Osteoporosis in Women

Osteoporosis is a chronic condition wherein the bone mass is very low and the bone tissue deteriorates, making bones more fragile and prone to breaking. It is often known as the “silent disease” because bone loss takes place slowly and painlessly until a fracture occurs.
Osteoporosis affects the health and quality of life of people around the world. It raises the risk of disability. Fractures caused by osteoporosis can lead to long-term pain, loss of movement, and even death, especially in older people. This makes it a serious health problem that requires not only medical treatment but also public awareness.

The risk of getting osteoporosis is rather high in women, especially among postmenopausal women, because of a shift in hormonal levels causing bones to lose density fast. Estrogen, which helps maintain bone density, reduces after menopause and puts them at a greater risk of getting osteoporosis. Other reasons include less bone mass than men, low levels of calcium and vitamin D, and poor lifestyles.

Most of the people have a lazy, idle kind of lifestyle in Pakistan as most of the time goes in sitting on the sofa in front of the T.V. or in smartphones. Least attention has been paid to physical activities as most of the population prefers to travel rather than walk. All this is mostly accompanied by unhealthy food trends like oily and junk, but healthy items like dairy products, fruits and vegetables are completely ignored. That is, low physical activity and poor diet combination weakens the bones gradually and increases their fragility.

Calcium is needed for the growth and maintenance of healthy bones, whereas vitamin D will allow the body to uptake calcium effectively. Without a sufficient amount of calcium, bones weaken and become fragile. The people of Pakistan are susceptible to vitamin D deficiency since they spend their most part of time inside or hide most parts of their body, hence limited exposure to sunlight. If these two nutrients are missing, it will increase chances of suffering from bone disease like osteoporosis.

Most patients suffering from osteoporosis experience its symptoms late in the stages because, at the initial stages, they do not point to anything. However, when the disease worsens, women would complain of back pain, loss of height, and a bent posture. Of course, there is a greater possibility of developing fractures in the hip, spine, and wrist. Diagnosis of osteoporosis Doctors use tests on bone density, such as a DEXA scan, to check the strength of bones. Blood tests are also conducted to measure calcium and vitamin D because these are essential for good bone health. A fracture risk assessment is also a significant determinant of how likely it is that someone may suffer a fracture, particularly women after menopause who experience a change in hormone levels that weakens their bones.

If you have a pain such as backache, or even a change that is evident in height difference, see a doctor as soon as possible. Checking up regularly is essential when a woman is above the age of 50 and catches problems early on when they can be managed appropriately toward bone health.

This would make it essential to be aware of osteoporosis, especially in women, so that one can be diagnosed early and prevent it. The awareness about this condition may encourage more frequent check-ups and healthy lifestyle choices, which improve bone health and reduce the risk of fractures, enhancing the quality of life in women at risk of osteoporosis.