Osteoporosis is a disease linked to weak bones. It effects around 54 million Americans daily (Learn What Osteoporosis Is and What It’s Caused By, 2017). While anyone may be diagnosed with osteoporosis it is more common in the elderly and women. Osteoporosis involves the bones of the body. Bone has two types of tissue, cortical bone and trabecular bone. Osteoporosis typically affects the trabecular bone mostly because it regenerates more quickly than cortical bone, and osteoporosis interrupts that process. Bone has many different important functions. Bone provides structural support of the body, it works as the framework for the body. It protects many of the soft tissues and organs found in the body. For example, the rib cage surrounds the
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These low levels lead to weak bones. It can also cause bone loss and dropped production of new bone. Another cause of osteoporosis is simply age. Bone is continuously swapping out old bone for new bone. This regeneration process slows with age which causes the bone to become think and weak (Udell, 2017). Age also attributes to the bone loss of women due to menopause which is why osteoporosis is more common in women (Osteoporosis, 2017). While not directly linked to osteoporosis there are many other health issues that may increase the risk of developing the disease. Some examples include rheumatoid arthritis, eating disorders, diabetes and cancer (Learn What Osteoporosis Is and What It’s Caused By, …show more content…
One may shrink or have more of a stopped posture as a symptom of osteoporosis, but the most common way of detecting osteoporosis is with a spontaneous fracture (Osteoporosis-National Library of Medicine-PubMed Health, 2017). Osteoporosis can be diagnosed with a BMD, a test that measures bone mineral density. BMD’s usually measure areas such as the spine, hip, and femur. The most efficient BMD presently is the duel-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA or DEXA). The DXA resembles an x-ray, but it involves considerably less radiation. The results of the DXA are calculated using a T-score, which is based on the bone mineral density of those you are young and healthy (Udell, 2017). Treating osteoporosis generally comes down to prevention or managing at this point in time since there is no cure for the disease. Ways to prevent osteoporosis are to maintain a healthy diet that has plenty of calcium and vitamin D, weight-bearing physical activity, and to abstain from drinking or smoking. Alcohol brings on the increased risk of falling as well as not being a part of a healthy diet (What is Osteoporosis?, 2017). There are some medications that may be prescribed to those with osteoporosis. Bisphosphonates, denosumab, and calcitonin are some medications that may help with bone loss. Menopausal hormone therapy and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are also used for
These low levels lead to weak bones. It can also cause bone loss and dropped production of new bone. Another cause of osteoporosis is simply age. Bone is continuously swapping out old bone for new bone. This regeneration process slows with age which causes the bone to become think and weak (Udell, 2017). Age also attributes to the bone loss of women due to menopause which is why osteoporosis is more common in women (Osteoporosis, 2017). While not directly linked to osteoporosis there are many other health issues that may increase the risk of developing the disease. Some examples include rheumatoid arthritis, eating disorders, diabetes and cancer (Learn What Osteoporosis Is and What It’s Caused By, …show more content…
One may shrink or have more of a stopped posture as a symptom of osteoporosis, but the most common way of detecting osteoporosis is with a spontaneous fracture (Osteoporosis-National Library of Medicine-PubMed Health, 2017). Osteoporosis can be diagnosed with a BMD, a test that measures bone mineral density. BMD’s usually measure areas such as the spine, hip, and femur. The most efficient BMD presently is the duel-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA or DEXA). The DXA resembles an x-ray, but it involves considerably less radiation. The results of the DXA are calculated using a T-score, which is based on the bone mineral density of those you are young and healthy (Udell, 2017). Treating osteoporosis generally comes down to prevention or managing at this point in time since there is no cure for the disease. Ways to prevent osteoporosis are to maintain a healthy diet that has plenty of calcium and vitamin D, weight-bearing physical activity, and to abstain from drinking or smoking. Alcohol brings on the increased risk of falling as well as not being a part of a healthy diet (What is Osteoporosis?, 2017). There are some medications that may be prescribed to those with osteoporosis. Bisphosphonates, denosumab, and calcitonin are some medications that may help with bone loss. Menopausal hormone therapy and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are also used for