Are you clumsy? Are you susceptible to even minor falls? If the answer is yes, then its time to seriously think about your health. These are some of the common symptoms of Osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis, in simple terms, is a condition of increased vulnerability to fracture due to fragile and porous bone. Osteoporosis weakens the bone thereby increasing the risk of bone fracture.

Doctors warn that women are more prone to it as their bone mass density decreases after the age of 35 and further decreases after menopause. Bone mass (bone density) is the amount of bone present in the skeletal structure. Higher the bone density, stronger is the bone.

According to WHO, Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and an increased susceptibility to fractures, especially of the hip, spine, and wrist. Osteoporosis occurs primarily as a result of normal ageing.

In the US, records with the National Osteoporosis Foundation, show that Americans spend billions of dollars every year on osteoporosis. More than 10 million suffer from the disease followed by around 34 million who suffer from low bone density.

The situation in India is no better, says Dr Sandip Gupta, a consultant orthopedic and spine surgeon at Friends Orthopedic and Physiotherapy Centre in New Delhi. “This is because there is a lack of awareness about the disease. So patients come very late when complications have already occurred. And the long term medication and costly treatment that follows acts as a deterrent.”

He agrees that this is a complex issue as in some cases it takes years to detect osteoporosis and as a result, patients remain unaware until they suffer a painful fracture.

In a month, Dr Gupta gets an average of 20 patients, including those undiagnosed with clinical suspicion. Among them are people as young as 25 years old and some even 90 years old.

Sonam Lhamo is a house wife and is in her mid fifties. She has been suffering from osteoporosis form quite a few years now. She still finds it difficult to understand what the disease is all about. Being illiterate, she thinks it’s nothing more than “weak bones.” “I kept on suffering from sprain and minor fracture at home and I used to find it strange. But now I know,” she says.

According to orthopedists, the main factors that increase the risk of developing osteoporosis are genetic factors, lack of exercise, calcium and vitamin D intake. The other important risks include personal history of fracture as an adult, cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, poor nutrition, general health, thin and small body frames.

Dr Gupta, therefore, pointed out that parents should ensure good dietary regime for their children right from their childhood. “There are many products that prevent bone from weakening,” he says.

So you better act now or else you could be the next victim.

Report by:Kinga Dema
Copy Edit: Saurabh Sharma
Pix courtesy: Chiropractic Neurology Center

Photo : Gargi

On November 6, the Bhutanese community in New Delhi came together to celebrate the coronation of the fifth king of Bhutan at the Royal Bhutanese Embassy. The Embassy officials, students and other Bhutanese based in Delhi were involved in various activities through out the day to mark the coronation and centenary celebration. Kinga Dema finds out more through a radio story.

By Kinga Dema and Neha Sethi
Photo:Babu

You think someone wearing a full-sleeved shirt in this humid weather is bonkers? It might not be the latest fad but it is certainly a preventive measure. It is what the doctors are advising if you want to stay away from dengue. Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and other concerned agencies claim that preventive measures have been taken to fight dengue. But since the outbreak of dengue fever since this June, the cases are still increasing.

V K Monga, Chairman, Health Committee, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) says, “Till yesterday, 208 cases have been reported from Delhi for the year 2008.” He said the total number of cases reported last year was 548. He also added that the total number of cases is expected to be more than those of last year.

“The increase in the number of cases can be attributed to early monsoon and increase in the volume of monsoons this year. There is more humidity and also the temperature has not been very high this year,” he said.

While the agencies are busy bracing the outbreak with various measures, there seems to be a blockade on the way with the workers for the Domestic Breeding Catchers (DBC) going on strike.

This is being cited as another reason for a surge in dengue cases, points out Monga. “This problem will be solved shortly. They are demanding a regular government job, which is not possible. They are hired on a contractual basis. They are taking advantage of the situation because they know that this is the peak season for them.”
Monga claims that the MCD is ready to deal with the dengue cases. “I have visited one or two hospitals and seen the provisions. The supply of platelets and medicines is enough. There will not be any problem.”

Dr R N Singh, Chief Medical Officer, Malaria, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) claims that special beds have been earmarked for dengue patients in hospitals like AIIMS, Safdarjung, RML, Lady Harding and other hospitals which come under NDMC supervision.
So how harmful is dengue for you? Dengue is a viral disease which is transmitted to humans by the bite of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. The severe form of dengue is called dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). It can lead to a more critical stage called the dengue shock syndrome. It could result in death if not managed in time.

Dr Prena Chhetri, a resident doctor at Indraprasthra Apollo Hospital, says, “Unlike the nocturnal malaria-transmitting mosquito, the dengue mosquito bites during the day and breeds in clean water.” It also bites several times at a stretch without rest, which means ‘a single mosquito carrying the dengue virus could infect more people in a shorter time’.

But the good news is that Dr Chhetri says it is not difficult to keep yourself safe. “The safest option is to wear full-sleeved clothes and make sure that no stagnant water is there near your surroundings. The dengue scare is bigger than the actual diseases every year so don’t be paranoid, just take precautions.”
So this season, do your best to be free from the grip of dengue!

By
Kinga Dema
Photo:Jaishree

Those of you, who think that you are just suffering from gastritis, think again.
Gastritis should not be neglected in its initial stage as it can turn into a life threatening disease, say gastroenterologists. Gastritis, in simple term, means inflammation of the stomach. According to Dr. Rajeev Shandil, DNB registrar, gastroenterology of Apollo hospital, gastritis if left untreated may lead to gastric ulcers and stomach bleeding. Some forms of chronic gastritis may also increase the risk of stomach cancer, he adds.
The most common cause of gastritis, a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is found in almost 90 percent of the world’s population. So if you are not careful about your food habits and timings, chances are that you might suffer from gastritis.
Patients having gastritis that has developed to the stage of gastric ulcers can suffer from burning pain in the epi-gastritis region (upper abdomen), heart burn, belching or bloating and nausea. If active bleeding is present, the person might also vomit blood and see blood in stools.
So,what causes gastritis? The most common causes include alcohol consumption; use of certain painkillers, stress and of course unhealthy food habits. Surgery, burns, trauma and other serious medical problems also increases the chances of developing gastritis. Any way out? Yes, patients should take proper consultation of a doctor and make the necessary life style changes. People suffering from chronic diseases like liver and kidney disease and patients who are on medication have higher chances of suffering from gastritis. Dr Ujjwal Pradhan, a resident doctor of Apollo says that patients suffering from gastritis should eat healthy and drink lots of water. “Spicy food is not a direct cause of gastritis but it adds on to the complications,” he adds. Also, patients need to take lesser amount of tea, coffee or anything with caffeine in it.
Tshering, 25, who works in a non-government organization (NGO) in Gurgaon, regrets not listening to her doctor’s advice when she had minor gastritis three years ago. She is now suffering from chronic gastritis. “The pain is unbearable sometimes and I am always cautious,” she says.
How worse can it get? Gastritis can become dangerous when not treated on time. Patients don’t die from gastritis as such but gastritis complications can become fatal if left untreated.

So, learn to handle stress, eat healthy and live life without gastritis!

A Radio story by Saurabh Sharma and Kinga Dema