The Ministry of Health (MOH) has celebrated the World Osteoporosis Day, which is globally observed on October 20th every year. Through an awareness infographic posted on its Twitter page and its awareness platform: #Live Well, MOH has presented an introduction to osteoporosis, prevention methods, risk factors, in addition to the importance of vitamin D for the body.
"These awareness activities aim at raising the community awareness about osteoporosis risk factors, active healthy aging, and healthy lifestyle; to prevent osteoporosis and its fractures, in addition to raising the community awareness about the importance of osteoporosis early detection," MOH stated.
MOH added that these awareness activities emphasize the direct link between osteoporosis (the silent, underlying disease) and broken bones, which have a serious, life-changing impact in terms of pain, disability and lost independence. The activities also focus on osteoporosis as a family affair, with family caregivers often carrying the burden of care, and the disease affecting multiple generations of the family.
It is noted that osteoporosis is the underlying cause of painful, debilitating and life-threatening broken bones – known as fragility fractures. Osteoporosis is a growing global problem: worldwide, fractures affect one in three women and one in five men over the age of 50. If one of your parents had osteoporosis or hip fracture, this may increase your own risk of developing the disease. A healthy lifestyle (food and physical activity) have an essential role in preventing osteoporosis.