Lack of calcium and vitamin "D" sets the stage for osteoporosis. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Obstetrics and Gynecology Society, Professor Hassan Saleh Jamal, called on all those who have the risk factors for osteoporosis to immediately start seeing a doctor to be sure, and then prescribe appropriate treatments. He pointed out to «Okaz» that the factors causing the disease are many and varied, and result from thinning of the bones and rendering them vulnerable to fracture, as some of these factors are related to hormones, or blood, kidney, liver and diabetes diseases, and some are due to genetic factors, or to an unhealthy lifestyle practiced by the patient. Such as a defect in the diet or lack of exercise.

Professor Jamal warned against neglecting treatment, or ignoring the factors that cause this disease for fear of exacerbation and then the occurrence of their repercussions, which usually surprise the patient and it is too late.

The following is the transcript of the meeting

• Osteoporosis is the main challenge facing the health of both genders, but women are more vulnerable to it. What are the implications of the disease and how does it occur?

Our bones get stronger early in life, when we are in the growth stage, and usually reach their peak strength in the late teens or twenties of life, and then the bones gradually begin to thin and become more fragile throughout the remainder of our life, and linear growth reaches its maximum between the ages of 15-20 years and after that the bone mass continues to increase through cumulative growth, most of the time the peak bone mass is reached during the third decade of life, and individual discrepancies are observed in the peak bone mass, and doctors can get a good indicator of bone strength by measuring Bone density, by means of a test in which x-rays are used, and osteoporosis is a disease caused by the weakness of the skeleton, and the weakness of the skeleton occurs for many reasons, including a defect in the process of replacement and replacement of damaged cells in the skeleton, which leads to an increase in damaged cells from the replacement cells, which leads It leads to thinning and fragility of the bones, and this condition results from a loss of calcium in the bone tissue as a result of disturbances in the body''s metabolism or deficiency and malnutrition.

The magnitude of the problem

• The previous question leads me to know the magnitude of the osteoporosis problem?

A realistic picture of the prevalence of the disease can be illustrated, if we know that more than 80% of UAE women are at risk of developing osteoporosis, according to what the Dubai Center for Orthopedics and Joints has explained, while the World Health Organization indicates that 30% of the Middle East population suffers from osteoporosis. The magazine "New England" confirms that one in four women in the Gulf suffers from the disease, while Dr. Himyrabadsha, a member of the Board of Ambassadors of Anlin for Orthopedic Safety, points out that the Middle East has recorded the highest rates of poor bone integrity, and the statistics of the Executive Office of Ministers of Health have not moved away. The countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council reported those estimates, as they indicated that the percentage of women with osteoporosis reached 44.5% in Saudi Arabia and 40% in Kuwait, while 84% of UAE women suffer from vitamin D deficiency. A medical study indicates that 90% of the children of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries suffer from vitamin D deficiency. After the statistics we mentioned, we can imagine that about 80% of people with a hip fracture are unable to walk after six months, and the most dangerous thing is that 20% of people die within one year after suffering a hip fracture, and that the bone fractures that affect many Patients with osteoporosis, especially in the wrist and hip, are accompanied by untold pain and suffering, and severely limit the activities of the injured victims.

The fragility of women

Why is fragility more prevalent in women?

Women in general have less bone mass, and therefore their bones are weaker than men at the same stage of life and therefore they are exposed to osteoporosis at an earlier age than men, but there is another more important reason that increases the risk of women developing osteoporosis and at a very early age than men Lack of feminine hormones, and it is known that these hormones are the ones that regulate the menstrual cycle, and have great importance for the bones, and estrogen is the most important of these hormones, and it is produced in the ovaries, and estrogen helps to regulate the production of eggs during the fertile years, but its production begins to decline with the progress in Age and menopause, and with the cessation of its production, women begin to lose bone material faster than before, and for this reason it is observed that postmenopausal women are more likely to develop osteoporosis than are still fertile. The earlier menopause, the greater the risk of developing osteoporosis at an earlier age.

Infection factors

Are there factors other than hormones that cause the disease?

Yes, there are factors that affect the height of bone mass, such as genetic factors, lack of physical activity, and nutritional factors, and we can intervene in all factors except for genetic factors. Lack of physical activity has important effects on the structure and growth of bones during childhood and adolescence, and at the level of nutritional factors. We must know that the diet affects the peak bone mass, especially with a lack of calcium, vitamin D, protein and salt. As for the hormonal factors, it is represented in the primary deficiency of the gonads, which leads to a decrease in bone mass, and these hormones affect bone mass due to the strong link between sex hormones in the process of bone remodeling. Also among the factors that cause osteoporosis are parathyroid gland disorders: the concentration of calcium in the blood is regulated by parathyroid hormone and calcium.

There are secondary causes, such as pregnancy for more than 3 times in a row, or not having children, as well as not breastfeeding at all or breastfeeding for more than six months, or menopause due to loss of appetite or violent exercise or thinness. White and Asian women are also more likely to contract the disease. There are lifestyle factors, including low calcium intake, smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages, excessive tea and coffee, and little or no exposure to sunlight.

There are also pathological factors, including increased use of proteins and phosphates in the body, vitamin K deficiency and vitamin C deficiency, and may result from diseases affecting the endocrine glands, including thyroid disease, parathyroid disease, Addison''s disease, and diabetes. It also includes cancerous diseases and blood diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma, hemophilia, thalassemia, and kidney and liver diseases.

Healthy commandments

• What are your commandments when suffering from osteoporosis?

If osteoporosis is actually diagnosed, then the treatment program begins. There are several types of treatment that help prevent disease deterioration and strengthen the bones. These, in addition to lifestyle changes, can reduce the risk of fractures.

The most important thing is for treatment to be accompanied by other measures, including: reducing the chances of falling, improving vision to reduce the chances of stumbling in an invisible obstacle, removing obstacles that hinder traffic such as carpets, small pieces of furniture, and foot mops, making sure to use a walking stick or tire to achieve balance while walking, Be careful when taking sedatives, as they may impair muscular control and judgment, especially at night.