Comprehension: Try to understand that men above 50 and women after menopause are likely to suffer from reduced bone mass. About 60 per cent of fracture cases have osteoporotic bones. 

Diet: Go for diet rich in calcium and minerals like cheese, milk, Tofu, and green vegetables. Vitamin D, helps in calcium metabolism. Avoid liquor, smoking and excessive intake of tea and coffee. 

Medicines: After prescription from a doctor, take medicines such as calcium Vitamin D, biphosphonates and raloxifence. These drugs have negligible side effects. 

Densitometry: Bone densitometry is a non – invasive quick test that tells us about mild, severe or moderate weakness of bones. Once the bone mineral density is assessed, you can plan its management.  

THE PREVALENCE of osteoporosis or the ‘bone thinning’ disease which leaves you prone to fractures and dislocation, is on the rise in the Capital.

Sedentary lifestyle, a thin diet, minimum exposure to sunlight, especially in slums and a genetic predisposition are some of the reasons why more people are suffering from the disease.

Two informal studies by two doctors, one serving with the Ramlal Kundanlal Bone and Joint (RKBJ) Hospital and the other with Sir Gangaram Hospital, have thrown up alarming statistics.

Dr. Chetan Chopra of Gangaram Hospital, who also runs a ‘bone densitometry’ clinic, recently presented a paper on 1642 people who came in for the test.

RKJB’s Dr. Sushil Sharma – who is also the president of the Arthritis Foundation of India, has found a similar tend in two camps he held in Daryaganj.

“ More than 600 men and women had come to the camp for free densitometry. One of two women and one man out of four had weak bones, making fractures inevitable even after minor falls,” Dr. Sharma says.

“The disease occurs when bone and mineral metabolism of the body is affected. In post- menopausal women it happens as their hormone levels come down drastically. In recent times, more such women start developing this problem” says Dr. Neeru Gera, senior endocrinologist with Max Health Care.

AFI is also running a highly concessional vaccination clinic every Tuesday and Friday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The venue is E-92-93 Pandav Nagar, Samaspur Road, East Delhi. Regular orthopedic camps are organized here. Free Bone Mineral Densitometry (BMD) Test is performed along with free medicine distribution and check-up with education. The BMD test is for detection of osteoporosis in bones. AFI has found that one but of two females above 45 has weak bones and one out of every five men has this disease.

Combat osteoporosis campaign in paper is distributed in camps as well as free OPDs by AFI. This paper also guides about diet, exercise, yoga and lifestyle in easy language. WHO has declared 2000-2001 as bone and joint disease decade and recognized osteoporosis as the second most common disease after cardio-vascular disease. AFI releases a tri-monthly newsletter for its members.

Doc Feels It In His Bones                                                                                                     It's India's secret malady - osteoporosis - that bothers him. Or rather, the elitism of its cure.

In the hierarchy of diseases, much of our attention has been consumed by AIDS, polio or tuberculosis. Osteoporosis is undoubtedly on the backburner. Yet the true picture of this malady of the bones is very grim. According to WHO figures, one out of eight males and one out of three females in India suffers from osteoporosis, making India one of the largest affected countries in the world. The disease weakens the bones and in many cases even causes fatal disabilities. But if detected early, it can be treated. Often it’s the underprivileged who falls prey due to severe malnutrition and low calcium intake. Orthopaedic care is costly, making it difficult if not outright impossible for many to avail of treatment. Government hospitals treating orthopaedic cases are overworked and hence it is often impossible for the poor to get succour. This ‘perpetual crisis’ is what prompted Dr Sushil Sharma, an orthopaedic surgeon, to start awareness camps and free weekly OPDS in east and central Delhi.
		ORTHOSHASTRA: Dr. Sushil Sharmar examines a patient at his OPD in East Delhi

The Arthritis Foundation of India (AFI) was formed in September 2001. In the first year, Sharma examined some 100 patients a week rendering free advice and medicines to the needy. His bore fruit when the WHO-affiliated International Osteoporosis Foundation granted recognition to his NGO in 2002. Sharma is faced with medical challenges almost everyday since most of his patients are working class people. “With nutritional levels abysmally low, their treatment can be a complex process,” he says.

Osteoporosis-related injury is not visible and often tends to hamper professional performance. For men, it means fewer mandays at work, shrinking employment and earning capacities. For women, it becomes ardous to handle dual workloads at home and work. According to Sharma, six out of every ten fractures and bone injuries in India are caused by osteoporosis. “Contrary to our assumption, trauma (accidents) is not the main cause of serious injuries. It is weak bones that cause it. Trauma accounts for barely 40 percent of injuries,” he says.

Sharma says his biggest success has been the awareness camps where clinical examination and free medicines are offered to the patients. These camps have done their bit in addressing the needs of thousands who cannot afford the expensive medication. Sharma says he sources his medicines and expensive equipment from pharmaceutical companies. “As a doctor, I get a lot free samples which I regularly plough into our camps. We have to make periodic appeals to drug manufactures who have thus far responded generously when they are informed that the camps are free and for a charitable cause,” says Sharma. In addition, literature on bone health is provided. Besides, all camps also include detailed exhibitions on how best to counter osteoporosis.

