Osteoporosis Treatment Options - Essay Example

"Osteoporosis Treatment Options" is an outstanding example of a paper on the musculoskeletal system.
Osteoporosis is a condition or state in which bones become weak and brittle. It is an affliction in which the density and quality of bone are reduced. The bone also becomes porous and fragile. Osteoporosis can be a result of the lack of calcium in the diet for a very long time. This process is silent and progressive.

Osteoporosis is a dangerous condition that affected around 44 million Americans aged 50 years and above in the United States in 2017 (IOF, 2017). There are other several risk factors or factors that increase the probability of developing Osteoporosis. Hyperthyroidism is a disease that can result in Osteoporosis. Hyperthyroidism is a condition that causes a lot of thyroid hormones to be produced. This hormone is formed in the thyroid gland and reduces the rate at which bones are replaced. In this case, the osteoblasts are incapable of replacing bone loss. This process at the latter causes the bone to develop Osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis can also be a result of the persistent use of some medications such as heparin, phenytoin, and corticosteroids. This is known as drug-induced Osteoporosis. Heparin is a drug taken to treat and prevent clotting of blood as a result of medical procedures. However, heparin increases the reabsorption of bones through stimulating osteoclasts. This leads to suppression of the function of osteoblasts, which leads to a reduction of bone mass. Also, it leads to the depletion of the cells in the bone marrow. This as a result leads to the development of Osteoporosis. Phenytoin is a drug that is taken to treat or prevent seizures by slowing down the impulses of the brain. However, phenytoin inhibits the formation of osteoblast cells. The drug also prevents the secretion of osteocalcin. This osteocalcin is a hormone that helps in the regulation of calcium in the bones (Rohatgi and Ahluwalia, 2017). This later leads to the development of Osteoporosis, which is the weakening of bones.

Lack of exercise or engagement in physical activities can lead to the development of Osteoporosis. Exercise and physical activity encourage the development and replacement of bones. Therefore, lack of exercise and physical activity can result in Osteoporosis (Tu et al., 2018). Also, smoking tobacco for a long time can lead to the development of Osteoporosis. Tobacco directly poisons the bones. Tobacco smoking lowers the activity of testosterone in men which leads to the weakening of the bones. It also reduces the production of estrogen in women, which in turn causes bone loss; hence leading to the development of Osteoporosis. Other risk factors of Osteoporosis include a lot of alcohol consumption, unhealthy diet, and previous bone fractures (Tu et al., 2018).

There are several methods that the nurses can use to help in the treatment of Osteoporosis. The nurses can advise the patient to engage in physical activities and exercises. This can help in the development of bones hence recovering from the disease. Also, the nurses can administer some drugs such as Fosamax, Boniva, Reclast, and Actonel to the patients (Upham, 2019). These drugs help to prevent and treatment of Osteoporosis. The nurses can also advise the patients to take a balanced diet that consists of vitamin D and Calcium. Calcium is responsible for the development of strong and firm bones, and vitamin D assists in strengthening the bones. The nurses also can avoid the administration of drugs such as corticosteroids, antiepileptic drugs, progestin, and heparin, which induce Osteoporosis in patients. Finally, the nurses can advise the patients to avoid smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol, for those patients who have developed Osteoporosis as a result of doing so.