Mrs. L is a 63-year-old woman who reports constant back pain.Further inquiry into her medical history revealed that over thepast 3 years, she has suffered from fractures of her femur andwrist after minor falls. She experienced menopause at age 49. Mrs.L has a secretarial job, drives to work, and she “does not havetime for exercise.” She reports that she consumes 8 to 10 cups ofcoffee a day and has been a smoker most of her adult life. She hasnot seen her physician recently nor had a recommended bone densitytest because of the time and cost involved.
1. Relate Mrs. L’s history to the diagnosis of osteoporosis.What risk factors are present, and how does each predispose todecreased bone density? what are the 3 risk factors and itspredisposition?
