Osteoporosis

 Written by: Abdul Mutalib Jawad

 Osteoporosis occurs in most people after the age of 50. It is rarely possible to inherit it in children. Patients with osteoporosis should pay close attention to their physical activity and diet, if some of them do not pay attention to their food and physical activities, they might face serious health problems.

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some patients who are suffering from osteoporosis and a physician about this health problem.

Humayoun, a resident of Kabul city says, “I was busy in my office work and I did not have time for physical exercise and had no attention to my food. One day I was walking on the street and suddenly my leg broke and I went to the hospital and they cast my leg for 5 months. The doctor diagnosed my illness Osteoporosis.”

Muhammad Rasool, a resident of Kapisa province says, "After the age of 55, I felt that I was walking bent over. When I went to the doctor, he diagnosed that I was suffering from osteoporosis. The doctor prescribed me medicines but the medication did not cure my disease. Then the doctor asked me if I do physical exercises or not. I replied no. He recommended some exercises and wanted to eat calcium-rich foods and vegetables otherwise my bones might fracture suddenly.”

An orthopedist, doctor Abdul Razaq says, “If the patient with osteoporosis relies only on medication and does not pay attention to his diet, and eat any kind of foods, does not have physical exercises, his/her disease might progress and his/her bones would become more empty and he/she would lose weight. In this case, he/she might face unnecessary fractures, shorten his height and would bend his/her back, and even when bowing in prayers, a fracture will easily occur in his/her knees.”

What do some people think about the causes of osteoporosis?

Alhaj Ghulam Sakhi, a resident of Ghazni province says, “When a person gets older, he/she becomes weak and he/she might suffer from osteoporosis.”
Anisa, a resident of Herat province says, “Diet plays an excessive role in all kinds of diseases. If someone does not pay attention to his/her food, he/ she might suffer more from osteoporosis.”

Doctor Abdul Razaq says, “Proper nutrition is vital for any age and for any person. Osteoporosis is one of the diseases that the bones and body need calcium and vitamin D-rich foods and other necessary vitamins. If someone does not pay attention to food and physical activities, the disease might get worse.”

How do some patients treat this disease?

Hujatullah, a resident of Kunduz province says, “Aged people should eat foods according to their wish. The foods must be soft. I am also suffering from osteoporosis. I drink a glass of boiled barberry roots’ water and I feel better because the roots of barberry strengthen bones.”

Fazila, a resident of Khairkhana area, district 11 of Kabul city says, “I was suffering from my le pain and when I went to the doctor and after bone destiny test, the test showed that I was suffering from osteoporosis. The doctor prescribed me some medicines and he suggested paying special attention to my food. He recommended bringing some changes to my daily diet. I eat beans, spinach, cauliflower, peanut, and some other calcium-rich foods. I also walk about 15 minutes daily and I went to the doctor for the second time, he said that my illness was better.”

Doctor Abdul Razaq says, “Vitamin D and calcium are found in low-fat milk, and other dairy products, as well as in vegetables that are also cheap and available at any time, such as cauliflower, cabbage, spinach, and the patient should regularly have physical activities and light exercises should be followed to absorb vitamins to the body. For example, walking on flat surfaces where walking causes calcium to build up in the bones, improves tissue and bone.”