Osteoporosis For Dummies

Facts and advice to help people understand and prevent osteoporosis There are an estimated 55 million Americans over the age of 50 who have low bone mass. This easy-to-understand guide helps readers assess their risk and find a practical approach to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of osteoporosis. It covers bone density tests and a wide range of treatment options for osteoporosis-from hormone replacement therapy and acupuncture to calcium-rich foods, supplements, and exercise-and offers pointers on preventing broken hips and other common fractures.

Introduction 1 Part I: Understanding Your Bones 7 Chapter 1: Boning Up on Osteoporosis 9 Chapter 2: Loving the Living Tissue Called Bone 19 Chapter 3: Breaking Down the Risk Factors 33 Chapter 4: Men and Kids Get Osteoporosis, Too 53 Part II: Keeping Your Bones Healthy 69 Chapter 5: Eating Right for Good Bones 71 Chapter 6: Exercising for Strong Bones 87 Part III: Diagnosing and Treating Osteoporosis 105 Chapter 7: Facing the Consequences of Bones Gone Bad 107 Chapter 8: Finding (and Paying For) a Doctor to Treat Osteoporosis 119 Chapter 9: Testing Your Bones 133 Chapter 10: Taking Prescription Drugs for Osteoporosis 145 Chapter 11: Keeping Bones Strong with Over-the-Counter Supplements 161 Chapter 12: Managing Pain from Osteoporosis 177 Chapter 13: Recovering from a Fracture When You Have Osteoporosis 193 Chapter 14: Focusing on the Future of Osteoporosis 213 Part IV: The Part of Tens 225 Chapter 15: Ten Surprising Sources of Calcium 227 Chapter 16: Ten Things You Need to Know about Bones 231 Chapter 17: Ten Resources for Finding Out More about Osteoporosis 237 Chapter 18: Top Ten Questions Dr. O’Connor’s Patients Ask about Osteoporosis 243 Chapter 19: Ten (Or So) Parenting Tips to Build Strong Bones 247 Appendix: Reviewing Osteoporosis Programs State by State 251 Glossary 263 Index 271