Informative Essay On Osteoporosis

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Osteoporosis
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is characterized by decreased bone density and increased fragility. This condition most often affects postmenopausal women but may also occur in elderly men and in the setting of other diseases. Osteoporosis usually does not cause symptoms in of itself, but can lead to an increased risk for bone fractures.
In fact, elderly patients with osteoporosis often develop hip fractures after falls – this is a very debilitating complication of osteoporosis that can result in impaired mobility and inability to carry out daily activities. Patients with hip fractures are also at an increased risk for blot clot development in the legs – which can travel to the lungs and result in death.
Since this is such a common condition and may affect quality of life, it is important to become educated about its causes, diagnosis, and treatment. By the end of this article, you will be able to answer the following important questions:
• …show more content…

• How common is osteoporosis?
• What are the symptoms and signs of osteoporosis?
• How is osteoporosis diagnosed?
• How is osteoporosis treated?
What causes osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis occurs due to decreased bone mineral density. This may occur in postmenopausal women as a result of decreased estrogen levels. It may also affect elderly men with low testosterone levels. The disease often runs in families and has a genetic basis. Other conditions that may lead to osteoporosis include:
• Smoking
• Chronic alcohol use
• Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)
• Nutritional deficiencies – low calcium and vitamin D
• Medications – long-term use of corticosteroids (eg. prednisone) or proton-pump inhibitors (eg.

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