Essay About Bone Disease And Greatest Risk

Osteoporosis
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Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a bone disease that causes the bones to become so thin that they can
break during normal daily activities such as lifting a heavy object or rolling over in bed.
Whether someone will develop osteoporosis or loss of bone, known as osteopenia,
depends on the thickness of the bones early in life, as well as health, diet, and physical
activity later in life.
The exact cause of osteoporosis is not known. However, osteoporosis has been linked
to the natural process of aging and to the decreased production of estrogen in women and
testosterone in men. Not getting adequate calcium and phosphorous , two minerals
needed to build strong bones and vitamin D has also been linked to the development of
osteoporosis.
Men and women can develop osteoporosis as they age, although women who have
gone through menopause are at greatest risk. Women have less bone mass than men and
lose bone mass sooner and faster than men. Women develop osteoporosis almost four
times more often than men. Women of European and Asian ancestry are
more like to have osteoporosis than those from other backgrounds. Osteoporosis is rare
in children and teens.
Risks factors for osteoporosis for developing osteoporosis in both men and women
have been identified. Family history of osteoporosis makes you more likely to develop
osteoporosis. Lifestyle and environmental factors can contribute to the disease.
Smokers are at higher risk for osteoporosis . How smoking causes bone thinning is not
known however. Getting little or no weight-bearing exercise can contribute to the
develop of the disease. Weight-bearing exercises such as walking, jogging, stair climbing,
dancing, or lifting weights keep bones strong and healthy by working the muscles and
bones against gravity. People with a thin body build are at greater risk. Slender people
are more likely to develop the disease because they have less bone tissue and less fat than
heavier people. Fat tissue stores estrogen, which helps protect women from osteoporosis.
A diet low in food containing calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D also contribute to
development of the disease.
Certain medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism, put you at greater risk. Taking
corticosteroids to treat conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease for
a period of six months or longer can lead to steroid-induced osteoporosis. Many men
develop the disease do so as a result of using these types of medications.
Other risks factors may include overusing antacids that contain aluminum. Antacids
that contain aluminum remove phosphorus and calcium from the body, causing faster-
than-normal bone thinning. Excessive dieting or eating disorders, such as anorexia
nervosa is another risk factor, People with eating disorders usually have low body fat and
therefore low levels of estrogen, which increases their risks. Female athletes are at risk for
developing osteoporosis if they have infrequent menstrual cycles due to low body fat.
This leads to weaker bones.
Women who have completed menopause have the greatest risk for osteoporosis. An
important risk factor that is specific to postmenopausal women is low estrogen level.
Decreasing levels of estrogen occur during menopause. In addition, women who no
longer have menstrual periods, either because their ovaries are not working properly or
because their ovaries have been removed through surgery, are more likely to develop
osteoporosis. Symptoms of osteoporosis include back pain, getting shorter in height, a
curved backbone, broken bones, especially the hip, small bones in the spine, vertebrae, and
wrist.
Osteoporosis is usually diagnosed by evaluating medical history, and a physical
examination and bone density testing. Early diagnosis of osteoporosis is very important.
If someone is at risk for osteoporosis, they should be screened before symptoms, such as
broken bones, occur. If osteoporosis is suspected from the medical history and physical
examination, a bone mineral density test may be done. X-rays are not done to check for
osteoporosis. Bone loss is not seen on an X-ray until at least 25% of bone is lost
according to the Journal of Medicine. Some doctors suggest a bone mineral density test
for all women over 65 years of age, while others suggest that such test be given on an
individual basis, depending on the persons risks factors for the disease.
Bone thinning is an inevitable part of growing older. After the age of about 30, bone
thinning is a natural process and cannot be stopped completely. If you eat a healthy diet
and exercise regularly early in like, you may be able to delay the development of
osteoporosis. Adults who have the disease