‘Bone disease is not women-related only’

“Osteoporosis is not a disease that affects women only. Men account for as many as one in five of those affected. Correcting such common misconceptions about the bone disease is one of the aims of World Osteoporosis Day,” said Dr Jamal Ali Al Saleh, president of Emirates Osteoporosis Society.

“Men too get osteoporosis. But women naturally have smaller and thinner bones compared to men, so they are at higher risk, but 20 per cent of those affected by the disease are men. Over the age of 50, one in every five men and one in every three women will experience an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime,” he explained.

Dr Al Saleh also warned against dismissing osteoporosis as a disease of the elderly that should only be of concern to older people. “The disease is not a natural part of ageing and prevention should begin during youth,” he said.

“The opportunity to build strong bones is there in adulthood, when people should adopt a healthy lifestyle based on a diet rich in calcium and Vitamin D, weight-bearing exercise, no smoking or excessive alcohol intake, and bone density testing and medications for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis when appropriate.”

Although osteoporosis is not age-restricted, age is still a major risk factor, especially for those over 65. Heightened risk characteristics also include fair skin, small bone structure, early menopause or post-menopausal, family history of osteoporosis, low body weight, low-calcium diet, inactive lifestyle, excessive alcohol intake, tobacco use, eating disorders, and use of certain medications such as steroids or anticonvulsants — drugs used as painkillers.

Dr Al Saleh also refuted the misconception that the onset of osteoporosis is only evident after a bone fracture, saying: “This is a complete myth. A bone density test provides information about bone strength and the risk of future fracture. The bone densitometer uses small amounts of X-ray to measure the amount of bone mineral and this relates directly to bone strength.

“This is a simple and comfortable procedure where you lie on your back while a scanner passes over your spine and hip area. The test takes less than 10 minutes.”