Osteoarthritis And Osteoporosis

2303 Words5 Pages

INTRODUCTION
Osteoporosis, and osteoarthritis are completely different conditions, they are frequently mixed up for the other, in particular osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, because both names start with “osteo. This report will discuss the similarities and differences between the both diseases.
WHAT IS OSTEOARTHRITIS
Osteoarthritis is a disease that affects the joints and it is the most common type of arthritis. Evidence shows that the majority of the people affected are the over 60 (S. R 2006) This disease damages the surfaces of the joints stopping it from moving as smoothly as it should. The disease can also be referred to as osteoarthrosis or degenerative joint tissues. Osteoarthritis is more common in women than men but the prevalence …show more content…

Depending on which of your joints is affected, you may find this pain spreads. For example, if you have osteoarthritis in your hip, you may have pain down the side or front of your thigh and into your buttock. This is called radiated pain.
• A reduction in your range of movement in the joint. This means you won’t be able to move your joint into the positions you did before, or move them as far.
• A crunching and grinding sensation and noise in the joints when they are moved can be a symptom of …show more content…

Each bone is made up of a thick outer shell known as cortical bone and a strong inner mesh of trabecular bone which looks like a honeycomb, with blood and bone marrow between the struts of bone. Throughout each bone, older, worn-out bone tissue is broken down by specialist cells called osteoclasts and rebuilt by bone-building cells called osteoblasts. This process of renewal is called bone remodelling, when the bone tissues are not balanced after remodelling it can lead to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis occurs when the struts that make up this structure become thin causing bones to become fragile and break easily. Osteoporosis is commonly linked with women; this is because the oestrogen hormone in women is vital for maintaining healthy bones. When a woman reaches menopause and the monthly periods stops, it leads to a fall in the oestrogen levels, this can result to a quick reduction in bone density. Women are said to be at greater risk if they have an early menopause, if they have had a hysterectomy before the age of 45 or if they have had an absent period within 6 months as a result of over exercising or dieting. In men, the cause of osteoporosis is not yet known however, the reduction of the testosterone hormone which helps keep the bone healthy has a link with the disease. As men age, there is a reduced production of this hormone and this may increase the risk of osteoporosis. The reason for a reduction

More about Osteoarthritis And Osteoporosis

Open Document