A campaign to warn women of the dangers of osteoporosis will be launched on Sunday at the Dr. Faqih Center for Women's Beauty and Health in Jeddah's Al-Tahlia District. Dr. Wafaa Faqih, the General Manager of the National Association for Women's Care, said studies show that 28 percent of Saudi women are at risk of contracting this bone disease. “The campaign aims to control osteoporosis by educating the public about the disease, its prevention and cure,” she said. There are many reasons why bones become more fragile leading to the risk of developing osteoporosis. “Factors that lead to an increased incidence of osteoporosis are aging, menopause, the irregularities in a woman's monthly period, early menopause before the age of forty, in addition to factors related to a patient's lifestyle,” said Dr. Faqih. According to Dr. Faqih, ”This is a silent illness without any noteworthy symptoms until a patient suffers a fracture of the thigh, wrist, or spine. Other symptoms include a loss of height, a slight curvature of the back, and pain in the back and legs.” “The condition can be diagnosed by measuring bone density and by analyzing the blood and urine for signs of the disease, “ added Dr. Faqih. “Osteoporosis can be avoided by following a balanced diet rich in calcium and protein, exercising regularly, refraining from smoking and, most importantly, having periodic checkups to measure bone density,” she said. __
