Informative Essay On Osteoporosis

What is Osteoporosis?
Have you ever heard of the disease “Osteoporosis” and wondered what it is and if you may be at risk? Well, you will learn throughout this paper how important it is to be informed about osteoporosis. This medical condition is when your bones become brittle and fragile with thinning and reduction in bone mass, due to depletion of calcium and bone protein (MedicineNet). Bone is living tissue that is constantly becoming broken down and replaced. When you have osteoporosis, bone brittleness can lead to fractures if you fall, bend over or even cough(mayo clinic). This paper will talk about the diagnosis, prevention and treatment/cures of osteoporosis in adults.
You may be asking yourself, well who is at risk and what is causing
This disease is most commonly diagnosed through a Dexa Scan or Bone Density test which is similar to an x-ray but it tells you the density of your bones. This test will take a picture of your spine, hip and wrist. Although most are diagnosed this way, there are several other ways to be diagnosed. The SXA (single energy x-ray absorptiometry) which measures your heel and wrist. The DPA (Dual photon absorptiometry) that measures the spine, hip or total body. The SPA (single photon absorptiometry) that measures your wrist. The QCT (Quantitative computer tomography) that measures the spine or hip. The PQCT (peripheral QCT) that measures the forearm. And lastly, the QUS (quantitative ultrasound) that uses sound waves to measure the heel or finger. You then get a T-score back which if it comes back as -2.5 or less it then indicates you have Osteoporosis (News in Health). A T-Score of -1 and above is what a normal scan should show up as. There are stages that your T-score can be at before fully diagnosed with osteoporosis. The first stage before you get osteoporosis is osteopenia. About 18 million americans have osteopenia, which is a T-score between -1 and -2.5(International Osteoporosis foundation). Doctors normally recommend a Bone Density Test for adults after a break or fracture in a bone and children to young adults once you have 3 fractures from three different areas of your
As stated above to prevent osteoporosis some vitamins are used. These can also be used as treatments for osteoporosis to avoid the drug treatments. These vitamins and herbs that will be discussed can be harmful for you if you consume more than the desired amount. The first of which is calcium, this is around 800 to 1,200 mg/day for children and 1,200 to 1,500 mg/day for adults 50+. This calcium helps the body build bone. This calcium can and should be mainly consumed in a daily diet. Good sources of this are in dark greens, almonds, salmon, tofu and low fat dairy. If you can not however get enough from these types of food in your daily diet, there are supplements that are available. Calcium Citrate which is the most easily absorbed but costs more. Calcium Carbonate which is least expensive and must be taken with meals. This type of supplement may also cause gas or constipation. The last supplement for calcium is calcium phosphate which is easily absorbed but doesn't cause stomach upsets. This supplement is more expensive than calcium carbonate though. The next vitamin that works right along with calcium is vitamin D. Your body will not absorb enough calcium without this. Adults under 50 should be getting anywhere from 400 to 800 IU/day and 51 to 70 should be getting up to 2,000 IU/day. Vitamin K is the next mineral you need. It is recommended that you get 150 to 500 mcg/day, your body does make this in your intestine