Osteoporosis Case Study free essay sample

She enjoys spending her time knitting, reading books, watching old movies, and writing letters to her grandchildren. She recently fell while stepping out of the bathtub. Although she did not fall very far or land very hard, she broke her femur. The doctor in the emergency room placed her leg in a cast and tested her bone mass density, finding that it was low. He told Ann that she might have osteoporosis, a disorder that makes the individual more susceptible to bone fractures. Upon hearing this, Ann replies that she is not surprised because her mother and aunt easily fractured their bones as they aged. She was surprised, however, that the hospital had recorded her height as 5’2† because she had always been 5’4† her whole life. 1. Based on this case study, what are four risk factors that are associated with osteoporosis? Based on this case study, the four risk factors are her gender, females are more likely to develop osteoporosis than men. We will write a custom essay sample on Osteoporosis Case Study or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The second risk factor is her age, she is 82 years old, as you get older the higher your chances are of getting this disease. The third risk factor is her race, caucasians are more likely to get this disease than asians or african americans. The last risk factor that she has is her family history, the fact that her mother and aunt both have osteoporosis makes her much more likely to get this disease. 2. Pretending that you are a doctor or nurse in the emergency room treating Ann, explain osteoporosis in terms that she would be able to easily understand. Include a brief description of bone breakdown and bone reformation, as well as how these rates are unequal in osteoporosis. (A few sentences will suffice. ) Osteoporosis is a bone disorder where your bones are breaking down faster than they are regenerating, this is making them very weak and brittle. It causes you to break or fracture a bone easily even with the slightest fall or pressure to a bone. It also takes more time for them to heal. Osteoclasts are breaking done down faster than the osteoblasts are forming it, in osteoporosis these rates are unequal. 3. How does estrogen affect bone formation and bone breakdown? Does this make Ann more or less susceptible to osteoporosis? Ann is 82 years old, meaning that she already experienced menopause, once a woman goes through menopause her estrogen levels drop. Estrogen helps maintain bone health meaning that Ann is more susceptible to osteoporosis since she does not have as much estrogen. 4. Which mineral is important for bone strength? What happens to bone density as a result of a deficiency in this mineral? How can Ann make sure she has enough of this mineral in her diet to help strengthen her bones and prevent another fracture? Calcium is an important mineral for bone strength. Bone density becomes brittle and easier to break. To make sure she has enough of this mineral in her diet she can take vitamins that contain calcium, drink milk or even eat yogurt. 5. How is it possible that Ann is shorter now that she was earlier in life? Do you think that regular height measurements could be used as a way to watch for early signs of osteoporosis? Ann is shorter now than she was earlier in life because she has osteoporosis. The bone is being broken down faster than it is able to regenerate it, this causes bones to become smaller and weaker, causing her to lose height. I think that regular height measurements could be used to watch out for early signs of osteoporosis because they can monitor height change.