The Disease of Osteoporosis - Essay Example

If an individual does not obtain a sufficient amount of calcium, or if her body fails to absorb sufficient calcium from the diet, the condition may lead to osteoporosis. As Hudson and Northrup point out, a significant drop in estrogen is the leading cause of osteoporosis in women (143). Reabsorption of calcium and other minerals back into the body from bones may also cause the disease. In addition, chronic rheumatoid arthritis, hyperparathyroidism, Vitamin D deficiency, and some eating disorders are also the potential causes of osteoporosis.  

1. Are there any screening techniques for diagnosing this disease? What are they? Is screening or treatment expensive and how available is it to all socioeconomic groups?

There are several screening techniques available for osteoporosis. As Placide and Martens point out, calcaneal ultrasound and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) are the two major screening techniques that can be effectively employed to predict patients at risk of bone fracture. Although screening techniques for this disease are generally expensive, DEXA is affordable to all socioeconomic groups. In addition, there are a set of treatment methods, including medication which may be affordable to all socioeconomic classes. 

2. What treatments are available? How successful are treatments?

There are a wide variety of treatments for osteoporosis ranging from simple lifestyle changes to different medications. Bisphosphonates are the primary drugs used for treating this disease in postmenopausal women. Calcitonin is another medicine used for slowing down the bone loss rate. Parathyroid hormone and hormone replacement therapy have been approved for osteoporosis treatment (Pery, 174). All these methods will successfully prevent the deterioration of the patient’s condition.  

3. Is the disease more prevalent in certain races, geographic areas, age ranges, or socioeconomic groups?

Studies have identified that osteoporosis is more prevalent in women over the age of 50. As reported by the US National Library of Medicine, in America, nearly 20% of postmenopausal women are suffering from the disease.  In addition, the prevalence rate of osteoporosis is higher among African Americans and low-income groups. Undoubtedly, lack of nutritional food also is one of the causes of this illness. Osteoporosis is highly endemic in Asia as compared to other continents.

4. In general, how might the disease be expected to impact the quality of a person’s life on social, cultural, or economic levels?

As discussed earlier, osteoporosis is not a curable disease even though effective treatment methods have been developed to prevent further bone loss. As this disease is chronic, the affected person is at risk of fractures throughout her life. Osteoporosis may adversely affect the socioeconomic lives of individuals as they always need to be concerned about the probability of developing the disease.