Illness of Osteoporosis

Illnesses of Osteoporosis
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Illnesses of Osteoporosis
Abstract
The study intended to establish the illnesses of osteoporosis. It was established that osteoporosis is a major health issue because of its prevalence. Osteoporosis illness is a skeletal condition that is characterized by compromised bone strength that predisposes a person to high chances of fractures of the spine, hip, and wrist among other skeletal sites. The majority of the risk factors is related to osteoporotic fractures such as inadequate physical exercise, smoking, use of drugs such as glucocorticoids, hormonal factors, reduction in the peak of the bone mass, low intake of Vitamin D and calcium. The illness does not express any symptoms during its early stages although it affects the bones in wrist, spine, and hip. The consequence is stooped posture, back pains, and height loss. DXA test is the most common although other tests include Quantitative Computed Tomography (QCT) and ultrasound. Treatment and prevention include a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, healthy lifestyle, exercise, and medications. The current research focuses on osteoporosis prevalence and most appropriate treatment.

Introduction
According to Carmona (2004), osteoporosis is the most common bone illness. Ideally, osteoporosis refers to a skeletal illness that is characterized by compromised bone strength that predisposes a person to a high risk of fracture. Osteoporosis is also characterized by weakening of the bone structure and a reduced bone mass that leads to bone fragility.

The illnesses of osteoporosis are most prevalent among the adult populations. Primary osteoporosis is the most prevalent form of osteoporosis. However, secondary osteoporosis is less common and could be prevented through physical activity and proper nutrition.
Affected systems
Normal anatomy and physiology of the affected systems
Osteoporosis majorly affects the complete skeleton although the spongy bone found in the spine is the most susceptible. It is for this reason that compression fractures in the vertebrae are prevalent in individuals with osteoporosis. The femur especially the neck is also vulnerable to fracture. Osteoporosis is a group of illnesses where bone resorption outperforms bone deposit (“Osteoporosis,” 2013). As a result, the bone becomes fragile such that they are subject to break with merely stepping off the kerb and a hefty sneeze. The bones become light and porous, the entire bone mass reduces, although the matrix structure remains normal.
The look of a healthy system and its normal function
A healthy skeletal system is an incredible organ that fulfills both a reservoir and structural functions. The structural function includes offering body protection, support, and mobility whereas the reservoir function includes the storeroom for vital minerals (Carmona, 2004). A healthy system functions for the creation of new bone at a given site and then removal of the old bones from another site but within the same bone. The process is continuous and helps an individual bone to shift and grow. The environment and genes are elements that contribute to a healthy bone system.
The working of the system to maintain homoeostasis
Homoeostasis is a term that describes the existence of organisms in a particular ecosystem. The term also describes the existence of cells inside an organism. The skeletal system plays a fundamental role in maintaining homoeostasis through the production of new red blood cells to replace the dead red blood cells (Kondo, 2010). Additionally, the skeletal system serves to maintain calcium level in the bloodstream. The skeletal system shields and supports the body and regulates the endocrine system.
Disease Process and Etiology
The cause of the disease
The major cause of osteoporosis is the inadequacy in particular hormones especially androgen in men and estrogen in women. The age-related alterations in the endocrine system, inadequate weight exercise, and the inadequate intake of vitamin D and calcium are other factors contributing to osteoporosis (Lane, 2006). Similarly, overuse of corticosteroids, use of particular medications associated with cancer and liver diseases, some genetic disorders, and bone cancer causes osteoporosis. The loss of bone takes place for an extended period. An individual will tolerate a fracture before realizing the illness is present.

