Skeletal Malfunctions Flashcards
1
Q
What are the 3 malfunctions?
A
- Osteoporosis
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
2
Q
Osteoporosis?
A
- Caused when too little bone is produced.
- Imbalance, and loss of density, causing bones to become fragile and liable to fracturing.
- More likely to occur in those with low calcium intake, eating disorders, or having had GI surgery.
- Symptoms: Back pain; Loss of height over time; Stooped posture; Easily broken bones
- Treatment: Calcium supplements; HRT - replaces the Oestrogen, preventing the Osteoclasts cutting away too much bone.
- Diagnosis: DEXA Scan - identifies the bone densities.
3
Q
Osteoarthritis?
A
- The protective cartilage on the ends of the bone breaks down, causing pain and swelling, along with problems moving the joint.
- Causes: Age; Being overweight or obese; History of injury or surgery to a joint; Overuse/repetitive movements of the joint; Joints that don’t form correctly; Family history
- Symptoms: Joint tenderness; Increased pain and stiffness after not moving the joint for a while; Slightly larger, knobbly joints.
- Treatment: Lifestyle measures e.g. weight management, healthy diet, exercising; Physiotherapy.
4
Q
Rheumatoid Arthritis?
A
- The immune system attacks healthy cells in the body by mistake, causing inflammation in the affected parts.
- It isn’t fully known what causes this, but factors such as genetics, smoking, and hormones.
- Symptoms: Pain or aching in more than one joint; Stiffness in more than one joint; Tenderness and swelling in more than one point.
- Treatment: Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) - blocks the effects of the attacking chemicals; Biological Treatments, e.g. Adalimumab - given by injection, stopping particular chemicals in the blood from activating the immune response.
