Osteoporosis: A Disease of the Bones

Like a honeycomb, our bones (which contain spongy and compact bone) possess the same traits in that they have little holes. However, if the holes inside the bone are too big and spaced out unevenly, you should go to the doctor's and ask for a bone density test: you may have osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a disease in the bone where either a person does not make enough bone, produces too little, or both. While mainly found in women aged 50+, men aged 50+ are susceptible to it too.

Osteoporosis can be very life threatening because if a person's bones are too weak, any little bump or movement can break a bone and cause lasting pain. Factors that lead to osteoporosis commonly include a lack of calcium and vitamin D, not eating healthy, not getting enough exercise and other controllable factors. Some factors one cannot control, however, include aging, genetics and body built (being weak/small). Having a healthy lifestyle goes a long way, especially in preventing osteoporosis.

Like my physiology teacher says, the body and what happens to it is a cycle that affects not just one system or place, but many others as well. That being said, there are diseases that cause osteoporosis or can make it much worse. To name a few: RA arthritis, inflammatory bowl disease, diabetes, leukemia, depression and many other diseases can lead or worsen osteoporosis in any victim.  Certain medicines, too, can cause osteoporosis, with diagnoses not occurring until much later.

There are various medications for maintaining osteoporosis at bay, but it all depends on age, sex, how severe the osteoporosis is and one's personal preference.  The following list names but a few of the approved medications.

 

Medicines Approved to Prevent and/or Treat Osteoporosis

Class and Drug	Brand Name	Form	Frequency
Bisphosphonates
Alendronate	Generic Alendronate and Fosamax®	Oral (tablet)	Daily/Weekly
Alendronate	Fosamax Plus D™ (with 2,800 IU or 5,600 IU of Vitamin D3)	Oral (tablet)	Weekly
Ibandronate	Boniva®	Oral (tablet)	Monthly
Ibandronate	Boniva®	Intravenous (IV) injection	Four Times per Year
Risedronate	Actonel®	Oral (tablet)	Daily/Weekly/Twice Monthly/Monthly
Risedronate	Actonel® with Calcium	Oral (tablet)	Weekly
Risedronate	Atelvia TM	Oral (tablet)	Weekly
Zoledronic Acid	Reclast®	Intravenous (IV) infusion	One Time per Year/Once every two years
Calcitonin
Calcitonin	Fortical®	Nasal spray	Daily
Calcitonin	Miacalcin®	Nasal spray	Daily
Calcitonin	Miacalcin®	Injection	Varies
Estrogen*
Estrogen	Multiple Brands	Oral (tablet)	Daily
Estrogen	Multiple Brands	Transdermal (skin patch)	Twice Weekly/Weekly
Estrogen Agonists/Antagonists Also called Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs)
Raloxifene	Evista®	Oral (tablet)	Daily
Parathyroid Hormone
Teriparatide	Forteo®	Injection	Daily
RANK ligand (RANKL) inhibitor
Denosumab	ProliaTM	Injection	Every 6 Months

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To Be or Not to Be: A Chiropractor

While many believe that any career in the medical field proves promising, the contrary seems to be true for some professions. One such conflict lies in the chiropractic field. A chiropractor "treat[s] patients with health problems of the musculoskeletal system, which is made up of bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons" (Source 1).  Chiropractors manipulate the spine and use other techniques such as ultrasounds, x-rays, massage therapy, acupuncture and many others to diagnose and treat their patients.

While some may work in a clinic or hospital, most work in outside offices that are sterilized and approved by the medical association. In 2010, there were approximately 52,600 jobs in the chiropractic field. Many of those were self-employed, but otherwise a chiropractor works for a company. Hours range, depending on the company or on the patients. Most offices tend to work with patients' work schedules and tend to have afternoon sessions. The most common yearly salary for entry-level chiropractors ranges from $25,000 to $32,000. According to the Bureau of Labor, the median wage was $67,200.

In order to become a chiropractor,  a "Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree" is required, which usually takes four years to complete, after finishing undergraduate requirements and study, another four years. Once degrees are completed, a licensing exam is required before being able to apply for chiropractor jobs or performing chiropractic services to the public. While licensing issues vary from state to state, the U.S. requires that a chiropractor pass the exam and accredited chiropractic program.

The very prominent controversy and phenomena that occurs in the chiropractic field, however, resides in the unfortunate fact that chiropractic jobs are scarce and do not offer entry-level graduates any sort of benefit (financial and/or emotional). Upon researching for this blog, I found more than enough blogs, articles, and sites that expressed the chiropractor's career in a dark light. One such blog, named "The Chiropractor's Wife", explains that while the idea of becoming a chiropractor sounds appealing and may benefit A FEW, it does not guarantee a stable and beneficial future FOR MOST. What commonly occurs is this: a person takes all the courses and requirements needed to become a chiropractor, gets their degree/licensing, cannot find work in the next 6+ months, and is faced with student loan debts of over $150,000. With an entry-level salary of $25,000 to $32,000 most cannot pay off their loans and thus, interest increases their debts. Another issue that most "fresh chiros" found is that in their jobs, they do not find some employers ethically (and sometimes, legally) correct. Because insurance companies do not fully cover all the expenses, they sometimes have to trick patients into getting credit, payment plans, or other possible illegal ways of receiving money. Some chiropractors also have to experience other ethical issues from their employers, such as calling patients who visit often "good patients" and those that don't go often "bad patients"; and having to work irregular hours for most of the time. Every person pursuing the chiropractic field is always forewarned by at least one professional to NOT go down that road; however, many misconceptions and ignorance have led dreams into nightmares.

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