Overview
World Osteoporosis Day falls on October 20 every year. It is activated this year by emphasizing the direct link between osteoporosis (the silent disease) and bone fractures, which have a serious and negative impact on quality of life in terms of pain, disability, and loss of independence. It will also focus on osteoporosis as a family affair, where burden of care is often borne by family caregivers, and the disease that afflicts many generations of the family itself.
Objectives:
- Making osteoporosis and fracture prevention a health priority in KSA in line with global trends.
- Raising awareness of the community on risk factors for osteoporosis.
- Raising community awareness on active healthy aging and a healthy lifestyle, where prevention of osteoporosis and fractures caused thereby.
- Raising community awareness of the importance of early detection of osteoporosis.
Facts:
- Worldwide, one in three women and one in five men aged 50 and over suffer an osteoporotic fracture.
- Osteoporosis causes bones to become weak and brittle, so they break easily — even because of a minor fall, bump, sneeze, or sudden movement.
- Fractures caused by osteoporosis can be life-threatening and a major cause of long-term pain and disability.
- Sports along with a diet full of calcium and vitamin D is good for strengthening bones.
Official date:
Globally: October 20th, 2023
Locally: Rabi’ al-Thani 5th, 1445H