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| Sunday, 6 June 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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2m Lankan women afflicted with 'silent disease' Ignorance and neglecting to seek early treatment on 'Osteoporosis', which makes the bones brittle and soft due to Calcium deficiency, has made over two million Sri Lankan women victims of this 'silent' disease, according to the Osteoporosis Society of Sri Lanka (OSSL). According to health experts, most victims are unaware of the disease until their bones fracture due to falls or accidents. Clearing a myth that women are more prone to Osteoporosis, also known as 'Brittle Bone Disease', the experts said that it equally affects men and women, but women are more at risk of getting it due to their reproductive system. "Women older than 50 years are more vulnerable to this disease due to a decrease in Oestrogen levels and the higher rate of bone loss", Dr. Sarath Lekamwasam, Senior Lecturer, Karapitiya Medical Faculty told a media conference organised by the OSSL. According to Dr. Lekamwasam, with a rapidly aging population in Asia a widespread threat of Osteoporosis is looming. "We did a research among 300 women and 40 per cent of them were found to be afflicted with the disease. What is needed is to educate the public on how to increase their Calcium intake to prevent Osteoporosis", he said. Dr. Udul Hewage, Senior Lecturer of the Sri Jayawardenapura University explained how to prevent the disease by taking food such as milk, yoghurt, cheese, dried fish (sprats and kunnisan), 'katurumurunga', fish, beans and non-fat milk. "But, regular intake of liquids like coffee, tea and colas and eating 'nivithi' will cause Calcium deficiency", he said. (SSL) |
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