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Assignment: 01
OSTEOPOROSIS
Osteopenia,by definition, is a condition of bone that is slightly less dense than normal bone but not
to the degree of bone in osteoporosis.
Causes and risk factors
Doctors have identified several risk factors for osteoporosis. Some are modifiable, but it is
not possible to avoid others.The body continually absorbs old bone tissue and generates new
bone to maintain bone density, strength, and structural integrity.Bone density peaks when
a person is in their late 20s, and it starts to weaken at around 35 years of age, As a person
grows older, bone breaks down faster than it rebuilds. Osteoporosis may develop if this
breakdown occurs excessively.It can affect both males and females, but it is most likely to
occur in women after menopause because of the sudden decrease in estrogen. Estrogen
normally protects women against osteoporosis.The IOF advises that once people reach 50
years of age, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men will experience fractures due to osteoporosis.
Unavoidable factors
According to the American College of rheumatology nonmodifiable risk factors include:
• Age: Risk increases after the mid-30s and especially after menopause.
• Reduced sex hormones: Lower estrogen levels appear to make it harder for bone to
regenerate.
• Ethnicity: White people and Asian people have a higher risk than other ethnic groups.
• Height and weight: Being over 5 feet 7 inches tall or weighing under 125 pounds increases
the risk.
• Genetic factors: Having a close family member with a diagnosis of hip fracture or
osteoporosis makes osteoporosis more likely.
• Fracture history: A person over 50 years of age with previous fractures after a low-level injury
is more likely to receive a diagnosis of osteoporosis.
Sign and symptoms:
Osteoporosis itself has no symptoms; its main consequence is the increased risk of bone fractures.
Osteoporotic fractures occur in situations where healthy people would not normally break a bone;
they are therefore regarded as fragility fractures. Typical fragility fractures occur in the vertebral
column,rib,hip and wrist.
Vertebral (spinal) compression fractures are broken bones in the back that are due to weak bones
caused by osteoporosis. The vertebrae (spinal bone) collapses as a result of even minor injuries related
to falling, bending, twisting, or sneezing. As the bones of the spine lose their mineralization and
strength, they can collapse, causing a hunched-over appearance, often referred to as a “dowager
hump.”
2.Stress Fracture
Stress fractures occur in bones due to repetitive injuries, usually with minimal trauma. Patients with
osteoporosis are more prone to stress fractures because of the weakness of their bone.
3.Hip Fracture
Patients with osteoporosis are at greater risk for hip fractures. Even a simple fall can cause a hip
fracture in a person with osteoporosis. Due to the weakness in the bones these injuries may take a
long time or be difficult to fully heal.
Osteoporosis is often diagnosed on an X-ray when the patient suffers a fracture. However,
by the time,osteoporosis is visible on X-ray there may be significant bone loss.A dual energy
X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA or DXA) scan can be used as a screening test for osteopenia
(bone loss that precedes osteoporosis). This test measures bone density in the hip and spine
and is more precise than an X-ray.
How Is Osteoporosis Treated and
Prevented?
There is no current cure for osteoporosis. Osteoporosis treatment involves stopping further bone loss,
and strengthening bones that show signs of weakness. Prevention of osteoporosis is key.
1. Exercise
2. Quit Smoking and Curtail Alcohol
3.Calcium Supplements
4.Calcium-Fortified Foods
5.Vitamin D
7.Medications
The End