A 55-yr-old patient should alert the nurse to the presence of osteoporosis if he or she sees a loss of height.
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a bone disease that appears when bone quality or structure deteriorates, bone mineral density declines, or when bone mass decreases. This may result in a loss of bone density and an elevated risk of fractures (broken bones).
Loss of height occurs gradually as a result of vertebral osteoporosis. Osteomalacia and bowed legs are related. Although a low dairy intake is a risk factor for osteoporosis, this condition is not necessarily present. Although frequent falls increase the risk of fractures, they do not signify osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is referred regarded as a "silent" illness because it frequently goes unnoticed until a bone breaks or a vertebra collapses (fracture). Vertebral fracture symptoms include excruciating back pain, height loss, or spine abnormalities including a stooped or slumped posture (kyphosis).
Osteoporosis can cause bones to deteriorate to the point where they break spontaneously or as a result of: Minor slips and falls, such as those that occur at a height where a healthy bone wouldn't ordinarily shatter. Stresses that are common include bending, lifting, and even coughing.
To know more about osteoporosis, click on the link given below
https://brainly.com/question/24582902
#SPJ4