KARACHI, Jan 23: More than one third of the local population above 50 years of age is suffering from osteoarthritis with no less than 4.5 million people in Karachi alone afflicted with the disease , experts told a seminar held at the Liaquat National Hospital.

The experts, Prof Mohammad Asim Khan from the Clever land, Ohio (US), Dr Raza Jaffery, Dr Shahid Noor and Dr Shahab Ghani, were discussing varied treatment methodologies and ongoing research on preventing and handling the condition that hampers mobility of the patients and affects their routine life.

The guest speaker, Prof M.Asim Khan, said that osteoarthritis largely emerged as a treatable condition and following the introduction of new drugs, its intensity had also been controlled to help patients improve their routine life activity.

He mentioned that the cited medication extensively prescribed in the developed world were not easily available in the country. If administered under professional supervision, these were safe producing astonishing results, he added.

Dr Khan, however, warned that these drugs must not be taken without the supervision of professionals under any condition. Dr Raza Jaffery, referring to preventive aspect of the disease, sought regular exercise, brisk walking and controlled body weight to contain the incidence rate of arthritis and related diseases.

Observing that overweight and obese individuals appeared common victims of bone-related diseases, he said it was a pre-requisite to ensure a balanced diet and adequate intake of vitamin-D, adding that people must also ensure timely intervention as soon as they noticed symptoms of arthritis.

The symptoms include pain in joints while climbing stairs, swelling of joints, etc. -PPI