KINS 215-01, Exercise is Medicine, is a class I took during the fall semester of my freshman year. I learned about many illnesses, such as osteoporosis, arthritis,cancer, and diabetes, and how they alter people’s ability to live a health life. I also learned why certain geographic barriers, such as big cities and rural areas, struggle to manage a significant problem called a food desert. A food desert is when people cannot access healthy food or afford to eat a balanced diet. Obesity is common product of a person’s ability to access food in rural and city areas. Additionally, people who are less likely to work out if they do not feel healthy.
Professor Ewing taught me about the struggles others face. I am dyslexic and have a learning difference. My brother is bipolar and works hard to manage his mental health.Prior to taking this class, I did not fully realize that others struggle in ways I cannot imagine. People with and without visible disabilities share a common challenge to reach their goals. I enjoyed learning about the illnesses and population that effect physical activity because learning about them brought me to a humble state. Finally, when I look for a place to live with my family, I will keep the lessons learned in Professor Ewing’s class in mind so I pick a place that is good for my physical, financial and mental wellness.
The artifact below is a report I wrote about osteoporosis. As a prompt we had to choose one disease that we did not know a lot about. We had to define the disease, how it affects the human body, and treatment. I put in my best effort when writing this report because people with osteoporosis suffer from this serous and fatal disease. Osteoporosis causes bones to become weak and to break easily. I grew from this assignment because I never really took osteoporosis seriously when discussing it. After researching the condition I began to fully change my mind. I did not know that there is no real cure for the disease and you have to slowly watch your life slip away.
Big Theme:
Do Not Let Osteoporosis Crush Your Bones
Jacob Christ
Longwood University
KINS 215: Exercise is Medicine
Professor Tina Ewing
September 13, 2019
Big Theme: Do Not Let Osteoporosis Crush Your Bones.
Osteoporosis is a disease that affects the bone cycle. As the density and quality of bone are reduced, the bones become fragile and easy to break or fracture.The bone cycle is where new bone is made and old bone is broken down. When people are young, the body makes new bone as fast as old bone dies. In the early 20s of people this process slows, and most people reach their peak bone mass by age 30. As people age, bone mass is lost quicker than it’s created.
Older women who are between the ages of 45-50, past menopause, and White or Asian have the highest rate of getting osteoporosis. Symptoms of osteoporosis include; back pain caused by a fractured or collapsed vertebra, loss of height over time, a stooped posture, that breaks much more easily than expected. Inactivity, such as seen in astronauts and bed ridden patients, experience a great risk of bone density and muscle density loss. In fact, according to “ The link between space flight and osteoporosis” osteoporosis sets in by 1-2% after only one month in space or in an inactive state on earth. Although not everyone is an astronaut or bedridden, the connection between inactivity and the progression of osteoporosis affects everyone.
Treatments for osteoporosis occur in one of two ways. One way is by slowing down the erosion of bone or trying to replace bone loss. The patient would take an antiresorptive which slows down the process of bone loss, and maintaining the bone a patient has. The goal of an antiresorptive treatment is to preserve bone strength to reduce the risk of fracture. The other way is anabolic osteoporosis treatments which helps build new bone by stimulating the patient’s natural bone-building cells. The goal of anabolic treatment is to help build new bone — not just maintain the bone the patient already has and to reduce the risk of fracture.
Prevention of osteoporosis can occur in many ways, having a well balanced diet, Engage in regular exercise,at foods that are good for bone health, such as fruits and vegetables, and avoid smoking and limit alcohol to 2-3 drinks per day.There are two types of osteoporosis exercises that are important for building and maintaining bone density; weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercises.Weight-bearing Exercises are exercises or activities that move against gravity while staying upright, some of these exercises include dancing, hiking, and Jogging/running. Muscle-Strengthening Exercises, exercises that use resistance to increase muscle contraction that help build strength and ,anaerobic endurance, some examples are lifting weights, using elastic exercise bands, and using weight machines.
The take away from this report is that osteoporosis can be a big problem. If you are aware of osteoporosis and take care of your body, then you can make positive strides towards maintaining a healthy life.
References
Driver, C. B. (n.d.). Osteoporosis Treatment, Signs & Symptoms. Retrieved from https://www.emedicinehealth.com/osteoporosis/article_em.htm#what_is_osteoporosis
MacGill, M. (2019, July 22). Osteoporosis: Risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155646.php
International Osteoporosis Foundation (2016, February 18). The link between space flight and osteoporosis Retrieved from https://www.iofbonehealth.org/news/link-between-space-flight-and-osteoporosis
Mayo Clinic (2019, June 19). Osteoporosis. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoporosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351968
National Osteoporosis Foundation Osteoporosis Diet & Nutrition (2019). Foods for Bone Health. Retrieved from https://www.nof.org/patients/treatment/nutrition/
The National Institute of Health (n.d.). Osteoporosis Overview. Retrieved from https://www.bones.nih.gov/health-info/bone/osteoporosis/overview