A Brief Note On Osteoporosis And Its Effects

Osteoporosis is a detrimental bone condition, the tissue in the bones deteriorate and thus the bones become progressively brittle which presents a risk for rupture. Osteoporosis impacts more than 44 million Americans and is linked to a suggested 2 million bone fractures each year. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, the amount of fissures due to osteoporosis may escalate above 3 million by the year 2025. Osteoporosis is typically undetected and advances with slight warning signs until a fissure ensues. Effects of osteoporosis encompass height reduction and a curved upper back, anyone can have osteoporosis, however it is prevalent in elderly women and many may break a bone due to this condition. Recovery and prevention are vital in combating osteoporosis, though it may never be eradicated one can take measures to stabilize bone density and gain strength.

Osteoporosis, meaning porous bone from the Greek language, is bone disease that gradually and steadily wears down bone tissue and its living cells. This wearing down will eventually cause the cells of bone tissue to degrade and die, leaving their “scaffolding” to be the only things only bone together. Without living cells to take up a home in this scaffolding, minor injuries such as falls, bumping into objects, and pressure that would normally be completely and would not pose any threat to bone tissue suddenly becomes a real hazard that can easily pose a threat to one’s well-being. Osteoporosis affects a person skeletal system.

As generally stated in the introduction, osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder that involves the strength and integrity of one’s bones. The WHO defines osteoporosis as, “a systemic skeletal disorder characterized by low-bone mass, deterioration of bone tissue, increased bone fragility, and its susceptibly to recurrent fractures.” 2 The most important factor to take into account when addressing osteoporosis is the mass of bone, also referred to as, bone mineral density (BMD). As bone mass begins to decline, typically in the older population, specifically postmenopausal women, individuals are at an increased risk for fractures.3 As a result of this serious condition, many people are affected by morbidity, mortality, and economic difficulty.1

Osteoporosis, also known as porous bone, is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue which leads to bone fragility and an increased risks of the hip, spine, and wrist. Both men and women are affected by this (although it affects women more) but it can be prevented and treated. In the United States, more than 40 million people either already have osteoporosis or at a high risk because of low bone mass.

Osteoporosis is an age related disorder, more common in females compared to males. Osteoporosis is defined as a “skeletal disorder characterized by compromised bone strength predisposing to increased risk of fractures (Manolagaas, 2014). Osteoporosis is defined as “a disease characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue (What is osteoporosis?2014). Osteoporosis is sometimes also referred as “silent thief” as the bone loss occurs very slowly and silently without any symptoms (Osteoporosis facts & statistics.2014). The most common site for fracture due to osteoporosis is hip followed by humerus (Woltman & den Hoed, 2010) . Osteoporosis can occur at any age, although it is a disorder common in females (especially post-menopausal females). Everyone is prone to osteoporosis (Osteoporosis facts & statistics.2014). According to Osteoporosis Canada, 1 in 3 Canadian females and 1 in 5 Canadian males may suffer fractures due to osteoporosis during their lifetime (Osteoporosis facts & statistics.2014). Canadian health care system spends 1.2 billion dollars for the acute hospitalization caused by osteoporosis and in 2010 the health care system spent 3.9 billion dollars for the total treatment of osteoporosis (Osteoporosis facts & statistics.2014). Osteoporosis can be screened and diagnosed by various methods; however the dual energy x ray absorptiometry (DXA) is commonly used. If the T-score values are less than -1 and greater than -2.5SD it is termed as osteopenia,

Fragility fracture is occasionally the first presentation of osteoporosis. The incidence of osteoporosis-related fractures has been reported to increase with age and over 50% of the incidents occurring in menopausal women aged > 75 years. Vertebral column and hip are the most common site of fracture contributing to a significant morbidity and mortality in the elderly. Additionally, patients with a history of a fracture have a higher chance of encountering future fractures (Anders et al. 2007).

In 2004 the Surgeon General reported more than 10 million people in the United States over the age of 50 had osteoporosis and 34 million were are at risk of developing the disease. By the end of 2020 the Surgeon General believes there will be over 50 million Americans who will be at risk for osteopathic fractures and low bone mass (Ailinger, 2005). Due to osteoporosis being a chronic diseases it does not include an agent, reservoir, or mode of transmission. This chronic disease excessively affects the elderly and can result in physical and psychosocial consequences. The pathophysiology of osteoporosis involves low bone mass and extra skeletal factors that lead to bone fractures. Every day there is a small amount of bone mineral being

Osteoporosis is a health problem which is on the rise and is affecting primarily women (Nichols, Pavlovic, 2003, p. 447). Osteoporosis is characterized as a disease of the bones whereas the bones becomes weak and very fragile. Many people with this disease often break bones within the hip, spine, and wrist. The bones are easily broken from a minor fall or, in severe cases, from a simple sneeze. The meaning of osteoporosis is “porous bone.” When looking at a healthy bone under a microscope, you will find the resemblance of a honeycomb. Far as osteoporosis, those holes and spaces in a honeycomb are much larger than a healthy bone (National Osteoporosis Foundation).

