Osteoporosis makes bones weak, so a fall or a small force can break one. Osteoporosis most often causes fractures in the hip, wrist, or spine. This skeletal illness is becoming a major public health hazard due to its high prevalence connected with the progressive aging of the population.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that one in three women over the age of 50 has the condition and that half of all women over the age of 70 are at risk. And it’s not just women who are affected; one in five men over the age of 50 also has this problem. It’s connected with testosterone shortage, alcohol and tobacco, corticosteroids, and chronic illnesses, and their mortality from hip fracture is higher.
In the next ten years, the number of fragile bone fractures is predicted to go up by about 30%
Osteoporosis, which is the loss of bone mass and the weakening of bone structure that follows, raises the risk of fractures. It is mostly found in older adults and women who have already gone through menopause, but it can also be found in women who have not yet gone through menopause. It can also have an effect on men. Dr. Rosa Arborio of the Society of Internal Medicine says, “This is a little-known fact that we want to bring attention to in order to encourage diagnosis and lower the risk of fractures that these patients also have.”
Could be deadly
This illness is not diagnosed enough. Even though certain fractures might be deadly, most cases go untreated. Official records show that only 10% of patients get treatment. There are thought to be more than 400,000 affected patients in the Valencian Community, but the Valencian Rheumatology Society says that the number could be substantially higher because there are cases that haven’t been diagnosed yet.
Osteoporosis, along with fibromyalgia, arthritis, gout, and osteoarthritis, are all types of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. They are now the most common reason people go to Primary Care in the province of Alicante. One out of every four visits to the family doctor is now for these problems.
Rheumatologists say that the increased number of fractures caused by osteoporosis is a public health hazard. The Osteoporosis Foundation says that the number of bone fractures caused by fragility is likely to go up by 29.6% over the next ten years.
Reasons
According to the Valencian Rheumatology Society, the major causes are a sedentary lifestyle and a bad diet. People stop eating dairy because they can’t handle it, and they don’t get enough vitamin D. “That’s why the main parts of the treatment are walking for an hour a day, sunbathing for 20 minutes a day without too much sun protection, or giving vitamin D to almost everyone over 50.”
Several awareness days were held on World Osteoporosis Day to talk about osteoporosis and how to stop bone fractures. Osteoporosis causes fractures and secondary fragility fractures, which are the main problems that come with it. It is now the fourth most frequent chronic disease in Spain, impairing the quality of life of both individuals who have it and those around them.
Campaigns
Umivale Activa says that every day in Spain, there are 782 fragile bone fractures. Hormonal changes make this illness more likely to happen in women following menopause.
The Occupational Risk Prevention Service of this mutual society has put together a campaign to inform and protect workers about the best practices for modifiable risk factors as part of its Healthy Company initiative.
Author: Derek Appleton
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