The Major Health Conditions In The US: Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis
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Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is one of the major health conditions in the US noted to affect over ten million adults in the country. The condition is characterized by low bone mass, porous bone, and structural deterioration; characteristics that are connected to higher indices of fracture among the affected groups. The cost attributed to fractures as a result of the condition is so high and contributes to high medical costs around the globe. England and Wales spend over 1.7 billion Euros annually, while USA spends approximately 17 billion dollars in the management of the condition (Cosman, et al., 2014). Osteoporotic fracture-associated pains and disabilities have been found to hamper the quality of life and functions significantly. Studies show that the lifetime risks associated with various types of fractures due to the condition are between 40-50% in women and 13-22% of men, a relatively high risk when compared to other prevalent diseases. In the US, Osteoporosis contributes to over three hundred hip fractures annually, thus forming the core source of injuries, death or loss of independence (Jackson, et al., 2006). Despite the threat of the condition to the quality of life, clinical trials show that the uptake of calcium and vitamin D lowers associated risks as it slows down bone loss. The paper highlights the best practices in the management of Osteoporosis, how the practices compare with other studies and the effect the differences have on women.
Assessment and Management of Osteoporosis
According to Jackson, et al. (2006), all men and women who are above the menopausal age, which is over fifty years should continuously be evaluated to ascertain the risk of osteoporosis, thus determining the best approach for testing and assessment, which in this case is either vertebral imaging or BMD testing. The mostly recommended diagnostic assessments as per the article include various height measurements using a wall-mounted stadiometer and performance of BMD on all men and women above 50 years based on the risk profiles, and on those with adult age fractures. On the other hand, vertebral imaging should be done on women over seventy years and men over eighty years if BMD shows a score of less than or equals to -1 in the hip, spine or femoral neck, and on people aged 50 years and above with notable risk factors (Jackson, et al., 2006).
The core causes of the bone condition include the deficiency of calcium and vitamin D, thus making its management to focus on the supplementation of the two essential minerals in the human body. Other recommended interventions include regular participation in muscle strengthening and weight ...