World Osteoporosis Day 2022
The day is celebrated to highlight the importance of bone health at all stages of life. People should not take bone health for granted no matter what.
World Osteoporosis Day is observed with the intention of increasing global awareness about the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease. The day is celebrated to promote the early diagnosis of osteoporosis, its treatment, and preventive tips for strong bones. The campaigns mainly focus on encouraging people to take preventative measures for their bone health to avoid any risk of osteoporosis and associated complications in the future. It is celebrated every year on October 20.
Osteoporosis is a medical condition in which bones become very weak and brittle. Usually, it doesn’t show any symptoms unless the fracture happens. In the case of osteoporosis, the bone becomes so fragile that a fracture can occur with a minor fall, bump, or sudden movement. The chances of osteoporosis prevail more with aging. It is one of the most common causes of fractures in the elderly. Because of the asymptomatic nature of this bone disorder, it is essential to look after bone health to prevent complications related to bone fractures. It is estimated that globally, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men aged 50 years suffer from an osteoporotic fracture. The prevalence of osteoporosis in elderly females has been noticed more, after 5-7 years of menopause they tend to lose their bone density by 20%.
The day was introduced on October 20, 1996, by the United Kingdom's National Osteoporosis Society which was supported by the European Commission. Moreover, the World Health Organization (WHO), co-sponsored World Osteoporosis Day in 1998. Since its inception, Various organizations have supported the day, and in 1998 and 1999, the World Health Organization co-sponsored the day intending to promote awareness of osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease. In 1999, World Osteoporosis Day was witnessed with a specific theme for the first time, and the theme for 1999 was “Early Detection”.
The theme for World Osteoporosis Day 2022 is ‘Step Up for Bone Health.' The day is celebrated to highlight the importance of bone health at all stages of life. People should not take bone health for granted no matter what. The condition is also known as ‘The Silent Disease’ because, in most cases, there are no symptoms until the first fracture occurs. The majority of the people with osteoporosis in India are left untreated and such a population hails from rural areas. India is often not diagnosed and untreated, and such a population hails from rural areas.
