Women Leaders' Roundtable on World Osteoporosis Day

Dr Mythri Shankar, nuclear medicine specialist at Apollo Hospital, Bangalore, had organised a Women Leaders' Round Table discussion on October 20, 2010 to observe World Osteoporosis Day.  Being one of the speakers, I had the opportunity to listen to other women leaders on this topic.  Catch the highlights here......

Osteoporosis (literally means 'porous bones') is a silent disease with no signs or symptoms till a bone breaks.  There are about 51 million people with osteoporosis in India out of which 80% are women.  It's a preventable problem.

Risk factors for osteoporosis -

1. Age
2. Female gender
3. Family history
4. Menopause
5. Smoking
6. Alcohol intake
7. Underweight
8. Skipping meals or crash diets or unhealthy eating
9. Lack of calcium
10. Reduced vitamin D
11. Steroid medication
12. Lack of physical activity

Overcome the changeable risk factors and you'll reduce the chances of getting osteoporosis. Eat healthy, exercise daily, get some sunshine on your skin everyday, don't smoke.

Consult your physician and get a bone density test done if required, to find out how healthy your bones are.  Women above 40 years with a family history or women above 60 years should have their bone density checked.