Stress will hit you bang at the joint

Hyderabad: Osteoporosis caused by stress is on the rise among women as young as 40 years of age as they try to multitask and maintain a work-home balance. These women typically have little rest, suffer from sleep deprivation and usually skip breakfast which leads to nutrient imbalance. Long working hours, stretched travel timings, deadline-centric working styles add to their woes. Doctors said they were regularly treating women who had suffered fractures even in minor incidents, as their bone health had been affected by chronic stress.

Dr Rajeev K. Sharma, senior orthopaedic and joint replacement surgeon, said that chronic and persistently high stress levels act on the body and the mind. “Due to high levels, the body releases the hormone cortisol as a coping mechanism. Elevated levels of cortisol interferes with the bone health as the body releases calcium to neutralise the pH balance of cortisol,” Dr Sharma said.

Dr Sudhir Reddy, senior orthopaedic and joint replacement consultant, said, the major problem found in 90 per cent of women was lack of physical activity to ensure that the bones remain strong. “Lack of exercise, improper diet and sedentary lifestyle are some of the factors seen in stressed women as they are unwilling to take up any activity due to chronic stress. But a sedentary lifestyle only adds to their woes,” Dr Reddy said. Experts said they helped the women by suggesting ways to deal with and manage stress. Exercises like walking and yoga and meditation ease stress, they said.

Weight-bearing exercises ideally build bone strength. Orthopaedic Dr Sanjay T, however, cautioned: “Weight bearing exercises must be decided according to the person’s strength and capability. Once that is achieved, the intensity can be gradually increased.”