Osteoporosis As Much AThreat As Breast Cancer

Osteoporosis fractures are four times more common than strokes. Women in their 50s have equal chance of dying from complications arising out of osteoporosis as from breast cancer. This was said by orthopaedic surgeon and traumatologist Sanjay Rastogi at an osteoporosis awareness programme in the city on Thursday.

"Early menopause (before 45 years of age) is the single most risky factor for osteoporosis. Besides poor calcium intake and deficiency of Vitamin D, smoking and alcohol consumption are other risk factors responsible for it," he informed.

Explaining about the disease, he said: Osteoporosis is a condition in which bone become more porous than average and is prone to fracture. The loss of both calcium and bone matrix leads to decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and increases bone fragility. The disease speeds up in women within 10 years after the menopause. This is because the ovaries stop producing the female sex hormone estrogen, which is one of the substances that helps, keep bones strong. Men suffer less from osteoporosis, because their bones are stronger."

For the diagnosis of the disease, the orthopaedic surgeon informed that women above the age of 65 years should have a bone scan done. In addition, post-menopausal women with history of low trauma fracture and who consume steroids for at least three months should speak to the doctor for early testing. "Many of the risks can also be lowered by estrogen replacement therapy which involves replacing the natural estrogen," he said.