Osteoporosis

Tristan Slater

Period Seven

So, what is osteoporosis?o Affects the skeletal system

o Causes bones to become brittle

o Most common bones affected: hip, wrist, and vertebrae

o Commonly affects: post-menopausal women, inactive people, and people on steroids for asthma or to treat arthritis

The homeostatic imbalance causing osteoporosis is:o Calcium or Vitamin D deficiency

o Hormonal Changes – estrogen levels drop

Osteoporosis can occur at any age…

But it most commonly appears in people over 50 years of age

Symptoms:o Often show no symptoms

early on

o Dull neck or lower back pain

o Later in the disease, sharp radiating pains may occur

o A dowager’s hump (stooped posture) may occur late in the disease due to small back fractures

Treatments/Medicationso Biophosphates are the most common subscribed

medicines• Alendronate (Fosamax)• Ibandronate (Boriva)• Zolendranic Acid (Reclast, Zometa)

They slow down the breakdown process and maintain bone density during menopause

A possible future treatment option…o Injection of TSH in animals (Thyroid

Stimulating Hormone) showed prevention of bone loss and even bone growth

Could it soon be used for Osteoporosis in humans?

Bibliography www.healthcentral.com

www.emedicinehealth.com

www.health.nytimes.com