Blog # 11

The impact of "Chronic diseases" on women in the US.

Chronic Diseases has had its toll on the yesteryears of society and of today’s society as well. Society has battled with many different chronic diseases and will still battle with some chronic diseases until the end of time. Hopefully, researchers will find the answer to the equation of eliminating many chronic diseases that are able to cripple a nation. This paper will define osteoporosis, explain the risk factors and incidence of osteoporosis, will list symptoms of osteoporosis, describe the impact of nutrition and exercise on the prognosis of osteoporosis, and lastly, list the prevention strategies and treatment options.
In defining osteoporosis, this “is a disease that causes weak bones that break easily” (FDA, 2005). "Osteoporosis leads to an increased risk of fracture. In osteoporosis the bone mineral density (BMD) is reduced, bone micro-architecture is disrupted, and the amount and variety of non-collagenous proteins in bone is altered. Osteoporosis is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) in women as, “a bone mineral density 2.5 standard deviations below peak bone mass. The term "established osteoporosis" includes the presence of a fragility fracture and is most common in women after menopause, when it is called postmenopausal osteoporosis, but may also develop in men, and may occur in anyone in the presence of particular hormonal disorders and other chronic diseases or as a result of medications, specifically glucocorticoids, when the disease is called steroid- or glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (SIOP or GIOP).
Osteoporosis is a significant health problem that affects more than 25 million women in the United States and potentially 200 million worldwide. This disease is characterized by diminishing the structure of the skeleton (particular the "spongy" bone). This results in an increased risk of fracture. Osteoporosis develops silently over a period of years, eventually progressing to a point where a fracture can easily occur causing pain and disability. This disease is characterized by low bone mass and structural worsening of your bones, leading to bone fragility. There is an increased chances of damaging the hip, spine, and wrist.
Twenty-five million Americans are affected by Osteoporosis, making it a major public health problem. 80% of those affected by osteoporosis are women. One out of every two women and one in five men have an Osteoporosis-related fracture.

References:
Merck & Co.The impact of osteoporosis [videorecording]: personal stories
Current topics in osteoporosis / editors, Hong-wen Deng. Imprint Singapore; Hackensack, N: World Scientific ; c2005.