Osteoporosis

Fractures
If more pressure is put on a bone than it can stand, it will split or break. A break of any size is called a fracture. If the broken bone punctures the skin, it is called an open fracture (compound fracture. A stress fracture is a hairline crack i...  More »
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Neck Pain
Neck pain may begin in any of the structures in the neck. These include muscles and nerves as well as spinal vertebrae and the cushioning disks in between. Neck pain may also come from regions near the neck, like the shoulder, jaw, head, and upper...  More »
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Low Back Pain
Pain felt in your lower back may come from the spine, muscles, nerves, or other nearby structures. It may also be due to problems in your mid or upper back, the testicles or ovaries, or a hernia in the groin.  More »
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Bone Pain
Bone pain represents one of the most debilitating side effects of the metastases of high-incidence cancers such as breast, prostate, lung, and multiple myeloma (myelomatosis). Severe bone pain is frequent, reported by greater than 65% of patients ...  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer

Spontaneous Fractures
Osteomalacia is softening of the bones due to a lack of vitamin D or a problem with the body's ability to break down and use this vitamin.  More »
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Low Bone Mass
Osteopenia is defined as the stage of low bone density that precedes osteoporosis . At this stage, bone density is below average but not as low as occurs with osteoporosis. The World Health Organization formed a committee in 1994 to define osteopo...  More »
Gale Nutrition and Well-Being A to Z

Aging
Starting at what is commonly called middle age, operations of the human body begin to be more vulnerable to daily wear and tear; there is a general decline in physical, and possibly mental, functioning. In the Western countries, the length of life...  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine

Premature Menopause
The average age at which American women go through menopause is 51 years. If menopause (hormonal changes at the end of the female reproductive years) occurs before age 40, it is said to be premature menopause. Possible causes include autoimmune pr...  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine

SSRI antidepressants
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are medicines that relieve symptoms of depression.  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine

Smoking
Smoking is the inhalation of the smoke of burning tobacco encased in cigarettes, pipes, and cigars. Casual smoking is the act of smoking only occasionally, usually in a social situation or to relieve stress . A smoking habit is a physical addictio...  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine

History and Physical Exam
During a physical examination, a health care provider studies a patient's body to determine the presence or absence of physical problems. A typical physical examination includes: Inspection (looking at the body; Palpation (feeling the body with ha...  More »
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Dual Energy X-Ray Photon Absorptiometry (DEXA) Bone Scanning
Computer read-out of a bone density scan. ( Photo Researchers . Reproduced by permission.)  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine

Skeletal X-ray
A skeletal x-ray is an imaging test used to detect fractures, tumors, or conditions that cause wearing away (degeneration) of the bone.  More »
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Whole Body Bone Imaging
A bone scan is an imaging test that shows areas of increased or decreased bone turnover (metabolism.  More »
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Bone Scan
A bone scan is an imaging test that shows areas of increased or decreased bone turnover (metabolism.  More »
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Maintain Adequate Calcium Intake
Calcium is the most plentiful mineral found in the human body. The teeth and bones contain the most calcium (about 99. Nerve cells, body tissues, blood, and other body fluids contain the remaining calcium.  More »
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Physical Therapy
Physical therapists provide services to restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain , and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities among those suffering from injuries, disabilities, or disease.  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health

Pain Management
Pain management in cancer care encompasses all the actions taken to keep people with cancer as free of pain as possible. It includes pharmacological, psychological, and spiritual approaches to prevent, reduce, or stop pain sensations.  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer

Smoking Cessation
Smoking prevalence has been declining in countries such as the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, but these declines are matched by increasing rates in most other countries. The Healthy People 2010 goal in the United States ...  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Public Health

Estradiol
ESTRADIOL (es tra DYE ole) is an estrogen. It is mostly used as hormone replacement in menopausal women. It helps to treat hot flashes and prevent osteoporosis. It is also used to treat women with low estrogen levels or those who have had their ov...  More »
GOLD

Calcium Pantothenate
The Romans used lime (calcium oxide), clacked lime (calcium hydroxide), and hydraulic cement in construction works. Calcium (Latin calx , meaning "lime") was first isolated in its metallic form by Sir Humphrey Davy in 1808 through the electrolysis...  More »
NaturalStandard

Raloxifene
RALOXIFENE (ral OX i feen) reduces the amount of calcium lost from bones. It is used to treat and prevent osteoporosis in women who have experienced menopause.  More »
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Cholecalciferol
Vitamin D is found in many dietary sources such as fish, eggs, fortified milk, and cod liver oil. The sun also contributes significantly to the daily production of vitamin D, and as little as 10 minutes of exposure is thought to be enough to preve...  More »
NaturalStandard

Calcium carbonate
CALCIUM CARBONATE (KAL see um KAR bon ate) is a calcium salt. It is used as an antacid to relieve the symptoms of indigestion and heartburn. It is also used to prevent osteoporosis, as a calcium supplement, and to treat high phosphate levels in pa...  More »
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Tai Chi
Tai chi is a system of movements and positions believed to have developed in 12th Century China. Tai chi techniques aim to address the body and mind as an interconnected system and are traditionally believed to have mental and physical health bene...  More »
NaturalStandard

Compression Fracture of the Back
Compression fractures of the back are broken vertebrae, which are the bones of the spine.  More »
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Fracture of Wrist
Colles' fracture is a break across the end of the main bone of the forearm (the radius. A Colles' fracture results in a backward and outward position of the hand in relation to the forearm.  More »
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Smoking Cessation
There are a lot of ways to quit smoking and many resources to help you. Family members, friends, and coworkers may be supportive or encouraging, but the desire and commitment to quit must be your own. Most people who have been able to successfully...  More »
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Regular Exercise
Tips for losing weight with exercise  More »
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Vitamin D Supplementation
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that helps the body absorb calcium. Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the body's fatty tissue.  More »
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Eat a Balanced Diet
A balanced diet means getting the right types and amounts of foods and drinks to supply nutrition and energy for maintaining body cells, tissues, and organs, and for supporting normal growth and development.  More »
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Estrogen Replacement Therapy
Hormone therapy (HT) is a medical treatment with a medication containing one or more female hormones, commonly estrogen plus progestin (synthetic progesterone), and sometimes testosterone. Some women, usually those who have had their uterus remove...  More »
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