Some health issues, including heart disease, depression, and autoimmune disease, present more frequently in women than in men. Others, including ovarian cancer and pregnancy issues, are obviously exclusive to the female population. Nurse practitioners focused on women’s healthcare become well-versed in these health issues and apply their expertise to helping to screen for and offer care for patients with these conditions.
select a specific women’s health issue. research this issue, and share common symptoms, recommended diagnostic tests, and common treatments.
• Review the Learning Resources for this week and consider the different types of women’s health issues.
• Choose one of the women’s health issue from the following list and once you have selected an issue, search the Walden Library and/or the Internet regarding the health issue symptoms, diagnostic tests, and common treatments:
o Osteoporosis
o Bladder Issues
o Pre-diabetes
o Thyroid
o Hypertension
o Seizure Disorders
o Psychiatric Disorders
Loss of Height over time.
A Stooped Posture (kyphosis), which can result from multiple vertebral fractures making it difficult for the spine to support the body's weight.
Recommended Diagnostic Tests
Diagnosis is primarily based on measuring bone mineral density and assessing fracture risk.
1. Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA or DEXA) Scan
This is the gold standard for diagnosing osteoporosis. It is a low-dose X-ray that measures the mineral content in bones, typically in the hips and spine.
T-score: The result is a T-score, which compares the patient's bone density to that of a healthy young adult (age 30).
Normal: T-score is ≥−1.0 standard deviation (SD).
Osteopenia (low bone mass): T-score is between −1.0 and −2.5 SD.
Osteoporosis: T-score is ≤−2.5 SD.
2. Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAXR◯)
This tool is used to estimate the 10-year probability of a major osteoporotic fracture (spine, forearm, hip, or shoulder) based on clinical risk factors and, ideally, the femoral neck BMD from the DXA scan.
3. Other Investigations (To Rule Out Secondary Causes)
Blood and urine tests may be ordered to check for secondary causes of bone loss, which can include:
Serum calcium, phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase levels.
Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels.
Thyroid and parathyroid hormone levels.
Sample Answer
The selected women's health issue is Osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a chronic metabolic bone disorder characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD) and deterioration of bone tissue, which makes bones weak and brittle, leading to an increased risk of fractures. It disproportionately affects postmenopausal women due to the sharp decline in estrogen, a hormone vital for maintaining bone density.
Common Symptoms
Osteoporosis is often called a "silent disease" because there are typically no symptoms until a bone breaks or fractures. Once bone weakness is severe, symptoms of a fracture may become apparent:
Sudden Bone Fracture: A bone breaks much more easily than expected, often from a minor fall (a fragility fracture). Common fracture sites include the hip, wrist, and spine (vertebrae).
Back Pain: Caused by a broken or collapsed bone in the spine (vertebral compression fracture).