DOHA: Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has launched a public awareness campaign to encourage public to get screened for osteoporosis, a medical condition that weakens bones.
The week-long activity will coincide with the World Osteoporosis Day, which falls on October 20. The World Osteoporosis Day 2018 campaign calls for global action to improve bone health and prevent fractures due to osteoporosis, spine and hip fractures which often remain undiagnosed and untreated.
HMC’s campaign being held under the theme ‘Love your bones, protect your future,’ underlines the fact that a lifelong commitment to bone-healthy nutrition is a critical aspect of osteoporosis prevention later in life. “Osteoporosis is under-diagnosed because it is a silent, symptom-less disease that usually only gets diagnosed once a patient sustains a fracture. Although we don’t have the exact numbers, it’s a widely prevalent disease,” said Dr Nabeel Abdulla (pictured), Chairman of HMC’s World Osteoporosis Day Campaign 2018.
“The awareness campaign encourages everyone to know the risk factors for osteoporosis and take steps to protect their bones. Osteoporosis causes bones to become weak and brittle at older age, meaning that a fall or even mild trauma can cause a fracture,” Dr Abdulla, told media persons speaking on the sidelines of the campaign held at the Hamad General Hospital yesterday. Osteoporosis-related fractures most commonly occur in the hip or spine.
“All women above the age of 65 and all men above 70 should get screened for osteoporosis. An X-Ray of the hip and spine bone will help to find if the person has osteoporosis,” said Dr Abdulla, who is also a Consultant at Rheumatology Division, HMC.
He also recommends screening for younger patients who are at a high risk of suffering from a fracture as a result of using certain medications such as steroids, women having early menopause, have parents with a hip fracture or a personal history of bone fragility fracture, a fracture occurring spontaneously or following a minor trauma.
“Prevention of osteoporosis through screening and early detection as well as simple lifestyle changes such as increased exposure to sunlight, regular exercise, avoiding alcohol and quitting smoking are more important than treating the lifestyle disease,” said Dr Abdulla.
The public awareness campaign, will be held at the Bone and Joint Centre today and at the Women Wellness and Research Centre, tomorrow.
