Osteoporosis makes your bones weak and more likely to break. Anyone can develop osteoporosis, but it is common in older women. As many as half of all women and a quarter of men older than 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis.
Risk factors include
- Getting older
- Being small and thin
- Having a family history of osteoporosis
- Taking certain medicines
- Being a white or Asian woman
- Having osteopenia, which is low bone mass
Osteoporosis is a silent disease. You might not know you have it until you break a bone. A bone mineral density test is the best way to check your bone health. To keep bones strong, eat a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, exercise and do not smoke. If needed, medicines can also help.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
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Osteoporosis
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://nihseniorhealth.gov/osteoporosis/toc.html
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Osteoporosis
(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/osteoporosis/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/osteoporosisspanish/htm/index.htm -
Osteoporosis Overview
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/default.asp
- 2004 Surgeon General’s Report on Bone Health and Osteoporosis(Surgeon General) - Large PDF file - http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/bonehealth/docs/Osteo10sep04.pdf
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Bone Health for Life: Easy-to-Read Information for Patients and Families
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Bone_Health/bone_health_for_life.asp
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Handout on Health: Osteoporosis
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/osteoporosis_hoh.asp
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Osteoporosis(American College of Rheumatology) - http://www.rheumatology.org/public/factsheets/diseases_and_conditions/osteoporosis.asp?aud=pat
Also available in Spanish http://www.rheumatology.org/public/factsheets/diseases_and_conditions/osteoporosis-esp.asp?aud=pat
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What Is Osteoporosis?
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/osteoporosis_ff.asp
- Assisted Living Residents Face More Bone Risks(01/19/2009, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_73948.html
- Study Links Osteoporosis Drugs to Jaw Trouble(01/01/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_73404.html
- Osteoporosis Drug Prompts Increase in Certain Bone Cells(12/31/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_73363.html
- More News on Osteoporosis http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_o.html#osteoporosis
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Bone Densitometry
(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/bonedensitometry/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/bonedensitometryspanish/htm/index.htm - Bone Markers(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/bone_markers/glance.html
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Bone Mass Measurement: What the Numbers Mean
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Bone_Health/bone_mass_measure.asp
- Osteoporosis Tests(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00413
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Osteoporosis: The Diagnosis
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/diagnosis.asp
- Spine X-Ray(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/x-ray/hic_spine_x-ray.aspx
- What Is Your Risk for Osteoporosis?(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00126
- Kyphoplasty(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00388
- Osteoporosis Treatment Puts Brakes on Bone Loss(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/osteoporosis-treatment/WO00127/METHOD=print
- Osteoporosis Treatments That Help Prevent Broken Bones: A Guide for Women After Menopause(Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) - http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/healthInfo.cfm?infotype=sg&DocID=92&ProcessID=8
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Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=vertebro&bhcp=1
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=vertebro
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Vertebroplasty for Spine Fracture Pain(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/articles/748.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/articles/748.printerview.html
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Exercise for Your Bone Health
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Bone_Health/Exercise/default.asp
- National Osteoporosis Foundation's Updated Recommendations for Calcium and Vitamin D Intake(National Osteoporosis Foundation) - http://www.nof.org/prevention/calcium_and_VitaminD.htm
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Once Is Enough: A Guide to Preventing Future Fractures
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Fracture/default.asp
- Osteoporosis Prevention(National Osteoporosis Foundation) - http://www.nof.org/prevention/index.htm
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Phytoestrogens and Bone Health
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Menopause/bone_phyto.asp
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Red Clover
(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/redclover/
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Soy
(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/soy/
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Calcium and Vitamin D: Important at Every Age
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Bone_Health/Nutrition/default.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.niams.nih.gov/Portal_En_Espanol/Informacion_de_Salud/Huesos/Salud_Hueso/default.asp -
Calcium Intake Tools
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Bone_Health/Nutrition/calcium_intake.asp
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Calcium Supplements: What to Look for
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Bone_Health/Nutrition/calcium_supp.asp
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Other Nutrients and Bone Health at a Glance
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Bone_Health/Nutrition/other_nutrients.asp
- Exercising with Osteoporosis: Stay Active the Safe Way(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/osteoporosis/HQ00643/METHOD=print
- How Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Physicians Use Exercise to Prevent and Treat Osteoporosis(American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation) - http://www.aapmr.org/condtreat/other/osteotreat.htm
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Osteoporosis: Coping with Chronic Pain
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/pain.asp
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Bed Rest and Immobilization: Risk Factors for Bone Loss
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Conditions_Behaviors/bed_rest.asp
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For People with Osteoporosis: How to Find a Doctor
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/find_doctor.asp
- Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis(American College of Rheumatology) - http://www.rheumatology.org/public/factsheets/diseases_and_conditions/gi-osteoporosis.asp?aud=pat
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Oral Health and Bone Disease
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Bone_Health/Oral_Health/default.asp
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Osteoporosis and Arthritis: Two Common but Different Conditions
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Conditions_Behaviors/osteoporosis_arthritis.asp
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Smoking and Bone Health
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Conditions_Behaviors/Bone_smoking.asp
- Stress Fractures(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/stress-fractures/DS00556/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Transient Osteoporosis of the Hip(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00205
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What Are Osteoporosis and Arthritis and How Are They Different?