In India, resort to osteoporosis therapy remains largely the preserve of the rich as private clinics and nursing homes eagerly solicit this expanding ‘market’. Given the magnitude of the problem, Sharma says, it is important that the government recognizes osteoporosis as a priority disease. In the West, there is a growing awareness of bone disease. Australia, for instance, has put osteoporosis on its list of national priority disease. Sharma hopes India will follow suit. He believes that a consolidated effort is necessary to deal with the situation. “There is no doubt that more agencies have to get involved because it is way beyond the means of anyone NGO to deliver the goods,” he says.

Sharma can be contacted at: Arthritis Foundation of India, 429, Pocket E, Mayur Vihar-Phase II, New Delhi 110091. Tel: 9810113828/ 22732895. 

Bone Health Camp’ Inaugurated In Capital

TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

NEW DELHI, January 5 

A free ‘Bone Health Camp’ was inaugurated by Mr. Devendra Raj Ankur, Director, National School of Drama, at the Yoga Hall this morning. The four-hour camp was organized by the Arthritis Foundation of India to create awareness and provide treatment to osteoporosis patients. Over 150 visitors and patients were checked up at the camp.

Both advice and treatment was given to the visitors. The camp was conducted under Dr Sushil Sharma, Bone and Joint. Specialist, R K Hospital, Patparganj, along with other doctors.

Among the visitors who underwent checkup for osteoporosis were NSD director, Mr. Ankur and faculty members Prof. Harsh Sharma and Prof K Jani. Several students of NSDs also visited the camp.

The Arthritis Foundation of India has undertaken awareness campaign in an endeavour to prevent the disease from spreading and educate people about its consequences.

Bones become fragile and weak in osteoporosis, which make them prone to fracture. Both men and women are affected: one man in eight an one woman in three are affected by osteoporosis. Hormonal changes in the body over 45 years cause this bone disease in one out of two women. The disease in spreading fast in India. It has already taken the form of an epidemic.

AFI holds the view that osteoporosis should be included in the National Health Programme on the lines of Australia.

Europe is soon expected to follow suit. Inclusion of the disease in NHP by the government will automatically change the threat perception. Though doctors can diagnose the disease, they do no take it seriously. There should be a countrywide awareness and treatment campaign from hospitals to public health centers in villages. It is through this kind of awareness and NHP that uncontrollable disease like TB, Malaria, and AIDS are being fought effectively.

Similar steps should be taken to combat osteoporosis also before it becomes too late.

Dr Sharma says that osteoporosis causes fragility and brittleness of bones and six out of ten fractures were due to it. At the camp, a photo exhibition was also set up for better understanding and information about the disease. The various charts explained how bones become brittle, what should be the diet and what is the best exercise regime to prevent incidence of the disease.

Women were specially advised to visit these camps because they were more vulnerable to osteoporosis.

NATIONAL HERALD

 New Delhi, Tuesday, January 6, 2004 

Many visit bone health camp 

Herald News Service 

NEW DELHI: A free ‘Bone Health Camp’ was in organized at Yoga Hall, NSD campus, Bahawalpur House, here on Monday morning. The four-hour camp was inaugurated at 10 am by the School Director Devendra Raj Ankur, opened under the auspices of the Arthritis Foundation of India, the camp for a free osteoporosis checkup was conducted by Dr Sushil Sharma, Bone & Joint Specialist of RK Hospital, Patparganj, assisted by some other doctors.

Mr. Ankur and faculty members of the National School of Drama like Prof. Harsh Sharma and Prof K Jani as well as a number of students went through the checkup and diagnosis. Over 150 persons visited the camp and presented themselves for medical tests and the required treatment.

Over the years, the Arthritis Foundation has been organizing an osteoporsis campaign to make people aware of the seriousness of this disease, which makes the bones of the body fragile and brittle.

HT, South Delhi Live

Bone check-up camp at NSD

HT Live Correspondent  

A Free “bone health camp” was inaugurated by Devendra Raj Ankur, Director, National School of Drama at the Yoga Hall on January 6. The four-hour camp was organized by the Arthritis Foundation of India to create awareness and provide treatment to osteoporosis patient. Over 150 visitors and patients were checked up at the camp conducted under Dr Sushil Sharma, Bone and Joint Specialist, RK Hospital, Patparganj.

Ankur and faculty members underwent a check-up. A photo exhibition was also set up for better understanding and information about the disease.

The various charts explained how bones become brittle, what is the best exercise regime to prevent incidence of the disease.

DELHI

THE TRIBUNE, NOIDA, SATURDAY, JULY 31, 2004 

Camp held to spread awareness about osteoporosis 

The Arthritis Foundation of India, an NGO, organized a free bone health camp at Sandhya old age home in Netaji Nagar to spread awareness about osteoporosis.

Senior citizens were given free treatment at the camp and were informed about the disease, which doctors’ claim was turning into an epidemic. However, medical practitioners’ point out that osteoporosis is a avoidable.

The camp provided information on how osteoporosis and arthritis makes the bones weak and contributes to sixty percent of the fractures. It was pointed out that in the elderly population, one out of three women above 45 years has osteoporosis, while the number is one in eight for men.

Bone denisitometry was also conducted on 100 senior citizens. The chairman of the foundation, Dr Sushil Sharma, said that they were aiming to spread information about the disease and have plans to augment the campaign.

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