Lovely bones
An old person's disease. A silent killer.
It has been called by many other names but it continues to be insignificant to some - that is until it breaks them, literally!
According to statistics, one out of two women are at risk of osteoporosis, a disease that results from loss of bone density causing it to be brittle, fragile, and more prone to fractures. While human bones are living tissues that naturally undergo a constant breakdown and renewal process, this changes during the mid-20s, when the deterioration of our bones begins.
Smokers, alcohol drinkers, and people with low calcium diets and generally inactive lifestyles are susceptible to the disease. Owing to hormones and petite frames, women are more prone to it than men. Monthly periods and pregnancy also drain the body of calcium, the nutrient with bone-building properties, while menopause accelerates bone loss even more, as the body produces less and less estrogen, the hormone that helps protect bones.
Having experienced this debilitating disease first hand, Senator Pia Cayetano joins the crusade against osteoporosis as she embodies Anlene's passion to make women aware and be vigilant of the importance of bone health.
"I have personally seen the pain my grandmother went through when she suffered from osteoporosis, from being an active individual, and her life ended," she recalls.
Recently, Sen. Cayetano took up the role of Anlene's Ambassador. Her goal to promote women's health now includes rallying the Filipina towards action to prevent osteoporosis. With the alarming statistics revealed to her by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) she has become aware of the grim realities women face. She labels the disease as "Deadly sa Kababaihan" and believes that promoting awareness is the key.
"For a country with a projected population of 146 million by 2050, and with one out of two women currently being at risk of osteoporosis, the implications on the socio economic future are staggering," she ends. – Article courtesy of Manila Bulletin
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