viernes, 5 de abril de 2013

2. The aging process

In my opinion, the aging process is a normal physiological process in which people experience a progressive deterioration of physiological functions.
One system that is affected during the aging process is the skeletal muscle whose primary pathology is osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a metabolic disorder in which there is a decrease in bone mass caused by the decreased activity of osteoblasts, resulting in progressive resorption of the bone itself.
  • It is an alteration of bone remodeling own age, in which, to be disappearing calcium from the bones, they lose their density and become more porous and fragile, increasing the risk of fracture (being more common in vertebrae, hip, wrist and shoulder).
  • Risk factors for osteoporosis are hormonal alteration typical of menopause, sedentary lifestyle, decreased intake of calcium, vitamin D deficiency, excessive alcohol / caffeine and small body frame.
  • The first sign is that the elderly have the appearance of an unexpected breakdown.
  • The main treatment is prevention (following a treatment with estrogen).
  • The interventions which the nursing role can recommend and perform are:
    • Recommend a diet with foods rich in calcium (dairy products, green leafy vegetables...) reaching to supplement if was necessary.                      
    • Encourage exercise to maintain a healthy weight and promote patient's bone building.
    • Recommend the use of shoes with good support and non-slip.
    • Teach the patient and the family to create a risk-free environment at home (avoid the carpets).



I think that preventing osteoporosis is the most important part of treatment. You have to start with this very young, we include in our diet dairy products and vegetables and exercise moderately






Bibliography
  • Medline. [Monografía de internet]. [Fecha de consulta 5 de abril de 2013]. Disponible en: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/ency/article/000360.htm
  • Zancheta J. R. Osteoporosis. Fisiopatología, diagnostica, prevención y tratamiento. Buenos Aires; Editorial Médica Panamericana.




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