Why you should care for your bones

Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr Parmenas Oroko. [PHOTOS: COURTESY]

NAIROBI: Osteoporosis is a condition characterised by loss of normal bone density, resulting in reduced bone strength, poor bone quality and increased risk of fractures. Though principally manifested by fractures in the hip, spine and wrist, all bones are subject to the ravages of the disease.

According to Dr Parmenas Oroko, Orthopaedic Surgeon at the Aga Khan University Hospital, bone is a living tissue comprising of protein, collagen, and calcium.

“The human body continues to form bone tissue until the age of thirty when bone mass is at its peak. After that the bone is continually absorbed and reduces until death,” he says.

Dr Oroko observes that in most women, lack of estrogen, a natural consequence of menopause, is directly related to a decrease in bone density. In men, bone loss occurs more slowly. From about the age of 65 or 70, men and women lose bone almost at the same rate.

Osteoporosis is often referred to as the silent illness and Dr Oroko says this is because bone loss occurs without symptoms.

“People may not know they suffer from osteoporosis until a sudden strain, bump, or fall causes a bone to break. This can result in a series of visits to the hospital, surgery, and possibly a long-term disabling condition,” he says.

Osteoporosis can, however, be prevented and treated and key to this is making healthy life style choice.

“Eat a balanced diet that has enough calcium, vitamin D, protein, micronutrients (such as vitamin K, magnesium, and zinc). Exercise, limit your alcohol intake and stop smoking,” the doctor advises.

To diagnosis osteoporosis, Dr Oroko says highly specialised x-ray machines that measure bone mineral density are used.

“Like all other radiology procedures, the patient is referred for the test by a physician after an initial assessment. The doctor usually checks risk factors which include age, sedentary lifestyle, small bone structure, family history of osteoporosis, smoking and previous fracture following a low-level trauma, especially after age 50,” he says

Once a diagnosis of osteoporosis has been made, the doctor them moves to administer various drugs to keep the condition from deteriorating and also to improve bone mass.

“Bisphosphonates are the most common medications prescribed for osteoporosis treatment. The same healthy habits that prevent osteoporosis can also be beneficial in treating the disease. These include doing exercises, and eating a healthy diet high in vitamin D and calcium,” he says.

To highlight and keep tabs on this disease, the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), in 1997, started the World Osteoporosis Day. Celebrated on October 20, the day focuses on raising global awareness on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease.

The 2015 theme was “Serve Up Bone Strength”. This underlines the fact that a lifelong commitment to bone health nutrition from early life is a critical aspect of osteoporosis prevention later in old age.