Osteoporosis is a silent disease that has claimed numerous lives around the world is creeping across the country like a thief in the night. Without getting noticed, it can take away our most cherished possession – our life.
Such was the powerful message of the recent nationwide celebration of World Osteoporosis Day that saw close to 4,000 Filipino women from all over the country joining hands to raise awareness on the fatal silent disease. Simultaneous events under the umbrella theme “Kumilos ka, Sis” were held in Quezon City, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Baguio and Bacolod to highlight the cause of osteoporosis and how it greatly affects the quality of life.
“Osteoporosis is a disease we should all take seriously,” states Louise Yu, Anlene Philippines Senior Brand Manager. “It’s a disease that can put an end to the activities we love to do. Worse, it can put an end to one’s life. The Philippines is one in observing World Osteoporosis Day so that we can elevate the awareness level of Filipinos on this deadly disease and prevent the onset of osteoporosis.”
Osteoporosis occurs when the bone mass decreases quickly more than the body can replace it, leading to a net loss of bone strength. As a result, bones become brittle that even a slight bump can lead to painful fractures. It affects all bones in the body but fractures occur mostly in the spine, hips, and wrist. The alarming part is that, according to statistics, 20% of those who suffer hip fracture die within six months after the fracture. What is so critical about osteoporosis is that it manifests no signs or symptoms until a fracture occurs. Dubbed as the silent disease, osteoporosis almost always leads to irreparable damage or even fatality if not addressed early on.
