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Osteoporosis - Causes - Diagnosis - Symptoms - Treatment - Prevention

Osteoporosis causes, diagnosis, symptoms, risk factors, prevention, and treatment. Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to weaken, become brittle and more easily breakable. The osteoporosis disease process can be silent (without symptoms) for decades. It's a harse reality that the drugs we take to treat arthritis, especially the corticosteroids, also wreak havoc on our bones.

Osteopenia - What You Need to Know

Osteopenia is not considered a disease by the medical community -- it is a risk factor for fracture. Osteopenia is often confused with osteoporosis. What is osteopenia and how is it related to arthritis?

Proton Pump Inhibitors Increase Risk of Hip Fracture

Proton pump inhibitors which are taken for acid-related diseases and also by many arthritis patients trying to reduce gastrointestinal side effects caused by NSAIDs have been linked to an increased risk of hip fracture. Proton pump inhibitors include Nexium, Protonix, Prevacid, Aciphex and Prilosec.

Osteoporosis Risk Factor Quiz

The more risk factors you have for a specific disease, the more likely it is you will develop that disease. Do you have any of the risk factors associated with osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis Screening Quiz

Osteoporosis is a condition which is characterized by loss of the normal density of bone, resulting in brittle bones. Brittle bones are subject to fracture. The disease process can be silent (without symptoms) for decades.

Does Osteoporosis Risk Increase For People With Rheumatic Disease?

Certain risk factors make it more likely that a patient will develop osteoporosis.

What Should People With Arthritis Be Doing To Prevent Osteoporosis?

What are the key factors which lead to osteoporosis? It is sometimes called a silent disease - how can people be aware of the clinical symptoms before fracture occurs? What should people be doing to prevent osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis and Men - Guide to Osteoporosis in Men

A majority of American men (wrongly) view osteoporosis solely as a woman's disease. Among men whose lifestyle habits put them at increased risk for osteoporosis, few recognize the disease as a significant threat to their mobility and independence.

Osteoporosis: Factors Affecting Peak Bone Mass

Given the knowledge that high peak bone density reduces osteoporosis risk later in life, it makes sense to pay more attention to those factors that affect peak bone mass.

Osteoporosis Pain - Osteoporosis: Coping With Chronic Pain

A two-part overview of pain relief options for osteoporosis. The fractures caused by osteoporosis can be very painful. Some people experience little or no pain, while others with osteoporosis suffer intense pain and muscle spasms that last long after a fracture has healed.

Bone Fractures - Americans Over 50 at Risk for Bone Fractures

The Surgeon General has warned that by 2020, half of all Americans older than 50 will be at risk for fractures from osteoporosis and low bone mass if no immediate action is taken. Osteoporosis and other bone diseases can lead to a downward spiral in physical health and quality of life. Bone disease can also lead to premature death.

Risk for Weak Bones - Are You at Risk for Weak Bones?

If you have any of these "red flags," you could be at high risk for weak bones.

Bone Up On Osteoporosis

Diagnostic tests are focusing on earlier detection of osteoporosis, a disease with symptoms which can remain hidden for years.

Top 5 Steps to Bone Health and Osteoporosis Prevention

The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) offers 5 steps which are important for preventing osteoporosis, when used in combination. It is never too early or too late to start your prevention program.

Osteoporosis Facts & Fiqures

A brief explanation and fast facts about osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis Prevention For Kids: A Guide for Parents

Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become less dense and prone to fractures. Osteoporosis has been called "a pediatric disease with geriatric consequences". Building healthy bones in childhood is important to help prevent osteoporosis and fractures later in life.

The Lupus–Osteoporosis Link

What people with lupus need to know about osteoporosis. People with lupus are at increased risk for osteoporosis for many reasons.

The Rheumatoid Arthritis-Osteoporosis Link

What people with rheumatoid arthritis need to know about osteoporosis. People with rheumatoid arthritis are at increased risk for osteoporosis for many reasons.

Osteoporosis Vs. Osteoarthritis: Similar Names, Different Conditions

Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis are two very different conditions with little in common, however, the similarity of their names causes confusion. While it's possible to have both osteoporosis and arthritis, studies show that people with osteoarthritis are less likely to develop osteoporosis. Whereas, people with rheumatoid arthritis may be more likely to develop osteoporosis.

Low Carb Diets and Osteoporosis

The Atkins Diet, the Zone, and the South Beach Diet have generated a lot of publicity, not all of which has been favorable. Low carb diets may have potential negative health consequences such as increasing the risk of osteoporosis, gout, and more.

