Arthritis and Osteoporosis Module 4C section C.3 CSE November 2006

Osteo - Arthritis Joints become damaged Cartilage at ends of bones worn away Joints swell and become painful Bones don’t slide smoothly over each other Bony swellings appear on bone surface Joint movement becomes difficult Treat by reducing pain and swelling Joint replacement a possibility – metal or plastic

Rheumatoid arthritis A degenerative disease Swollen joints, painful and difficult to move Auto-immune disease Attacks the cartilage Bone cells appear in the cartilage

Bones Are living Prone to ageing In young, old bone removed and new bone laid down constantly in response to body needs As get older, bone destroyed faster than replaced

Osteoporosis Loss of calcium from bones Also caused by gut lining cells have a reduction in ability to absorb calcium and vitamin D from the diet Vitamin D promotes Ca absorption across gut wall and Ca uptake by bone Bone structure deteriorates Bones thinner and weaker Bones more likely to fracture Appears from middle age onwards More common in females

Calcium levels Parathormone raises blood calcium by removing it from bones Calcitonin lowers blood calcium by increasing deposition of calcium phosphate in bones Work antagonistically

Females and osteoporosis Oestrogen inhibits parathormone Stop calcium leaving bones After menopause, no oestrogen, no inhibition of parathormone Increased removal of calcium from bones Help with HRT (hormone replacement therapy)

Osteoporosis treatment Difficult once bones have thinned Oestrogen Protection by encouraging high bone density when young by eating diet rich in calcium and vitamin D Plenty of weight bearing, bone building exercise eg walking and jogging Seems to be a genetic link