The progress of the disease
The rate of new bone formation is faster than the rate of breakdown for old bone during childhood leading to an increase in bone mass. The peak for an increase in bone mass is reached when a person is at the early 20s. After that, the bone mass is lost fast that the creation of new ones as individuals age (Carmona, 2004). An individual has enough bone in the bank in case of a high peak bone mass on youth. There is a high likelihood for osteoporosis progressing in the event of an inadequate bone mass.
Signs and symptoms
Signs and symptoms associated with the disease
Osteoporosis does not express any symptoms during its early stages of development. The illnesses later cause dull pain in muscles and bones especially neck pain and low back pain, and height loss (Deftos, 1998). The back pain is attributed to a collapsed or a fractured vertebra. Sharp pains come suddenly as the illness progresses. The loss of height is attributed to the spinal fractures caused by compression. Weakened bones that could not sustain the pressure of heavy weights could be an indication of inadequate vitamin D and calcium in the body.
The reaction of the body
Osteoporosis often affects the bone in wrist, spine, and hip. The illness causes the bones to lose strength and density resulting in a stooped posture and bone fractures that are experienced most easily that anticipated (Carmona, 2004). The body reactions to osteoporosis are associated with the fast breakdown of bones than the creation of new bones. The osteoporosis illnesses are aggravated because of using particular medications, smoking, inadequate calcium in the diet, and inadequate physical activity. Bone reacts to weight changes and exercise because it is dynamic nature. The reaction of the body to osteoporosis is gradual because of the silent progress of the illness.
Failure of homoeostasis on the signs and symptoms of the disease
Most body conditions and diseases affect bone quality alongside osteoporosis. The disorders include drugs that impair bone quality, collagen disorders, inequality in bone remodeling, and conditions of the bone minerals homoeostasis. The failure in homoeostasis increases bone turnovers leading to amplified bone resorption (Unnanuntana, Rebolledo, Michael Khair, DiCarlo, & Lane, 2010). The failure in homoeostasis reduces the absorption of calcium. The consequence is bone fractures that occur unexpectedly, stooped posture, back pains, and height loss. The failure of homoeostasis impairs the calcium intake leading to osteoporosis that causes fracture without the application of any significant force.
Diagnosis
Disease detection
Lane (2006) indicates that the World Health Organization offered a diagnostic strategy for the osteoporosis illness based on Bone Mineral Density (BMD) T-score. The T-score is used to describe the BMD by the quantity of Standard Deviations (SDs) through which it varies from the average peak value especially in the young and healthy individuals of the same gender. Ideally, the WHO utilizes a threshold of about 2.5 SDs below the average of adult women as the standard for diagnosis for the osteoporosis illness. The central Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the spine or hip is currently the ideal measure for diagnosing osteoporosis.
The tests performed by doctors
There are numerous tests that doctors perform to determine the presence of osteoporosis. The DXA test is the most common and it is used to measure patient’s hip and spine and the total bone densities to gauge the risk of fracture (Carmona, 2004). Other methods include Quantitative Computed Tomography and ultrasound. Doctors perform tests on the bone formation to determine the rates of bone production. Doctors could also perform tests on bone resorption to determine the rates of bone loss. The tests are done periodically to determine any changes in bone loss and bone production.
Treatment and prevention
The treatment for osteoporosis includes the use of medications, leading a healthy lifestyle, exercise plan, and taking a balanced diet rich in Vitamin D and calcium (Carmona, 2004). The prevention measures include a diet rich in Vitamin D and calcium that makes the bones strong. Most people obtain less calcium that required. The sources of calcium include low-fat milk and food rich in calcium such as bread, cereals, and orange juice. Vitamin D could be obtained from sunlight (Unnanuntana, Rebolledo, Michael Khair, DiCarlo, & Lane, 2010). People should do body exercise and avoid smoking and excessive alcohol.
Research
The current research studies focus on the prevalence of fractures and osteoporosis. The current research also centres on the natural history and etiology. Studies are done on the latest treatment and prevention strategies for fractures and osteoporosis (Lan, Xie, Peng, Liu, Song, & Dai, 2015). Bisphosphonates are the current and most common medication for treating osteoporosis. The medication inhibits bone resorption that is osteoclast-mediated. The intravenous and oral bisphosphonates are considered as the appropriate method for managing osteoporosis. Research is done on teriparatide as a recombinant parathormone that is currently used with individuals with osteoporosis with great risk of fracture.
In conclusion, osteoporosis is a collection of the bone illnesses. The illness is characterized with compromised bone strength leading to high risks of fracture. The illness affects the entire skeleton that serves the reservoir and structural functions. Inadequate androgen and estrogen in men and women respectively are the major cause of the illness. Inadequate Vitamin D and calcium also cause the illness. Osteoporosis does not have symptoms during the early stages although it affects wrist, spine, and hip after progression. The DXA is the most common test for the illness. Exercise, healthy lifestyle, and medications are used in treatment and prevention. Current research is based on the illness prevalence and its treatment.

References
Carmona, R. (2004). Bone Health and Osteoporosis. Rockville: U.S Public Health Service. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK45513/pdf/Bookshelf_NBK45513.pdf
Deftos, L. (1998). Clinical Essentials of calcium and skeletal disorders. Caddo, OK: Professional Communications.
Kondo, M. (2010). Hematopoietic stem cell biology. New York: Humana Press.
Lan, G., Xie, X., Peng, L., Liu, L., Song, L., & Dai, H. (2015). Current Status of Research on Osteoporosis after Solid Organ Transplantation: Pathogenesis and Management. Biomed Research International, 20151-10. doi:10.1155/2015/413169
Lane, N. (2006). Epidemiology, etiology, and diagnosis of osteoporosis. American Journal Of Obstetrics And Gynecology, 194(2), S3-S11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2005.08.047
Osteoporosis. (2013). Anatomy & Physiology. Retrieved 17 November 2016, from http://anatomyandphysiologyi.com/osteoporosis/
Unnanuntana, A., Rebolledo, B., Michael Khair, M., DiCarlo, E., & Lane, J. (2010). Diseases Affecting Bone Quality: Beyond Osteoporosis. Clinical Orthopaedics And Related Research®, 469(8), 2194-2206. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11999-010-1694-9