Osteoporosis in Women in India
Osteoporosis is actually a medical health condition, which causes the bones to become weak & brittle. It affects mostly women, especially after menopause. In India, osteoporosis is often undiagnosed because many women do not know that they have it. This is the reason why there aren’t any symptoms in the nascent stages of this disease. Osteoporosis can be prevented by doing regular exercise, eating a healthy diet and getting enough vitamin D and calcium. If you are already diagnosed with osteoporosis, there are treatments that can help to prevent your bones from becoming any weaker. Women in India need to be aware of osteoporosis and take steps to prevent it.
What Indian Women Need to Know!
Osteoporosis is basically the condition wherein the bones become thin & weak, making them more likely to break. For women, this is especially a concern as they age. In India, osteoporosis is often seen as a problem for older women. However, this could majorly affect ladies primarily falling in all sorts of age groups. Commonly low calcium intakes have been reported in infants, adolescent girls, pregnant ladies, lactating mothers, as well as postmenopausal Indian women. Although India is a sunny country, Vitamin-D deficiency is observed in women of all age groups. Avoidance of sunlight due to socio-cultural reasons, low dietary calcium intake, and environmental pollution are some of the causes of hypovitaminosis D. Fatty fish and other foods containing vitamin D form a very small part of the Indian diet. Thus, low calcium intake and widespread vitamin D deficiency, less know-how about osteoporosis, and intricacy in diagnosing the problem are some of the most prevalent reasons that have led to osteoporosis becoming a major public health problem in India, especially among Indian women.
Risk Factors for Osteoporosis
There are many risk factors for osteoporosis, including a family history of the condition, certain medications, and a sedentary lifestyle. However, the greatest risk factor is simply being a woman. It is a known fact now that women are more likely to develop osteoporosis than men.
How to Reduce the Risk of Osteoporosis
There are several things women can do to reduce their risk of developing osteoporosis, or to manage the condition if they have it. These include:
Getting enough calcium and vitamin D. This is crucial for bone health. Dairy products, green leafy vegetables, and certain fish are good sources of calcium. Vitamin-D could be found in fortified milk & cereals, and also in fatty fish.
Exercising regularly. This helps in strengthening the bones & muscles.
Avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol use. These habits can damage bones.
Getting enough sleep. This helps the body to repair and regenerate tissue.
1Health Medical Center
If you have been deeply concerned about such a problem affecting you, then it is good to speak to your treating doctor, who can help you understand the risk factors in your case and develop a plan for keeping your bones healthy and strong. You can consult the specialists at 1Health Medical Center.