Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis

Introduction

This paper intends to explore about osteoporosis which is assumed to be one of the most important diseases related to health and aging. Osteoporosis is a disorder related to the systematic function of skeleton which is defined by decreased bone mineral density (BMD) and weakening of bony microvasculature resulting in bone fragility. Although osteoporosis is generally considered a woman's disease, men over the age of 50 years are also susceptible to bone mineral loss and osteoporosis, and 20% of cases of osteoporosis occur in men (VanderWalde & Hurria, 2011). The purpose of this paper is to make the reader aware about the different underlying causes, statistics and major issues related to the disease of osteoporosis. The paper will also simplify major prevention measure related to osteoporosis.

Discussion

Osteoporosis is a disease process that involves imbalance in bone cell turnover that ultimately results in diminished bone mass, increased skeletal fragility, and an increased risk of fractures. Chronic pain and physical disability are common in advanced disease. Although it is a nonreversible, potentially disabling condition, in most instances osteoporosis is preventable. The asymptomatic nature of demineralization (i.e., ongoing bone mineral loss; also called bone loss) makes early detection difficult and typically results in under diagnosis of the condition.

To achieve maximum bone mass, typically referred to as bone mineral density (BMD), strategies to prevent osteoporosis should begin in infancy and continue through childhood and young adulthood, during which time bone cell formation exceeds the amount of bone destruction. Vitamin D is considered a steroid hormone and a primary regulator of bone growth and mineralization throughout life. Peak BMD is usually achieved at 18.25 years of age in both females and males. Peak BMD can be maintained, but rarely can it be increased (USPSTF, 2011). A decrease in BMD of about 3.4% per decade occurs as a result of the normal aging process, starting at age 30 in females and age 40 in males and continuing throughout the remainder of life in both. In women, BMD loss accelerates for 5.7 years with the onset of menopause, after which it slows to the normal age-related rate of decline (VanderWalde & Hurria, 2011).

Prevention entails identifying those at risk for osteoporosis through screening maintaining existing bone mass, and initiating preventive strategies early in life that are continued through older adulthood. Children and adolescents can accrue bone mass and reduce their risk for osteoporosis in adulthood by engaging in weight-bearing exercise. Weight-bearing exercise also slows bone loss in postmenopausal women and men over age 40 years. Other prevention strategies include good nutrition and sufficient intake of vitamin D, calcium, and other mineral supplements. Pharmacologic agents (e.g., bisphosphonates) are prescribed to limit bone demineralization when osteoporosis is diagnosed (DynaMed, 2012).

Facts and Figures

In the United States, more than 10 million Americans.80% of which is women have osteoporosis; in addition, an estimated 40% of postmenopausal women over the age of 50 years have osteopenia. In the U.S., lifetime risk of sustaining an osteoporosis-related fracture is 50% for women and 13% for ...