KARACHI, Jan 22: Sedentary lifestyle and the massive change in the dietary pattern of the people in the developing countries has made the younger population vulnerable to a wide range of bone diseases.
Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dr. Adel H.Adawy, Benha Faculty of Medicine, Egypt, talking to APP here on Tuesday referred to the incidence of osteoporosis along with other bone ailments registered even in the people aged between 25 to 30 in these countries.
The orthopaedic surgeon regretted that osteoporosis, a disease of skeleton typically caused by progressive age-related loss of bone strength that leads to increased risk for fractures in men and women over 45, is also being witnessed among those not commonly bracketed as high-risk group.
Poor nutritional status of young women complimented with sluggish attitude towards life, and the diet rich in carbohydrates, fat and carbonated drinks appear to be exposing them to serious health conditions.
To a query, Dr Adawy said people recommended to cortisone-based drugs were also commonly witnessed reporting with osteoporosis.
He said the process of bone resorption could be efficiently managed through balanced diet, regular exercise, walk and proper drug therapy.
“Good diet and exercise are particularly important during childhood and adolescence. However, when the problem may have already occurred owing to any pathological condition or hormonal change, treatment will be of prime importance,” the orthopaedic surgeon said.
According to him, the provision for proper disease management is extremely significant for women in their menopausal stage and men attaining the age of 50.
Medical therapy is one of the most important and substantial component of the disease management along with balanced diet, rich in calcium and vitamin D, and exposure to sun light and physical activity.
On the basis of his professional experience in Egypt, Dr Adawy said that a daily regimen of over 10 mg alendronate sodium had proved an efficient source of rehabilitation for patients who had had operations on the spine, hip-joints and wrist-joints.
He suggested easy and cost-effective accessibility of people to bone density tests to assess the fracture risk and confirm osteoporosis.
“Since osteoporosis holds no other symptoms and often remains undiagnosed until a fracture occurs, the test facility could help people to seek proper and timely intervention (medical and otherwise) and prevent possible vulnerability to the condition severely effecting their quality of life,”he said.
He said bone density test facilities could also help prevent unnecessary medication.
Answering a question, he said there must be concerted efforts on the part of society to create proper awareness among all groups. Dr Adawy is currently on a visit to Pakistan as a guest speaker at the International Orthopaedic Conference being held in Faisalabad.
—APP