Osteoporosis Sourcebook, Third Edition

Many people think of bones as simple, solid structures that make up the skeletal system. In truth, bones are complex, living tissues that go through a constant process of building up and tearing down. This process, called "bone remodeling," rebuilds the bones as people grow and age. One of the main components of bone is calcium. The skeletal system contains 99 percent of the body's calcium. In osteoporosis, which means "porous bones," excessive bone loss results in a depletion of calcium. The gradual weakening of the bones over time makes them more susceptible to fractures and can lead to disfigurement and pain. Since the loss occurs over time, the effect may not be noticed until substantial bone loss has occurred, often signaled by an unexpected fracture. Osteoporosis cannot be detected by x-ray until the bone loss has reached 30-50 percent of bone mass, by which time the calcium depletion cannot be reversed. Because of this, prevention and early diagnosis are critical. Osteoporosis Sourcebook, Third Edition offers information to help readers identify key risk factors for osteoporosis and understand effective prevention strategies. Osteoporosis across various ages and genders is discussed in detail and information about the health conditions related to osteoporosis is also provided. It offers insights on calcium intake, other dietary needs, medications, and surgical options. It also suggests coping strategies for those suffering from the disease. The book concludes with a glossary of related terms and a directory of resources. Part 1: Osteoporosis: An Overview begins with an introduction to osteoporosis gives a brief insight basic structure and functions of the bone and highlights the factors that influence/affect bone health. It also distinguishes osteoporosis from arthritis and emphasizes the importance of proper diagnosis. Part 2: Osteoporosis across Age and Gender outlines the impact of osteoporosis on various segments of the population such as women, children, men, and older adults. Part 3: Osteoporosis and Related Conditions provides information about diseases and conditions that lead to or aggravate osteoporosis or that have symptoms similar to those produced by osteoporosis. The conditions include dripping fibrous dysplasia, Gaucher disease, otosclerosis, hypercalcemia, hypocalcemia, hyperparathyroidism, hypophosphatasia, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), multiple myeloma, oral health, osteopetrosis, osteogenesis imperfecta, and Paget disease. Part 4: Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies discusses in detail about the factors that lead to osteoporosis and suggests healthy life-style choices to minimize those factors. Part 5: Diagnosing and Treating Osteoporosis traces the process of diagnosing osteoporosis as early as possible and treating the condition effectively. It reviews the various options in drug and surgical therapies. It also highlights some of the complementary and alternative medicines available for osteoporosis. Part 6: Living with Osteoporosis deals with the impact to osteoporosis on an individual. It explains how lifestyle changes can help patients with osteoporosis lead a healthy life. The part also deals with the strategies to cope up with the chronic pain caused by the disease. Part 7: Additional Help and Information provides a glossary of osteoporosis-related terminology and a list of resources for patients with osteoporosis or related conditions.