Osteoporosis Research Paper

There are different laboratory tests that can be ran by doctors that helps in diagnosing osteoporosis. These tests are run with samples of blood and urine from the patient. Some of the tests are blood calcium levels, 24-hour urine calcium measurement, thyroid function tests, parathyroid hormone levels, testosterone levels in men, 25-hydroxyvitamin D test to determine whether the body had enough vitamin D, and biochemical marker tests, such as NTX and CTX (NOF, 2010).

There are a plethora of health issues that contribute to bone loss, such as nutrition (low calcium consumption) and rarely engaging in exercise, people who have an unhealthy lifestyle such as smoking or extreme alcohol usage are also at risk. “Bone loss in adolescence and early adulthood can be a result of a failure to attain peak bone mineral density, and accelerated bone loss may be particularly noted around menopause and in later years” (Lin, 2014, para. 1). Though the exact cause is unknown, additional sources may include latent health disorders such as thyroid problems.

Osteoporosis is developed when the bones lose minerals (such as calcium) too quickly and the body cannot replace them fast enough. This causes bone density to decrease and the bones to become porous, making them more fragile and susceptible to breaking. There are many risk factors for osteoporosis, some of which can be changed, some of which cannot. Those that cannot be changed include gender (women are more likely to develop osteoporosis), age (older people have a higher risk), physical build (smaller people have more of a chance), and family history (those with parents who have/had osteoporosis are more at risk). However, factors that can be changed include the level of sex hormones, diet, inactive lifestyle, excessive use of alcohol, smoking,

Osteoporosis is a progressive silent disease that affects the quality of the bone, due to the decrease in bone mineral density , the bone becomes more porous and fragile, and the risk of fracture will increase , osteoporosis has no signs or symptoms , and people may not know that they have the disease until their bone becomes so weak that a sudden strain, fall will causes a bone to break, , the fractures that related to the osteoporosis cause pain, Disability, reduce mobility, long-term disability and reduced quality of life . The recovery from these fractures is slow, rehabilitation is often incomplete and patients nearly have to hospitalize or even have to home nursing. the most common sites of osteoporotic fracture are Hip, spine, distal forearm, and proximal humerus .

The exact cause of osteoporosis is not known. Several factors can lead to the disease, including:

Osteoporosis is a direct consequence of the excessive loss of calcium and bone protein, the

There are multiple factors that can result in osteoporosis. The unpreventable risk factors include, age, race, lifestyle choices, and medical conditions or treatments. The main determining factor being age.

Osteoporosis is the gradual process in which tissue is lost from bones, resulting in brittle and fragile bones. Bones become less dense and become more prone to fracture. This may be due to a variety of factors and usually occurs during old age.

Osteoporosis is referred to as the decrease in bone density and mass over time. The interior bones become progressively weaker and can cause a stooped posture. This makes the individual more susceptible to bone fractures. Osteopenia regards a condition where the bone material density is considered lower than normal. This is usually a precursor to the musculoskeletal disorder, known as osteoporosis. The term ‘osteoporosis’ means ‘porous bones’. In this case, bone is a living tissue that is continuously being broken down and replaced. Thus, osteoporosis happens when the creation of bone does not keep up with the removal of the old bone. In this disorder, the bones are diminished and deteriorated in structure. This condition is typically prevalent in older women due to an estrogen deficiency with menopause. The lack of estrogen increases bone resorption and decreases bone deposition. In addition, osteoporosis can occur with atrophy, which is caused by disuse. Additionally, osteoporosis can occur in men due to the aging process as well as patients who have received corticosteroids, which are hormones used to treat inflammatory conditions.

One of the more serious consequences of osteoporosis is bone fracture. Your bones fracture more easily, and the risk of hip fracture is increased. A hip fracture can be difficult to recover from when you become elderly. While a hip fracture is common, the bones in your spine are more delicate too. You might cause a fracture just by sneezing. Fractures in your spine can cause a lot of pain.

     Osteoporosis can be prevented. Regular exercise can reduce the likelihood of bone fractures associated with osteoporosis. Studies show that exercises requiring muscles to pull on bones, cause the bones to retain and perhaps even gain density. Researchers found that women who walk a mile a day have four to seven more years of bone in reserve than women who don't. Some of the recommended exercises include: weight-bearing exercises, riding stationary bicycles, using rowing machines, walking, and jogging. Avoiding smoking and watching what you drink can also decrease your chances of acquiring osteoporosis. Most important of all, a diet that includes an adequate amount of calcium (from milk and dairy products such as cheese and yogurt), vitamin D, and protein

Before you can get diagnosed, you need to know what to look for. Osteoporosis is called the “silent disease” because bone mass is lost without signs. Usually, people do not begin to suspect something is wrong until a fractured bone results from a sprain, fall, or bump. A patient with osteoporosis can perform a simple bodily function, like sneezing, and break a bone. These breaks most commonly appear in the hips,

Agnes Heinz, Ph. D. former director of Nutrition and Biochemistry with the A.C.S.H. made great points about osteoporosis in her article. Osteoporosis is a bone disease where bones begin to weaken and get brittle. Bones store calcium to make bones stronger. As we gradually get older the harder it is to absorb calcium is why children should get as much calcium as they can. Once our bones stop developing we can’t absorb calcium as well and over time we will become weaker, which could lead to the development of osteoporosis from having weak bones. Osteoporosis usually affects the vertebrae, hip, or wrist. The older we get the more bone loss progresses making it harder to perform typical daily activities. The bone loss makes us more vulnerable to fractures. The smallest fall or thing you pick up the higher chance you have of fracturing a bone if you have osteoporosis. The disease affects people in many ways than one. Besides it being painful it also slows people down on what they can and can’t do. This disease is a very complex one that has a couple types, risk factors, ways of identifying the disease, and ways to avoid getting osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a condition that causes the bones to become brittle and weak, so much that sometimes are they able to break from even something like a cough. The cause is as we get older the ability of our bones to make new bone becomes slower. Our bones start to break down faster than they can be made. A way to tell if you are in danger of getting osteoporosis is figuring out if as a child you attained more bone mass. If you have a lot, that's just less you have to make later in life. Chemically, your bones are breaking down like they would as a child to make room for new bone to be able to grow and regenerate. However that becomes slower and as you get it gets harder to regenerate that lost bone mass, therefore your bones become weaker. Some

Bone disease is a silent disorder that may lead to pain and deformity. (NCBI, paragraph 1). NCBI resources mention that1.5 million osteoporotic fractures in the U.S leads to more than half a million of hospitalizations, about 800,000 emergency room encounters, about more than 2,600,000 physician office visits, and about 180,000 individuals are placed into nursing homes. (NCBI, paragraph 2), Caring for fractures from bone disease is expensive, ranging from $12 to $18 billion per year in 2002 and will increase over the years causing individuals and their families a devastating impact. (NCBI paragraph3). Some die from bone disease, many spirals downward in their physical and mental health that result in death, especially during the first year after the fracture. (NCBI, paragraph 4). People who suffer from fractures experience severe pain, height loss, lose the ability to dress themselves, stand up, and walk causing them to be at risk of pressure sores pneumonia, and urinary tract infections. (NCBI, paragraph 5)