Osteoporosis

• What is osteoporosis?
• What are the symptoms of osteoporosis?
• What are the consequences of osteoporosis?
• Why is osteoporosis an important public health issue?
• What factors determine bone strength?
• What are risk factors for developing and causes of osteoporosis?
• How is osteoporosis diagnosed?
• Who should have bone density testing?
• How is osteoporosis treated and prevented?
  • Exercise, quitting cigarettes, and curtailing alcohol
  • Calcium supplements
  • Vitamin D
  • Hormone therapy (hormone replacement therapy, menopausal replacement therapy)
  • Medications that prevent bone loss and breakdown
  • Choosing an osteoporosis medication
  • Prevention of osteoporosis caused by long term corticosteroids
  • Monitoring osteoporosis therapy medication
  • Patient Discussions: Osteoporosis - Symptoms at Onset of Disease
• Prevention of hip fractures in elderly persons with osteoporosis
• Osteoporosis At A Glance
• Related osteoporosis articles:
  Osteoporosis - on WebMD

Osteoporosis - on eMedicineHealth

Are All Calcium Supplements the Same? Author: Betty Kovacs, MS, RD Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR A Viewer Asks: I've heard that not all calcium supplements are the same. Which over-the-counter vitamins or minerals help build bones? Which brands or types are better than others? Expert Answer: You heard right, not all calcium supplements are the same. The supplements will differ by the kinds of calcium that they contain, the amount that they contain, and any thing else that is added to them (other minerals or vitamins). Along with that, there are other factors that will affect how much of the calcium you will actually absorb, including medications that you are taking, your age, your vitamin D levels, the amount of calcium that you are taking and if you are pregnant. If you have any concerns over any of these, it would be best to speak with your physician before taking anything. The most common forms of calcium in supplements are calcium carbonate and calcium citrate. The differences between the two are... Learn more about the different types of calcium supplements » Top Searched Osteoporosis Terms: risk factors, diet, age, prevention, drugs, osteopenia, men, nutrition, menopause, weight-bearing exercise, diagnosis

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by the loss of the normal density of bone, resulting in fragile bone. Osteoporosis leads to literally abnormally porous bone that is more compressible like a sponge, than dense like a brick. This disorder of the skeleton weakens the bone causing an increase in the risk for breaking bones (bone fracture).

Normal bone is composed of protein, collagen, and calcium all of which give bone its strength. Bones that are affected by osteoporosis can break (fracture) with relatively minor injury that normally would not cause a bone fracture. The fracture can be either in the form of cracking (as in a hip fracture), or collapsing (as in a compression fracture of the vertebrae of the spine). The spine, hips, and wrists are common areas of bone fractures from osteoporosis, although osteoporosis-related fractures can also occur in almost any skeletal bone.

What are the symptoms of osteoporosis?

The osteoporosis condition can be present without any symptoms for decades, because osteoporosis doesn't cause symptoms unless bone fractures. Some osteoporosis fractures may escape detection until years later. Therefore, patients may not be aware of their osteoporosis until they suffer a painful fracture. Then the symptoms are related to the location of the fractures.

Fractures of the spine (vertebra) can cause severe "band-like" pain that radiates around from the back to the side of the body. Over the years, repeated spine fractures can cause chronic lower back pain as well as loss of height or curving of the spine, which gives the individual a hunched-back appearance of the upper back, often called a "dowager hump."

A fracture that occurs during the course of normal activity is called a minimal trauma fracture or stress fracture. For example, some patients with osteoporosis develop stress fractures of the feet while walking or stepping off a curb.

Hip fractures typically occur as a result of a fall. With osteoporosis, hip fractures can occur as a result of trivial accidents. Hip fractures may also be difficult to heal after surgical repair because of poor bone quality.

Osteoporosis - Symptoms at Onset of Disease

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From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com

Bone Density Scan - Get information on bone density scan for osteoporosis and osteopenia risk. Learn about bone mineral density, how the screening is done and get an explanation of test results. Source:MedicineNet Hormone Therapy - Hormone Therapy (HT), can ease the symptoms of menopause and protect against osteoporosis. Source:MedicineNet IV Drug Infusion FAQs - Learn what to expect during an intravenous (IV) drug infusion of medicine and avoid the confusion of what to expect. Information on what to bring, questions to ask the staff, and follow-up are included. Source:MedicineNet Read 295 more Osteoporosis related articles ... Men With Low Testosterone Not Receiving Treatment Docs Issue Guideline on Screening for Osteoporosis in Men Moderate Drinking for Strong Bones? Bone Drug Lowers Risk of Breast Cancer Recurrence Scoliosis: An Unnatural Curve Soccer's a Winner for Building Bone Health in Girls Epilepsy Drug Linked to Bone Loss Cola May Be Bad to the Bones Pain Relief for Osteoporosis Patients With Fractures Reclast - FDA OKs Once-Yearly Osteoporosis Drug