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.

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