World Osteoporosis Day Theme 2022 “Step Up for Bone Health”
Every year October 20 is recognized as World Osteoporosis Day which aims to bring attention to silent bone disease and spread knowledge about treatment methods and prevention. The World Osteoporosis day theme in 2022 is “Step Up for Bone Health”.
Today we will discuss the History of Osteoporosis Day, the World Osteoporosis Day theme of 2022, Osteoporosis Symptoms, Osteoporosis facts, and Steps taken to improve bone health.
2022 Theme for Osteoporosis Day
World Osteoporosis Day is celebrated every year to raise awareness among people to discuss the risk of having a low bone mass density which can cause fractures in your bones. Every year the theme of Osteoporosis changes based on the awareness the people need in their daily life.
The World Osteoporosis Day theme 2022 is "Step up for Bone health". The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) seeks to highlight the significance of leading a healthy bone lifestyle. The organization wants to spread awareness of how taking care of your bones is the basis of a fracture-free future.
The first World Osteoporosis Day Theme was set up in 1999 on “Early Detection”. Later every year the theme started to change according to the requirement and awareness among the people.
- World Osteoporosis Day theme 2020 was That's Osteoporosis
- World Osteoporosis Day theme 2021 was Take Actions For bone health
History of World Osteoporosis Day
The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), which is actively engaged in educating the public about this debilitating bone disease, sponsors World Osteoporosis Day (WOD). Osteoporosis is a medical condition in which bone mineral density and bone mass decrease. The word ‘Osteoporosis’ specifically means ‘Porous Bones’.
World Osteoporosis Day was inaugurated in the United Kingdom on 20th October 1996, with assistance from the European Commission (EU). It is shocking to know that before 1996, Osteoporosis wasn’t even recognized as a major disease. But, in 1998 with the constant efforts of two prominent organizations that is European Foundation for Osteoporosis (EFFO) and the International Federation of Societies on Skeletal Diseases (IFSSD), combined together to create the IOF.
In the late 90s, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) co-sponsored the Osteoporosis Day events along with the IOF. The important event of World Osteoporosis Day is to check the bone density of people. Fewer bones are more likely to break easily or fracture quickly even during slight falls.
Osteoporosis Symptoms
Osteoporosis is a disease caused by weaker bones and lower bone density. In osteoporosis, bones are much more likely to fracture as they become porous and brittle. The other symptoms of osteoporosis include:
- Bones can easily break even with a mild injury or sudden fall
- More than 2 inches in height can be lost over time
- A curved, stooped shape of the spine
- Lower back pain, knee pain, and ankle pain can start
- Sometimes, the gums can recede as the teeth are connected to the jawbone.
Osteoporosis Facts
- Half of all adults aged 50 and older, are at a higher risk of fracturing a bone and should worry about their bone health in the United States of America.
- A research conducted in India stated that of people aged between 38 and 68 years, 9% of them suffer from osteoporosis.
- Due to Osteoporosis, one in two women and up to one in four men will break a bone throughout their lifetime.
- Osteoporosis is responsible for an estimated 2 million broken bones per year.
- Older people aged over 50 have a higher risk of getting Osteoporosis.
- Osteoporosis is also called a ‘silent disease’ as people cannot feel bones getting weaker.
- A Bone Density test is the best way to diagnose osteoporosis and determine a treatment plan.
5 ways to improve bone health in honor of World Osteoporosis Day theme 2022
Bone Health Step 1: Eat healthy food for healthy bones- Always prefer eating healthy and nutritious food to stay fit and healthy. Make sure to eat foods high in Calcium, Vitamin D, Proteins, and other minerals.
- Calcium builds strong bones whereas Vitamin D helps in the absorption of Calcium.
- Eat a diet that includes dairy supplements such as milk, cheese, yogurt, curd, and other food such as salmon, orange juice, spinach, broccoli, egg yolk, tuna fish, etc.
- Additionally, take weekly sunbathes to obtain Vitamin D, which aids in the body’s better absorption of Calcium.
- Make sure to talk with an orthopedic doctor before you start any exercise.
- Make walking a daily ritual.
- Start abdominal exercises, lower back exercises, yoga, jogging, aerobics, and bicycling according to your needs and situation.
- Aim to exercise for 30-40 mins, 3 to 4 times each week.
- Smoking doubles the risk of hip fractures in people.
- A year of excessive alcohol & nicotine results in a 2% loss of bone mass.’
- When you consume both alcohol and nicotine, it can result in 8% bone loss.
- After 45 age, the chances of bone loss increase in people
- Women around the age of 45 to 55 years undergo menopause and have higher chances of Osteoporosis.
- Parental history of osteoporosis increases the risk of having it in children
- Consult with the best orthopedic doctor and surgeon to know more about your bone health.
- Get your bone mass density checked every year.
- Consult a doctor to know about different treatment methods.
Bone Mineral Density Test
A bone density test determines osteoporosis. The procedure uses X-rays to calculate the amount of calcium and other bone minerals present in a particular segment of bone. The more your bone minerals, the denser your bone is. And the denser your bones, the stronger they are and less likely to break.
T-score Your T-score from the bone mineral density test gives a comparison of your bone density to that of a healthy young adult of your gender.
| T-score | What does your Score mean? |
|---|---|
| -1 and above | Your bone density is considered normal |
| Between -1 and -2.5 | You have osteopenia (a condition that leads to osteoporosis) |
| -2.5 and below | Your bone density indicates you have osteoporosis |
Consult an orthopedic doctor if your bone mineral density is below -2.5 and get yourself treated.