TEHRAN — The latest researches have revealed that 25 to 38 percent of the Iranians aged between 35 to 55 are suffering from osteoporosis, chief of osteoporosis research network of Tehran University of Medical Sciences said on World Osteoporosis Day, which fell on October 20.

Doctor Mohammad Pajoohi also explained that women are three times more vulnerable to osteoporosis, IRNA reported.

Unfortunately the disease does not display any visible symptoms and its main consequence is the increased risk of bone fractures especially in situations where healthy people would not normally break a bone, Pajoohi said.

“Osteoporosis may be due to lower than normal peak bone mass,” he underlined.

Bone is living tissue that changes constantly, with bits of old bone being removed and replaced by new bone and to build healthy and strong skeleton your body needs to absorb appropriate amounts of calcium from early childhood to age 40, the doctor added.

Osteoporosis usually occurs during 50s and at the early stages the symptoms are mild, however they get worse as the patient gets older and it reaches its peak from 65 to 70, Pajoohi stated.

Unhealthy habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol are risk factors and lifestyle changes such as stopping smoking and altering diet may help to slow down the process, he highlighted.

Pajoohi also explained how Hormonal changes can be another reason for the osteoporosis, as bone loss increases after menopause due to lower levels of estrogen in women during their 50s and lower level of testosterone in men after age 65.

“Getting enough exercise can also help preventing the disease,” he said, adding that “exercising regularly three to five times a week for 30 to 45 minutes would help delay the progression of symptoms.”

“Do not undermine the importance of consuming calcium and vitamin D as sources to help prevent the disease,” he noted.

“According to a recent research 60 to 70 percent of people suffer from vitamin D deficiency, and it is worth mentioning that enough sun exposure can provide your body with vitamin D,” Pajoohi said.

Pajoohi also pointed out that osteoporosis which occurs before 20 is hereditary.

As the Health Ministry announced in 2014 osteoporosis increased 2.3 percent over the past decade in Iran, IRNA reported.

MQ/PA