Osteoporosis Essay -- essays research papers

OsteoporosisOsteoporosis is a health ailment which causes bones to become so porous that they can break easily. Osteoporosis literally means porous bones. The bones in our figure are made of a thick outer shell and a strong inner mesh filled with collagen protein, calcium salts and other minerals. The inside looks uniform honeycomb, with blood vessels and bone marrow in the spaces between bone. Osteoporosis occurs when the holes between bone become bigger, making it fragile and liable to break easily. Osteoporosis usually affects the whole material body but it most commonly causes breaks or fractures to bone in the wrist, spine and hip. Women are potentially at higher risk of osteoporosis because of the bone loss that occurs when they hold up relatively old and are experiencing menopause. (Men can, however, acquire the bone disease as well.) The low estrogen level results in an accelerated bone loss. This can exit to osteoporosis and an increased risk of fracture. There are als o many other factors which can increase your risk, and these are early menopause (before 45), early hysterectomy (especially if one or both ovaries were removed), or infrequent periods often linked to over-dieting (especially anorexia) or over-exercising (long distance running). Other risk factors are a fracture after a fry accident or fall, long term or high dose oral corticosteroid treatment, family history (parent or close relative with os...