The word osteoporosis literally means “porous bones” where “osteo” means bones and “porosis” means porous. Osteoporosis is also called “silent” disease because it occurs without any symptoms and people come to know only after the first fracture. It has become a major global public health problem associated with mortality and socio- economic burden. It is a disease that thins and weakens the bone to a point where they become fragile and break easily. Although osteoporosis itself does not directly increase the risk of falls, people who have osteoporosis have a higher risk of breaking a bone if they fall. People with osteoporosis often breaks hip, spine, wrist and also other bones. Spine and hip fracture may lead to long-term pain, disability and even death, while Hip fractures are expensive to treat. In the US alone, health care costs from hip fractures is around $ 11 billion annually. The main goal of treating osteoporosis is to prevent such fractures in the first place as Osteoporosis has a huge medical impact and economic burden and it is of utmost importance to take steps to prevent by creating awareness among people there are many medications that would help to stop the bones from getting weaker. Recent research suggests that one year after the first major osteoporotic fracture the risk of second fracture goes up by three times when compared to the general population and the risk factor doubles in ten years (Harvey, 2016). This result suggest that

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that occurs when the body loses too much bone, or makes too little bone. As a result, bones become weak and may break from a fall or other stress to the bones. In more serious cases, a simple sneeze or cough can cause a bone to break. Osteoporosis is the most common reason for a broken bone among the elderly, (Eastell, 2014). The majority of osteoporosis cases affect women over 50 years old, and studies suggest that one in two women will break a bone due to osteoporosis.

Two hundred and six individual bones compose the adult human skeleton. In addition to providing structure and protection for our most vital organs, bones store minerals and aid in blood cell production. They are considered to be just as much a vital organ as the heart or liver. Under normal circumstances, throughout a person’s life as older bone is broken broken down it is immediately rebuilt and replaced but when there is an imbalance in this delicate cycle the bones integrity becomes compromised. Osteoporosis, meaning porous bone, is a disease that occurs when an individual loses too much bone mass, makes to little or a combination of both. This imbalance leaves the bones weak and brittle putting an individual at risk for break or

Osteoporosis is structural deterioration in bone tissue and lack of bone mass. There are several factors that can lead up to this disease, most of which are under our control. Porous bone is most common in people that smoke or drink excessively, or don’t get enough exercise. Getting enough vitamin D and calcium in your diet is important as well. However, a certain demographic of people are more susceptible to structural deterioration than others. The people most likely to develop osteoporosis are older White or Asian women, and often have a small body size. This disease also runs in families. If a relative develops osteoporosis, or breaks a bone, it is probable that you will too. If you do develop the disease, several treatment options are available to you.

Osteoporosis is a disease -which means it is an abnormality of a part of the body due to unfavorable factors within the body- that occurs without symptoms, of the bones where there is low bone mass and there is deterioration of bone tissue that usually effect the spine, shoulder, wrist and hip (“Osteoporosis.ca,” 2015). With low bone mass, bones begin to become fragile and weak. With weak bones, injuries such as fractures and broken bones are much more common for anyone suffering from osteoporosis. Living with Osteoporosis does not mean life is over, however it does meant that significant changes must be made, especially depending on the severity of the bone mass loss (See appendix A).

Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become thin, weak and brittle. Throughout your life your bones are replacing old bone tissue with new bone tissue, but as you age that process slows and the body does not produce new bone tissue fast enough. The end results are bones that become more fragile and fractures can occur.

Women are at higher risk for osteoporosis than men. Females have smaller bones and lose bone faster than men. The hormone changes after menopause cause this factor. The older a person is, the greater risk he or she will have of osteoporosis because bones thin with age. Caucasian and Asian women have a higher risk because of the differences in bone mass and density compared with other ethnic groups. If a family member has osteoporosis or breaks a bone, there is a greater chance that this will happen to you. People who have fractured a bone after the age of 50 are at high risk of another fracture. However, the risk factors that a person can change is poor diet, physical inactivity, smoking, medications, and low body weight. If you get too little of calcium over your lifetime, this can increase your risk for osteoporosis. For example, not getting enough vitamin D from your diet, supplements, or sunlight. When a person does not exercise or is not active can increase your risk because like muscles, bones become stronger with exercise. Cigarette smokers may absorb less calcium from their diets. When a woman smokes, she has lower levels of estrogen in her