Question 1

One difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis is that

Accepted Answer

While both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis involve joint pain and stiffness, one of the key differences is the amount of joint swelling. Rheumatoid arthritis typically causes more swelling and inflammation throughout the body, whereas osteoarthritis is generally more localized to the affected joint(s). Women are indeed more likely to be affected by rheumatoid arthritis, but this is not the primary distinguishing factor between the two conditions. Finally, it is not accurate to say that osteoarthritis is not painful—it can be very painful and debilitating for those who experience it.

Question 2

How are menopause and the climacteric related?

Accepted Answer

Menopause occurs during the climacteric. The climacteric refers to the period of physiological and psychological change that occurs in women as they transition from being able to conceive to being infertile. Menopause is a specific event that marks the end of the menstrual cycle, and it typically occurs during the climacteric.

Question 3

____ is the leading cause of broken bones in older women.

Accepted Answer

Osteoporosis is a condition where bones become weak and brittle, increasing the risk of fractures. It is more commonly seen in older women due to the decrease in estrogen levels after menopause, which can lead to bone loss. Therefore, osteoporosis is the leading cause of broken bones in older women.

Question 4

While at a checkup, 40-year-old Betty listens as her physician, Dr. White, describes Betty's current health. Which of Dr. White's statements would suggest that Betty is experiencing the climacteric?

Accepted Answer

Dr. White's comment about having all the children Betty wants suggests that she may be approaching the end of her reproductive years, which is a common experience during the climacteric. The other statements do not necessarily relate to this transitional period.

Question 5

Rheumatoid arthritis ____ osteoarthritis.

Accepted Answer

Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are different types of arthritis that affect different joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that can affect multiple joints throughout the body, while osteoarthritis typically affects the joints that bear weight, such as the knees, hips, and spine.

Question 6

Who is at the greatest risk of currently experiencing osteoporosis?

Accepted Answer

The risk of osteoporosis increases with age and women are more likely to develop it than men. Therefore, Mary, who is a 60-year-old female, is at the greatest risk of currently experiencing osteoporosis.

Question 7

Misha often experiences severe swelling and joint pain in her fingers and wrists each morning. This pattern of symptoms is most likely due to

Accepted Answer

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that often causes joint pain, stiffness, and swelling, which is most severe in the morning. The symptoms can occur in multiple joints, commonly in the fingers and wrists. Osteoarthritis typically causes pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion in joints, but the symptoms are not usually worse in the morning. The climacteric is a term used to describe the menopause transition in women, which does not typically cause joint pain and swelling. Osteoporosis is a bone disease that causes the bones to become weak and brittle, but it does not usually cause joint symptoms.

Question 8

As women reach the climacteric, their menstruation cycles

Accepted Answer

As women reach the climacteric, their menstruation cycles become irregular and gradually stop altogether. This is a natural process and usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55.

Question 9

Which is best characterized as a "wear-and-tear" disease?

Accepted Answer

Osteoarthritis is best characterized as a "wear-and-tear" disease as it is caused by the breakdown of cartilage in the joints due to repeated use and aging. This leads to pain, stiffness, and loss of mobility in the affected joints. Osteoporosis is a bone disease characterized by the loss of bone mass and density, while rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and damage to the joints. Menopause is a natural process that marks the end of a woman's reproductive years and is not a disease.

Question 10

The defining element of "the climacteric" involves the loss of

Accepted Answer

The climacteric refers to the phase in a woman's life when she undergoes menopause and experiences a decrease in reproductive hormones, resulting in the loss of the natural ability to produce children.

Question 11

Fifty-five-year-old Claire stopped menstruating some time ago. She is disappointed because she really wanted to have more children. What would a competent physician tell her?

Accepted Answer

Menopause marks the end of a woman's reproductive years, and natural conception is no longer possible.

Question 12

Connie is a knowledgeable individual so when her physician tells her that she will be put on a biophosphonate, Connie realizes that she most likely has

Accepted Answer

Biophosphonates are a type of medication used to treat and prevent osteoporosis, a condition that causes bones to become weak and brittle. Therefore, if a physician prescribes biophosphonates, the patient most likely has osteoporosis.

Question 13

Osteoporosis is best thought of as involving a loss of bone

Accepted Answer

Osteoporosis involves a loss of bone mass, which leads to weaker bones and increased risk of fractures. It is not primarily characterized by brittleness or porousness, although these may be secondary effects of bone loss. Hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone, can play a role in the development of osteoporosis, but they are not the primary cause.

Question 14

Sixty-year-old Wendell is being examined by his physician. Wendell's symptoms include joint pain that has gradually increased. When his doctor says, "Your pain is due to the damage to your cartilage caused by severe use over your lifetime," you should correctly conclude that Wendell will be diagnosed with

Accepted Answer

The symptoms described, joint pain that has gradually increased and damage to cartilage caused by severe use over a lifetime, are characteristic of osteoarthritis. The other options (climacteric, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoporosis) do not fit with the given symptoms.

Question 15

Which statement concerning rheumatoid arthritis is true?

Accepted Answer

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation and damage in the joints. The symptoms of this condition often come and go over time, and can range from mild to severe. Aspirin can actually be helpful in treating the pain and inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis. While there may be a genetic component to this condition, it is not solely inherited. Rheumatoid arthritis typically affects small joints in the hands, fingers, and wrists, as well as the feet and ankles. While larger joints can also be affected, this is not the primary presentation of the disease.

Question 16

The rate of osteoporosis is directly affected by the metabolism rate of vitamin

Accepted Answer

Vitamin D plays a crucial role in calcium absorption and bone metabolism, which directly affects the rate of osteoporosis.

Question 17

Fifty-year-old Esmeralda has been a heavy smoker since her youth. In addition, she lives in a sunny climate and always has a deep tan. You would expect that she has ____ than most other people her age. ​

Accepted Answer

Esmeralda's habit of smoking and prolonged sun exposure can lead to premature aging of the skin, resulting in more wrinkles than most people her age. Smoking also reduces blood flow and oxygen to the hair follicles, which can result in hair loss or less hair. However, there is no direct correlation between smoking or sun exposure and gray hair or a larger middle-aged bulge.

Question 18

Forty-five-year-old Marilyn, who is very concerned about osteoporosis, seeks medical advice from her physician. Which advice would her physician be least likely to give?

Accepted Answer

Increasing alcohol consumption can actually harm bone health and increase the risk of osteoporosis. Therefore, her physician would be least likely to suggest this option.

Question 19

As Dr. Benton is looking at an X-ray of bones in your leg, his comment, ____, would indicate that you may have osteoporosis.

Accepted Answer

Osteoporosis is a condition where there is a loss of bone density and mass, so if Dr. Benton sees "less mass than normal" on the X-ray, it is indicating a possible diagnosis of osteoporosis.

Question 20

The metabolic slowdown common to individuals in their early 30s and mid-50s will lead to ____ in many males. ​

Accepted Answer

The metabolic slowdown can cause a decrease in muscle mass and increase in body fat, leading to a "middle-aged bulge" or weight gain in many males. Gray hair, wrinkles, and hair loss are more related to genetics and other factors rather than metabolic slowdown.

Quiz 13: Making It in Midlife: the Biopsychosocial Challenges of Middle Adulthood