Print

Mail

wiki links

Public encouraged to assess osteoporosis risk

The International Osteoporosis Foundation is providing an online list of risk factors to help people conduct a quick self-assessment of their risk of developing osteoporosis.

The list provides questions relating to 19 risk factors for osteoporosis, a disease characterized by low bone mass leading to increased susceptibility to fractures, Taiwan Osteoporosis Association President Sung Yung-kuei (宋永魁) said.

Family history of osteoporosis, low body weight, old age, smoking, excess alcohol and a clinical history of bone fractures and the use of corticosteroide tablets, are all crucial factors contributing to the disease, Sung said.

Sung suggested that people consult a doctor if they learn they are in a high-risk group after completing the checklist.

Citing the results of a national health survey conducted by the Department of Health, Sung said women are three times more likely to develop the disease than men, though men can still suffer from osteoporosis.

More than 70 percent of women over 50 who received osteoporosis tests at three Taiwanese hospitals were found to be at high risk for the disease, Sung said.

Taiwan Orthopedic Association president Chen Wen-che (陳文哲) suggested that people under 30 get more exercise and exposure to the sun and have a balanced diet rich in calcium in order to defend against developing osteoporosis in later life.

The same efforts by people over 30 will only slow down the loss of bone mass, he said.
This story has been viewed 1122 times.