An In-Depth Report: Osteoporosis

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis (Image)

The bone disease osteoporosis is caused by more bone cells being resorbed than formed.

Normal Vs. Osteoporotic Bone (Image)

Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by progressive loss of bone density, thinning of bone tissue and increased vulnerability to fractures. Osteoporosis may result from disease, dietary or hormonal deficiency or advanced age. Regular exercise and vitamin and mineral supplements can reduce and even reverse loss of bone density.

Osteoporosis - Deterioration of Vertebral Support (Image)

Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by progressive loss of bone density, thinning of bone tissue and increased vulnerability to fractures.

Can Drinking Soda Cause Osteoporosis?

Claims that drinking a lot of soda causes bone loss are fairly common. Should you feel like you are being bad to your bones when you enjoy a soda?

Bone-building exercise (Image)

Exercise plays an important role in the retention of bone density in the aging person. Studies show that exercises requiring muscles to pull on bones cause the bones to retain and possibly gain density.

Osteoporosis Overview (Illustrated)

Osteoporosis is the most common type of bone disease. There are currently an estimated 10 million Americans suffering from osteoporosis, as well as another 18 million who have low bone mass, or osteopenia. Osteoporosis occurs when the body fails to form enough new bone, or when too much old bone is reabsorbed by the body, or both.

Compression fractures of the back

In a compression fracture of the vertebrae, the bone tissue of the vertebral body collapses. More than one vertebra may be affected. This condition may be caused by osteoporosis (the most common cause), tumor, or trauma to the back. (Illustrated)

Hip fractures (Image)

Hip fractures occur as a result of major or minor trauma. In elderly patients with bones weakened by osteoporosis, relatively little trauma, even walking, may result in a hip fracture.

Acute vs. chronic conditions (Image)

Acute conditions are severe and sudden in onset. This could describe anything from a broken bone to an asthma attack. A chronic condition, by contrast is a long-developing syndrome, such as osteoporosis or asthma. Note that osteoporosis, a chronic condition, may cause a broken bone, an acute condition.

Scoliosis - Kyphoscoliosis

Scoliosis is a lateral (away from the middle) or sideways curvature of the spine. Kyphoscoliosis involves abnormal front-to-back curvature, with a "rounded back" appearance.

What You Need to Know About Steroid Drug-Induced Osteoporosis

Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis is both preventable and treatable. Glucocorticoids (steroids) are the most common cause of drug-induced osteoporosis.

What You Need To Know About Wrist Fractures (Broken Wrist)

Wrist fracture is the most common type of fracture before the age of 75. In women, the number of wrist fractures increases at menopause and plateaus after age 65. This increased incidence is most likely related to the rapid loss of bone in the years following menopause.

Kyphosis - Roundback - Hunchback

Kyphosis is a curving of the spine that causes a bowing of the back, which leads to a hunchback or slouching posture. In adults, kyphosis can be a result of osteoporotic compression fractures (fractures caused by osteoporosis), degenerative disease (such as arthritis), or spondylolisthesis (slipping of one vertebra forward on another).

Smoking and Osteoporosis: How Smoking Affects Osteoporosis

Many of the health problems caused by the use of tobacco are well known. Studies have also identified smoking as a risk factor for osteoporosis, bone loss and bone fractures.

Osteoporosis and Nutrition: The Role of Calcium and Other Nutrients

Nutrition is one of many factors that influence osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis Prevention: The Role of Calcium and Vitamin D

The foods we eat contain a variety of vitamins, minerals and other important nutrients that help keep our bodies healthy. Two nutrients in particular — calcium and vitamin D — are needed for strong bones.

Calcium Supplements - What You Should Look for in Calcium Supplements?

Calcium supplements are available without a prescription in a wide range of preparations and strengths, which can make selecting one a confusing experience. Many people ask which calcium supplement they should take. The “best” calcium supplements are those that meet your needs.

Do I Need a Bone Density Test?

A bone density test can tell your risk of osteoporosis.

Exercise and Osteoporosis: Staying Active Safely

Research indicates that exercise may not only help prevent osteoporosis, but may treat it as well, from MayoClinic.

NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center

The NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases ~ National Resource Center provides patients, health professionals, and the public with an important link to resources and information on metabolic bone diseases.

Osteoporosis - Patient Education

Osteoporosis is a common bone disease that affects both men and women, usually as they grow older. Fortunately, you can take steps to reduce your risk of developing osteoporosis and avoiding the often-debilitating bone fractures that can result from this disease. If you already have osteoporosis, new medications are available to slow or even stop its progression, from ACR.
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