as osteoporosis.

"Two table-spoons of curd or a cup of milk is sufficient enough to meet the calcium need of a woman," she said. The gynaecologist elaborated that oestrogen hormone -a natural protection against bone mass loss- came to end following menopause, hence, women necessarily needed intervention through proper medication, improved mobility as well as quality and balanced diet, particularly rich in calcium and Vitamin D.

It may be mentioned here that osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder, characterized by compromised bone strength predisposing a person to an increased risk of fracture.

She warned that decline in physical activity, high intake of protein rich diet, smoking and stressful lifestyle not only contributed to early onset of osteoporosis, but also caused increased incidence of hypertension, diabetes, cardiac complications, stroke and osteoporosis among urban women at comparatively young age.

Dr Naz called upon women to take due care in controlling their weight and replace their meat-based diet with pulses, green vegetables, cream free milk and milk made products. This, she said, coupled with physical exercise or brisk walk could also contain the onset of disease. -APP