Every year on October 20, people worldwide celebrate World Osteoporosis Day (WOD). It's a day to raise awareness about preventing, detecting, and treating Osteoporosis. Health professionals, policymakers, and the general public are all being reached by WOD to make Osteoporosis and fracture prevention a global health issue. They want to make it a big deal.
To avoid and treat Osteoporosis, you need to stay healthy. People of all ages should do things to keep their bones healthy and cut down on the risk of osteoporosis and fractures in old age, the main point is.
Osteoporotic fractures cost society and the health care system a lot of money. It only takes a doctor to figure out that the underlying disease with 20% of the fractures is caused by Osteoporosis. They can be prevented if the right thing is done at the right time.
People in the United Kingdom first celebrated World Osteoporosis Day on October 20, 1996. This project was backed even more by the European Commission, which wants to keep people from breaking their bones because of Osteoporosis. People from all walks of life were brought together to raise awareness about Osteoporosis and make health a priority.
People who work for the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) have been working together to make this day happen for a long time now (IOF). On this day, the IOF holds a lot of different events.
This day is set aside to make people aware of the disease, its symptoms, and how to keep it at bay and treat it. It also teaches people about the importance of getting checked for Osteoporosis at an early stage.
Types of Osteoporosis
When the bones in your body become weak and hollow, this is called Osteoporosis. It makes it more likely that bones will break. The bones become so soft that even a slight fall, sneeze, or sudden body movement can break them. Because Osteoporosis can cause fractures that are life-threatening and cause a lot of pain, they can also lead to a long-term disability and a lot of pain.
It has been found that one in three women and one in five men who are 50 years old or older have broken their bones because of Osteoporosis. With the data from the recent survey, it can be seen that almost 25 million Indians have Osteoporosis in India.
Osteoporosis is divided into two groups:
1. Primary Osteoporosis:
This is also known as Osteoporosis after menopause. A lot of people get this disease after they are 75 years old. It happens to both men and women at the same rate: 2:1.
2. Secondary Osteoporosis:
It can happen at any age and affects both men and women the same. This is the result of long-term medical problems or diseases.
Osteoporosis symptoms
Osteoporosis doesn't show up until the bones start to fall apart. The following are some of the signs and symptoms that someone might have when their bones begin to break down:
Pain in the back is usually caused by a vertebra that has been broken or collapsed.
A quick loss of height.
The body is stooped.
A break in the bone that happens more quickly than expected.
Osteoporosis: What can you do to avoid it?
Regular exercise:
Weight-bearing, muscle-strengthening, and balance-training exercises are the best exercises to keep your bones strong.
Eat a lot of foods that are good for your bones:
Calcium, vitamin D, and protein are the three most essential things for bone health, and they all play a significant role. Vitamin D is made in the body when safely exposed to sunlight.
Avoid negative lifestyle habits:
If you want to live a long, healthy life, you should keep your weight in check and avoid drinking alcohol and smoking.
Check for risk factors such as:
Women are more prone to it than men
Cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol & caffeine consumption can increase the risks
Poor nutrition
Sedentary lifestyle etc.
Get Tested and treated:
You may need to take medicine to protect your bones from breaking if you're at high risk. Physiotherapy can help with managing and also improving your condition.
How Does Physiotherapy Help Manage Osteoporosis
Physiotherapists can develop a program as per the severity of the condition and help in managing and improving the bone health of patients.
They will educate the patient on:
Exercises that can help build bone or reduce the rate of bone loss
Body postures to avoid any fractures
Correct ways of performing everyday activities
How to improve balance to avoid any falls or accidents
How to ensure that the patient’s living environment doesn’t pose a risk to the health of their bone
Overall physiotherapists will teach the patients how to lead a healthy lifestyle to help build and maintain the health of the patient’s bones
Significance Of World Osteoporosis Day
WOD is an annual event that aims to raise global awareness about Osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease. It's meant to help people understand how to avoid, diagnose, and treat Osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease. One in three women and one in five men over 50 will break a bone because of Osteoporosis.
The bones of a person suffering from this condition become porous and fragile over time and hence they are vulnerable to fractures. This can lead to severe or even fatal injuries. Even though this disease is so common, it harms many people's lives because only a few men and women get treatment for this condition. This causes pain and long-term disability.
To keep yourself from getting Osteoporosis, here are some tips:
The first thing you should do is eat foods that are high in calcium:
There are a lot of different kinds of calcium in cheese, milk, yoghurt, and other foods. This is because calcium is the primary nutrient found in bones. It gives your bones, structure, and strength. You should eat at least one meal a day high in calcium to keep your bones strong.
Eat foods that are high in vitamin D and K:
When you eat calcium, which is good for your bones, your body needs vitamin D to help it get into your body. There will be no point in raising calcium levels in the body without this nutrient. One billion people worldwide don't get enough vitamin D each year, a study in the journal Age and Ageing found. It helps you stop the loss of calcium from your bones by giving you Vitamin K.
A protein called osteocalcin is made by the body and helps the minerals in bones stick together, so this helps. You can eat many foods to get enough vitamin D and K in your body. You can eat cheese, egg yolks, soy milk, fish, green leafy vegetables, and meat to get enough ..?
Keep your weight in check:
People who keep their weight in check have better bone health. The Journal of Musculoskeletal and Neuronal Interactions says that being underweight can make your bones less dense and weaken them. Obesity, on the other hand, is linked to poor bone quality and a high risk of breaking bones. So, it is essential to do some physical activity every day.
Conclusion:
It's essential to know about Osteoporosis because it has a significant impact on bone health. Every year, on October 20, it's World Osteoporosis Day. When a person has this medical condition, their bones are so weak that they can break at the slightest touch. Facts suggest that one in three women over 50 years old break their bones because of Osteoporosis at some point in their lives. Almost one in five men have the same problem, but only about 20% of people with Osteoporosis can get the help they need.
Physiotherapy can help a lot with maintaining and improving bone health by helping the patient lead a healthy lifestyle that suits them. Get a consultation done to learn more about how you can manage osteoporosis and lead a healthy lifestyle.
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