Osteoporosis

3 Firms to Sell Ibandronate, Once-Monthly Osteoporosis Pill By Daniel J. DeNoon Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD March 19, 2012 -- Three generic drugmakers may now sell their own versions of t...

Drug-Delivery Microchip Could Replace Daily Injections

In a Small Study, Patients Preferred Microchip Over Daily Injections, and Most Had No Unwanted Side Effects By Salynn Boyles Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD Feb. 16, 2012 -- An experimental,...

Osteoporosis Medication Linked to Unusual Thigh Fractures

Experts Recommend Taking a 'Holiday' From Bisphosphonates to Prevent Broken Bones By Laird Harrison Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD Feb. 8, 2012 -- Some drugs used to strengthen bones may in...

Bone Density at Age 67 May Predict Later Bone Health

Women With Normal Bone Density at 67 May Not Need Repeat Test for 15 Years, Researchers Say By Kathleen Doheny Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD Jan. 18, 2012 -- Women with normal or nearly ...

Osteoporosis Drugs (Osteoporosis)

Medicines are used to both prevent and treat osteoporosis. Some medicines slow the rate of bone loss or increase bone thickness. Even small amounts of new bone growth can reduce your risk of broken bones. If you take medicine for ...

Bone Disease (Osteoporosis)

What is Paget's disease? Paget's disease is a long-lasting (chronic) condition that causes abnormal bone growth. Bone is constantly being replaced as bone tissue is broken down and absorbed into the body, then rebuilt with ne...

Diet and Osteoporosis (Osteoporosis)

Nutrition and osteoporosis are closely linked. If you're not getting the right nutrients, whether in your diet or through supplements, you're putting yourself at greater risk for osteoporosis. But just what nutrients should you be getting to help fig...

Osteoporosis: Resources (Osteoporosis)

Related Web Site: National Osteoporosis Foundation The National Osteoporosis Foundation, founded in 1984, is solely dedicated to osteoporosis and bone health. This link will take you to its web site. National Osteoporosis Foundati...

Personal Stories (Osteoporosis)

The actress known for playing strong women tells of her battle against a bone-thinning disease. Feature Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD Actress Sally Field always thought of herself as a strong wom...

Prevent Falls (Osteoporosis)

Preventing falls is a special concern for men and women with osteoporosis. Falls can increase the likelihood of fracturing a bone in the hip, wrist, spine, or other part of the skeleton. In addition to the environmental factors listed below, falls ca...

Hip Protectors (Osteoporosis)

Prevention of hip fractures in elderly persons with osteoporosis The FDA has approved hip protector garments for the prevention of hip fractures in elderly persons with known osteoporosis. Brand names available include Hipsaver and Safehip. Thes...

Preventing Bone Fractures (Osteoporosis)

What Can I Do to Protect Myself From Fractures if I Have Osteoporosis? If you have osteoporosis, it is important to protect yourself against accidental falls, which may result in fractures. Take the following precautions to make your home safe: ...

Living and Coping (Osteoporosis)

What is osteoporosis? Osteoporosis (oss-tee-oh-puh-ro-sis) is a condition that means your bones are weak, and you’re more likely to break a bone. Since there are no symptoms, you might not know your bones are getting weaker until you break a ...

How Often Should You Get a Bone Mineral Density Test? (Osteoporosis)

This question sounds like it should have an easy answer. After all, a person taking blood pressure medication certainly checks blood pressure readings to adjust the dose of the medicine, right? Unfortunately, repeating bone mineral density tests (cal...

Do You Need a Specialist for Osteoporosis? (Osteoporosis)

Isabel Johnson, age 64 years old, picked up a brochure on osteoporosis at her local pharmacy. What she read about the “silent disease” concerned her. She learned that she had several of the risk factors: she had gone through menopause at an early...

Monitoring Osteoporosis Therapy (Osteoporosis)

The controversy of bone density testing in patients already taking osteoporosis medication The American Medical Association and other reputable medical organizations have determined that repeat bone density testing (DXA scans) is NOT indicated i...

Care (Osteoporosis)

Are you concerned about bone fractures but feel unsure about what questions to ask your doctor about osteoporosis? Do you have a mother or sister who’s had a hip or spinal fracture? If so, you certainly have reason to be concerned. Even if ost...

Fosamax and Jaw Problems: Osteonecrosis (Osteoporosis)

Researchers Report Cases of Osteonecrosis of Jaw in Patients Who Had Teeth Pulled By Salynn Boyles Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD Oct. 3, 2005 -- Millions of people treated for bone diseases...

Strontium Treatment for Osteoporosis (Osteoporosis)

If you are concerned about the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis, one treatment you may have heard of and considered is strontium. takes a look at the potential benefits and risks of this supplement purported to improve bone health. What Is St...

Osteoporosis Exercise (Osteoporosis)

At any age, exercise is essential for maintaining healthy bones. If you exercised regularly as a child and young adult, you probably helped maximize your bone production, most of which occurs by age 35. If you continued to exercise into middle age an...

Osteopenia Treatment (Osteoporosis)

Osteopenia is a term used to describe bone density that is somewhat lower than normal but not low enough to be diagnosed as osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition in which thinning bones become so fragile that they are prone to fracture easily. A ...

Treatment (Osteoporosis)

Because osteoporosis is difficult to reverse, prevention is the key to treatment. Calcium is the cornerstone of treatment. To help with the absorption of the calcium, vitamin D is needed. A regular exercise program -- including mus...

Who Should Get Bone Density Testing? (Osteoporosis)

Wonder if it's time for you to have a bone density test? Bone density tests (also called bone mineral density tests or bone scans) evaluate the strength of your bones by measuring a small part of one or a few bones. Knowing the strength of your bones...

Know Your Osteoporosis Blood Test Markers (Osteoporosis)

No matter which osteoporosis drug your doctor chooses for you, it's helpful to know as much as possible about how the disease has affected you. One way to tell is to ask about your "markers." When you're being treated for osteoporosis, your doct...

Tests (Osteoporosis)

How is BMD measured? Dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the preferred technique for measuring BMD. [DXA has also been called dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, or DEXA.] DXA is relatively easy to perform and the amount of radiation exposure is lo...

Beyond DEXA: Other Bone Mineral Density Tests (Osteoporosis)

What are other methods of measuring BMD? There are small DXA scanners called peripheral DXA machines. Regular DXA machines have a standard reference (called NHANES III) that can be used for all machines no matter the manufacturer. However, peri...

Peak Bone Mass (Osteoporosis)

Bones are the framework for your body. Bone is living tissue that changes constantly, with bits of old bone being removed and replaced by new bone. You can think of bone as a bank account, where you make “deposits” and “withdrawals” of bone t...

Diagnosis (Osteoporosis)

What is "bone mineral density" (BMD)? Bone mineral density (BMD) testing generally correlates with bone strength and is used to diagnose osteoporosis. The BMD is measured with a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry ...

Complications (Osteoporosis)

Osteoporosis is often called the "silent disease." That's because most of the time, bone loss occurs without any symptoms at all. But when osteoporosis becomes severe, it can lead to fractures and a condition called kyphosis. Kyphosis is spinal compr...

Types (Osteoporosis)

Osteoporosis is a disease that causes a decrease in bone mass, putting you at risk for broken bone. Most cases of osteoporosis show up in adult postmenopausal women. However, it is possible for children and teens to develop juvenile osteoporosis....