Part 1. Bone health basics
Building perfect bones : timing is everything
Fracture facts : one tough break leads to another
Challenges and choices : what you can and cannot change
The bone cycle : cruise control and overdrive
part 2. Assessment of bone health
General evaluation : visiting with your doctor
Bone density scan : DXA 101
Other measurements : the alphabet soup of imaging
Bone turnover markers : dynamic assessment
Monitoring with follow-up DXAs : not one and done
Part 3. General measures for bone health
Exercise : on your mark, get set, go!
Fall prevention : fall-proof yourself and your home
Nutrition : take a bite out of your facture risk
Calcium : it is essential
Vitamin D : are you getting enough of the sunshine vitamin?
Part 4. Therapies for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis
Fosamax (and generic alendronate) : the first kid on the block
Boniva : "the Sally Field drug"
Reclast : just once a year
Estrogens : effects on bone
Evista : the designer estrogen or "SERM"
Calcitonin : Miacalcin, Fortical : the nasal sprays
Foreto : a different approach
Prolia : in a class of its own
Combination therapy : are two really better than one?
Making a choice : how do the medicines compare?
Off-label uses : what else is being treated?
Hot topics : cocktail party conversations
Novel medicines : what is in the pipeline?
Investigational SERMs : a promise of an ideal estrogen
Other medicines : available elsewhere but not in the United States
Fosteum : a food product by prescription
Strontium citrate : is it the same as Ranelate?
Natural products : still more questions to be answered
Vibration therapy : good, good, good, good vibrations
Physical measures : integrating movement
New spine fractures : ways to cement a recovery
Hip fracture : what to expect
How do you monitor your progress?
Living and coping with "osteopenia" and osteoporosis
Expert medical advice : asking the right questions
Part 5. The bone connection with common problems and medicines
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Menstrual problems : no periods and endometriosis
Eating disorders : anorexia and bulimia
Intestinal problems : celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease
Weight loss, including surgery for weight loss (gastric bypass)
Heartburn and reflux : "GERD"
Long-term care setting : assisted living and nursing facilities
Putting it all together : tips for the whole family
Bone health shopping list
Big words : medical terms broken down
Internet resources : click on it.