By Elizabeth Ochoa and Brittney Lopez

What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a medical
condition in which the bones
become weak and brittle
from loss of tissue. Typically
as a result of hormonal
changes, or deficiency of
calcium or vitamin D.

Causes and Risk Factors

Your bones are constantly broken down and making new bone. Younger people's
bodies make new bone faster than it breaks down so the bone mass increases
sex - women are more likely to develop osteoporosis than men
age - the older the greater the risk
race - greatest risk is white and asian descent
family history
body frame size - men/women with smaller body frames are @ higher risk

Signs and Symptoms

Osteoporosis usually starts off silently and may not be found
until a bone fracture however these symptoms may appear:
Back or neck pain
Immobility
Loss of height

Diagnosis
Your bone density will be
measured by a machine with
low levels of X-rays
determining the proportion of
mineral in your bones During
this test, you lie on a padded
table as the scanner passes
over your body.

Treatment
Treatment is based on your risk of breaking a bone in the next 10 years using the
information from your bone density test. If the risk isnt high then treatment may
not involve medication and will focus on your lifestyle, safety, and might make
partial or minor changes to the risk factors for bone loss
Alendronate (fosamax)
Risedronate (actonel, atelvia)
Ibandronate (boniva)
Zoledronic acid (Reclast)

Prevention
You can build strong bones
and help prevent osteoporosis
with weight-bearing exercise,
a diet rich in calcium and
vitamin D, prevent falls, and
avoid smoking. Young women
in particular need to be aware
of their risk for osteoporosis.

Prognosis
The outlook for patients with
osteoporosis depends greatly on
where fractures occur. If treatment is
begun when the bone disease is
detected early, the outcome is
better.

How does osteoporosis affect the Endocrine

System?
Osteoporosis affects the Endocrine
system by bone loss, tissue
function and lack of vitamin D and
testosterone/estrogen. As we get
older bone loss becomes a serious
problem for women because of the
levels of estrogen dropping.

Check for Understanding

1. True or False? Vitamin D is important to help
prevent Osteoporosis?

2. What is one risk factor for Osteoporosis?

WORKS CITED
"Endocrine System: Facts, Functions And Diseases". LiveScience.com. N. p., 2016. Web. 9 Mar. 2016.

Gstatic.com. N. p., 2016. Web. 7 Mar. 2016.

"Osteoporosis: Symptoms & Types".WebMD. N. p., 2016. Web. 8 Mar. 2016.
Pauline M. Camacho MD, FACE. "Osteoporosis Symptoms".EndocrineWeb. N. p., 2016. Web. 9 Mar. 2016.
William C. Shiel Jr., FACR. "Osteoporosis Symptoms, Causes, Treatment - What Is The Prognosis (Outlook) For
Patients With Osteoporosis? - Medicinenet".MedicineNet. N. p., 2016. Web. 8 Mar. 2016.