The Aging Musculoskeletal System
| The Aging Musculoskeletal System | Causes and effects of osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and muscular atrophy | | |
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The Aging Musculoskeletal System As we age we deal with many unpleasant side effects. Some side effects and diseases come with the territory while others are preventable. In this paper we have a closer look at the causes of osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and muscular atrophy. We shall also discuss the effects these diseases would have on the everyday life of a small boned white female who is 84-years-old. Osteoporosis is a bone disease that can get worse with time. Your bones become fragile due to losing bone mineral density and bone mass. People do not realize this disease is occurring because they cannot feel their bones becoming weaker ("What is osteoporosis," 2011). Osteoporosis is most likely caused by three imbalances in the human body. Cause number one is a low magnesium/high calcium ratio. Cause number two is your female/male hormone is low. Cause number three is a low thyroid function ("The causes of osteoporosis,"). Osteoporosis in an elderly woman is very likely if she has not been taking precautions against it. Especially with the Western diet she is possibly not consuming enough minerals to keep her bones from losing density and mass. If she ever falls she is more than likely to attain a fracture and her changes of falling again and receiving another fracture with osteoporosis only increase. Primary osteoarthritis is most likely related to aging. Repeatedly using the joint over the years damages the cartilage and leads to joint pain and swelling. Eventually the cartilage is lost and the cushion between the bones and joints is gone. This causes friction, leading to pain and limited joint mobility. Damage can also cause the bone to grow and create spurs around the joint. Osteoarthritis can primarily be found in the members of the same family ("Causes of osteoarthritis," 2013). The probability of
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The Aging Musculoskeletal System As we age we deal with many unpleasant side effects. Some side effects and diseases come with the territory while others are preventable. In this paper we have a closer look at the causes of osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and muscular atrophy. We shall also discuss the effects these diseases would have on the everyday life of a small boned white female who is 84-years-old. Osteoporosis is a bone disease that can get worse with time. Your bones become fragile due to losing bone mineral density and bone mass. People do not realize this disease is occurring because they cannot feel their bones becoming weaker ("What is osteoporosis," 2011). Osteoporosis is most likely caused by three imbalances in the human body. Cause number one is a low magnesium/high calcium ratio. Cause number two is your female/male hormone is low. Cause number three is a low thyroid function ("The causes of osteoporosis,"). Osteoporosis in an elderly woman is very likely if she has not been taking precautions against it. Especially with the Western diet she is possibly not consuming enough minerals to keep her bones from losing density and mass. If she ever falls she is more than likely to attain a fracture and her changes of falling again and receiving another fracture with osteoporosis only increase. Primary osteoarthritis is most likely related to aging. Repeatedly using the joint over the years damages the cartilage and leads to joint pain and swelling. Eventually the cartilage is lost and the cushion between the bones and joints is gone. This causes friction, leading to pain and limited joint mobility. Damage can also cause the bone to grow and create spurs around the joint. Osteoarthritis can primarily be found in the members of the same family ("Causes of osteoarthritis," 2013). The probability of
Bibliography: Causes of osteoarthritis. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/guide/osteoarthritis-causes Muscle atrophy: Causes. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.localhealth.com/article/muscle- atrophy/causes The causes of osteoporosis. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.boost-bone- density.com/causes.html What is osteoporosis and what does it mean for you?. (2011, March 7). Retrieved from http://www.forteo.com/pages/information-about-the-bone-disease- osteoporosis.aspx?WT.srch=1