1. What is Osteoporosis?
By: Sarah Berardelli

2. Introduction/Description to Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis- a condition that causes bones to become very weak and brittle to the point that minor strains such as bending or coughing can cause a fracture
-This can cause stooped posture, trouble walking, and a lot of pain
-The spins adjustment is called the Dowager’s hump
-Usually seen in women over 50 years of age

3. Causes of osteoporosis
There are multiple different causes to osteoporosis:
- Being inactive
Aging
not having enough calcium in your diet
Alcohol use
Using steroids
Low vitamin D levels
Having emotional stress
Nutritional deficiencies
A person can go years without knowing that it is forming; they will have no symptoms or discomfort until a fracture occurs
Some foods that can help cause it:
- Sweetened beverages
- sugar
- processed red meat

4. How it Affects the Body/Mind
-Calcium and phosphate are the 2 most important minerals in an average bone -Affects all bones in the body, but mainly the hip, wrist, and spine -doesn’t affect the mind

5. Does it Spread? Genes?
With osteoporosis bone density is constantly decreasing which cause the bones to be brittle. This is spread throughout the body.
Osteoporosis is not known to be passed down
There is a gene that can affect the odds of developing osteoporosis
It is called DARC- makes a protein needed to help break down bone
They are testing this gene on mice to hopefully find more treatments

6. How can it be treated and/or cured? Is it fatal?
- The main concern with having osteoporosis is keeping the bones as strong as they possibly can be
Some different treatments are:
Evista - acts like the hormone estrogen and can help maintain bone mass without having a higher chances of breast and uterine cancer
Bisphosphonates which are Actonel, Binosto, Boniva, and Fosamax – these keep the body from breaking down more bone
Take Actonel, Binosto, and Fosamax once weekly and then Boniva is taken once a month; if incorrectly taken they can cause ulcers in the stomach
Reclast- helps keep bones strong also and reduce fractures in the hip, spine, wrist, arm, leg, or rib
-Taken once yearly
There is not a cure, but is able to be controlled with the proper medical care
Osteoporosis is not fatal, but when bones are breaking it can cause blood clotting and pneumonia which can have a fatal outcome

7. 5 Facts:
The Dowager’s hump is caused from the vertebrae fracturing causing a hunched back and there is no way to prevent the hump from forming; can reduce it early be taking calcium and vitamin D daily
Those with or have suffered from an eating disorder (anorexia, bulimia, etc.) are more prone to developing osteoporosis
African Americans are by far less likely to get osteoporosis over other ethnic because their population has stronger bones, also have a greater bone density
Affects roughly 10 million Americans; every 10 people- 8 are women and 2 are men
A women’s risk of a hip fracture is equal to the possibility of her getting breast, uterine, and ovarian cancers put together

8. Stages: Stage 1- begins around age 35; before it is detectable
Stage 2: between ages when osteoporosis is detectable with special tests
Stage 3: can start at age 45 and is detected by bone fractures
Stage 4: starts at age 55 with fractures, chronic pain, and deformity

9. Work Cited:
“Dowagers Humps | Definition | Causes | Treatments for Back Hump.” Dowagers Humps | Definition | Causes | Treatments for Back Hump, Accessed 9 Apr
“8 Facts About Osteoporosis.” Sacramento Magazine - Sacramento, California, Accessed 9 Apr
Hayslett, Ayana. “What Other Body Systems Are Affected by Osteoporosis.” Prezi.com, 7 Nov. 2013, prezi.com/76xud1y32nnw/what-other-body-systems-are-affected-by-osteoporosis/. Accessed 9 Apr
Hitti, Miranda. “Osteoporosis in the Genes?” WebMD, WebMD, 28 Mar. 2007, Accessed 9 Apr
“Osteoporosis Diet and 5 Natural Treatments.” Dr. Axe, draxe.com/osteoporosis-diet-5-natural-treatments/. Accessed 9 Apr