brittle bones and fractures -- is an `old ladies' disease.

But although post-menopausal women tend to be more susceptible to the disease, it can also affect much younger women.

In an effort to catch this potentially debilitating disease in its early stages, King Edward Memorial Hospital has teamed up with US-based company Merck, Sharp & Dohme to provide free osteoporosis screening for a two-week period which finishes tomorrow.

KEMH's Diagnostic Imaging Manager Venetta Symonds said the level of osteoporosis awareness on Island is very good -- the hospital staff has been testing 35-40 patients per day and two-week screening programme is already oversubscribed.

However, those concerned about osteoporosis should be aware that KEMH's George Ringer, radiologist and director of Diagnostic Imaging, has been certified as a clinical densitometrist.

And Mrs. Symonds said KEMH was in the process of implementing a full densitometry service which would help detect osteoporosis in residents on a year-round basis.

"Men and women with sedentary jobs and who do relatively little if any regular exercise become prime targets for osteoporosis,'' said Mrs. Symonds.

"(Middle age) is when the body no longer rebuilds bones, the calcium content in our systems decreases and thus the bone mass begins to shrink,'' she added.

"Those of us who are slim or have thin builds are more prone to the disease, while women with larger, heavier frames and more weight have a natural resistance.

22 Brittle bones ailment term use of asthma medication reduces the density of bones -- so asthmatics are especially prone to osteoporosis,'' she added.

Dr. Ringer explained that although osteoporosis is a disease that primarily affects older people, it is preventable and treatable.

"It's like other chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease -- you try to treat it before it gets out of hand,'' said Dr. Ringer.

"The cost of osteoporosis in the US today is approximately $15 billion, and in 2040 it's expected to be $50 billion. Why? Because people are living longer and they tend to lead sedentary lives.

"So we're after preventative methods to improve the quality of life and reduce health care costs -- and it's going to make a huge difference,'' he added.

Prevention is nine-tenths of the cure -- regular exercise, a sensible diet and good eating habits go a long way to postponing brittle bones.

Mrs. Symonds suggested leaving the car and bike at home and walking as much as possible -- which is good for both exercise and exposure to sunshine, since vitamin D plays and important part in maintaining bone density.

However, there's bad news for those who enjoy their share of cocktails and alcoholic beverages -- alcohol accelerates the bone mass reduction since it drains the body of much-needed minerals.

And chronic anorexics are almost certain to suffer from osteoporosis later in life, and should be on the lookout for early indications of the disease.

Bare boned facts: One of the keys to combatting osteoporosis is early detection. This machine is currently being used at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital to screen for osteoporosis.