Paper Sample on Osteoporosis

Description of Osteoporosis

The pathological condition discussed below is the osteoporosis which is a condition that affects the bones making them weak and brittle. The bones can be too brittle such that subjection to mild stress or a simple fall causes them to fracture. Mostly, osteoporosis related fractures occur around the hip, wrist or spine. Bone is a living tissue and goes through motions where it is broken down and replaced (De Villiers, 2011). It is necessary for the rate of breakage to be equal to that of replacement. When more bones are broken down and less bones created, it creates a chance for osteoporosis to occur. The condition affects both women and men and people of all races. Increase in age and being female, early menopause and certain prescription drugs are predisposing factors.

Causes, Signs, And Symptoms Associated with Osteoporosis

(Dionyssiotis, 2012) outlines that bones are constantly renewed with old ones being broken down and new ones formed. At a younger age, the body makes new bones faster than it breaks down old ones. As a result, the bone mass increases. For most people, the peak bone age is in the early 20s, and as the age increases, the process is reversed with more bones being broken down and less being created. The higher the bone mass accumulated during the peak period, the more there is in store, and hence a lower probability of developing osteoporosis.

During early stages of bone loss, there are no observable symptoms. When bones are weakened, one may experience symptoms like back pain which is often caused by a fractured vertebra, develop a stooped posture, lose height over time and be at a higher risk to fracture a bone.

Diagnosed and The Treatment Options for Osteoporosis

The diagnosis of osteoporosis can be obtained with the aid of a machine using low levels of X-rays to determine percentages of minerals in the bones. The test is painless, one lies on a padded table, and a scanner is passed over the body focusing on certain bones mostly the wrist, spine and hip bones (De Villiers, 2011).

The doctor may provide treatment depending upon assessment of the risk of bones to break in ten years time. The assessment is obtained using components like bone density. When the assessed risk is not high, the doctor might exempt medication from the treatment prescribed and focus on skills training to modify risk factors for bone loss and fractures. In advanced cases, treatment may include medication prescription. Bisphosphonates are usually used and may have side effects like nausea, heartburns, and abdominal pain. Apart from medications, the doctor can use hormone-related therapy for women who have reached menopause. Estrogen is prescribed to maintain bone density although its side effects might be adverse.

Lesson Learned from The Research

Lesson learned from the research include the knowledge that osteoporosis sets in during the early mid-twenties. The condition is manageable through consumption of foods that provide the bones with calcium and nutrients sufficient to bank a higher bone mass (Dionyssiotis, 2012). Having a high bone mass is helpful as it will slow down the process of osteoporosis as the one gets older. However, for people whose bones are already disintegrating, there are several medical options to manage the condition. The earlier one seeks medical advice, the better chances of managing the condition.

References

De Villiers, T. (2011). Options in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Obstetrics and Gynaecology Forum, 21(1). doi:10.4314/ogf. v21i1.64377

Dionyssiotis, Y. (2012). Rehabilitation in Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis. doi:10.5772/29205