Public Health Injuries Aging & Bone Health

Leading Causes of Death

• Unintentional injuries is the leading cause of death overall

• Especially in the 15-24 and 25-34 yr age groups

Overdose deaths

• major contributor to unintentional poisoning deaths

Other causes of poisoning deaths

• carbon monoxide

  • fuel-burning products in poorly ventilated area (generators, heating systems etc.)

• Pesticides

  • usually unintentional exposure (mostly in under 6 and adults > 20yrs) - especially rai poisons

• Other factors:

  • Adults: legal drugs taken in error or at the wrong does like acetaminophen (can be reversed be be quick/determine when they took it)

  • Child accidental overdoes (iron-containing vitamins)

Non-fatal injuries

• dominate as the overall cause of nonfatal emergency departments visits

traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)

• affect how the brain works; can be caused by

  • bump or blow to head

  • penetrating injury (gunshot)

• Common causes of TBIs:

  • falls (approx. half of TBI-related hospitalizations)

  • firearm-related injuries

  • motor vehicle crashes

  • assaults including domestic violence

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)

• affects ability to think, mood swings

• contact sports, military

• blows to head (concussive affects), force (repeated brain hitting the inside of skull)

• symptoms don’t begin until years after the disease and can get worse over time —> dementia

• will only know if you have it when u die

• playing contact sports when younger will lead to cognitive issues and behavioral problems early on

osteoporosis (skeletal disorder)

• decrease in bone mass

• bone density

• enlarged spaces within bone that produce fragility

• Diminished bone strength

  • quality

  • density

• Increased risk of fracture

  • wrist

  • spine

  • hip

remodeling

• bone removal & replacement

resorption

• removing bone that is damaged or needed for minerals (esp calcium are essential to cell func & are taken from bones as needed)

osteoporosis & systemic chronic inflammation

• risk factors:

  • physical inactivity

  • excess alcohol consumption

  • tobacco use

sarcopenia

• reduction in skeletal muscle mass as ppl age

osteoporosis risk factors

• gender (women more vulnerable)

• age

• race (greatest if white or Asian)

• family history

• small body frame (less bone mass to draw on during aging)

• sex hormones (drop in estrogen during menopause)

• low calcium intake

• eating disorders

• GI surgery (limit surface area for nutrient absorption)

• certain meds

Prevention & treatment

• healthy balanced diet including calcium & vitamin D

• Exercise

  • weight bearing

  • resistance training

• no smoking

• low alc intake

• check meds side effects

• limit caffeine to < 2 cups/day

Arthritis

• > 100 diseases & conditions that affect joints, tissues surrounding joints, & other connective tissue

• major cause of disability & chronic pain

• typically involves pain, stiffness around joint (s)

• more common cause among women than men

• major cause of limitations to usual activities

• 88.3% of US adults with arthritis were > than 45 yrs

osteoarthritis

• affects > 30 mil US adults

• also called degenerative joint disease or “wear & tear” arthritis

• degeneration of cartilage

• leads to bone degeneration

• gradual

• Symptoms:

  • pain

  • inflammation

  • stiffening

  • decreased range of motion

  • swelling

osteoarthritis risk factors

• age (>40)

• gender (female)

• obesity

• trauma (been damaged) Tennis, soccer

  • joint injury/overuse

  • infection

  • poor alignment

  • occupation & repetitive motions

• Genetics

• Don’t have a lot of cartilage then stop stuff that puts the pressure on knees

joint-friendly activities: low risk of injury

• walking

• biking

• swimming

• water aerobics

• muscle strengthening with resistance bands

rheumatoid arthritis

• autoimmune disease

• mainly attacks joints, usually many joints at once

• causes inflammation of synovial membrane (joint lining)

• can affect other organs, lungs, heart, eyes

• symptoms:

  • pain

  • inflammation

  • redness

  • fatigue

  • stiffness

  • same symptoms on both sides of body

  • weight loss

rheumatoid arthritis risk factors

• any age: likelihood increases with age

• female

• smoking

• obesity

• genetic

Gout

• common type of inflammatory arthritis

• usually affects one joint at a time

• bouts of flares (symptoms are present) and remission (no symptoms)

• deposition of uric acid crystals in tissues & fluids (shaped like needles)

• recurring acute flares can lead to gouty arthritis (type of arthritis that worsens over time)

• Symptoms: acute flares

  • red, hot swollen joints

  • extreme pain

Gout risk factors

• male

• obesity

• meds including diuretics

• alc

• hypertension, diabetes, poor kidney function, insulin resistance

• diet high in fructose & purines (red meat & alc)

• could mean they have kidney disease so should get checked for that

Arthritis pain

• severe joint pain: pain is rated as 7 or higher out of 10

  • most common in adults with arthritis who have other chronic conditions

• persistent pain: pain (of an severity) on most or all days in the past 3 months

fibromyalgia

• has to be symmetrical

• conditions causing pain all over body, sleep problems, fatigue

• Tender points (pressure is painful)

• Symptoms:

  • stiffness

  • depression anxiety

  • difficult with thinking, memory & concentration

  • headaches

  • digestive problems

  • tingling or numbness in hands and feet

fibromyalgia Risk factors

• age

• preexisting lupus or rheumatoid arthritis (RA)