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Conditions_Behaviors/osteoporosis_arthritis_ff.asp
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What Breast Cancer Survivors Need to Know about Osteoporosis
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Conditions_Behaviors/osteoporosis_breast_cancer.asp
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What People Recovering from Alcoholism Need to Know about Osteoporosis
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/bone/Osteoporosis/Conditions_Behaviors/default.asp
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What People with Anorexia Nervosa Need to Know about Osteoporosis
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Conditions_Behaviors/anorexia_nervosa.asp
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What People with Asthma Need to Know about Osteoporosis
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Conditions_Behaviors/asthma.asp
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What People with Celiac Disease Need to Know about Osteoporosis
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Conditions_Behaviors/celiac.asp
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What People with Diabetes Need to Know about Osteoporosis
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Conditions_Behaviors/diabetes.asp
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What People with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Need to Know about Osteoporosis
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Conditions_Behaviors/inflammatory_bowel.asp
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What People with Lactose Intolerance Need to Know about Osteoporosis
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Conditions_Behaviors/lactose_intolerance.asp
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What People with Lupus Need to Know about Osteoporosis
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Conditions_Behaviors/osteoporosis_lupus.asp
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What People with Osteogenesis Imperfecta Need to Know about Osteoporosis
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteogenesis_Imperfecta/about_osteoporosis.asp
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What People with Rheumatoid Arthritis Need to Know about Osteoporosis
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Conditions_Behaviors/osteoporosis_ra.asp
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What Prostate Cancer Survivors Need to Know about Osteoporosis
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Conditions_Behaviors/osteoporosis_prostate_cancer.asp
- Image of Normal/Osteoporotic Bone(International Osteoporosis Foundation) - http://www.iofbonehealth.org/newsroom/resources/image-normal-osteoporotic-bone.html
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Check Up On Your Bones
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Optool/index.asp
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Osteoporosis Risk Questionnaire(Siteman Cancer Center) - http://www.yourdiseaserisk.siteman.wustl.edu/hccpquiz.pl?lang=english&func=start&quiz=osteoporosis
Also available in Spanish http://www.yourdiseaserisk.wustl.edu/hccpquiz.pl?lang=spanish&func=start&quiz=osteoporosis
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Bone Densitometry(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/bonedensitometry/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/bonedensitometryspanish/htm/index.htm
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Osteoporosis
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://nihseniorhealth.gov/osteoporosis/toc.html
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Osteoporosis(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/osteoporosis/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/osteoporosisspanish/htm/index.htm
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Kyphoplasty for Vertebral Compression Fractures(OR-Live) - One hour program - 4/19/2007 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=426
- Percutaneous Vertebroplasty(OR-Live) - One hour program - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=308
- Powerful Girls Have Powerful Bones(Dept. of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health) - http://www.girlshealth.gov/bones/
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What Is Bone?
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Bone_Health/default.asp
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Bone Diseases
(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Bone+Diseases%22
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Osteoporosis
(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Osteoporosis%22
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Drug Therapy for Osteoporosis(American College of Physicians) - Links to PDF - http://www.annals.org/cgi/reprint/148/9/I-28.pdf
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Drug Treatment for Low Bone Density or Osteoporosis to Prevent Fractures: A Clinical Practice Guideline(American College of Physicians) - Links to PDF - http://www.annals.org/cgi/reprint/149/6/I-46.pdf
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Scientists Examine Peak Bone Mass Timing and Body Fat Related to Bone
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/News_and_Events/Spotlight_on_Research/2007/pediatric_bone_health.asp
- Simple Ultrasound Exam May Predict Osteoporosis Risk(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/news/target.cfm?ID=351
- Article: Treating osteoporotic fractures of the spine. Several options, from pills... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19125453&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: I'm a 65 year old woman who was recently diagnosed... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19123259&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: New osteoporosis guidelines for men. Six out of every 100... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19119506&tool=MedlinePlus
- Osteoporosis -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=osteoporosis[majr]+NOT+(osteoporosis/th[majr]+OR+osteoporosis/pc[majr])+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+AND+(patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Prevention and treatment of osteoporosis -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(osteoporosis/th[majr]+OR+osteoporosis/pc[majr])+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+systematic[sb])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- International Osteoporosis Foundation - http://www.iofbonehealth.org/
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National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
- http://www.niams.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.niams.nih.gov/Portal_En_Espanol/ -
National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases~National Resource Center
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/
- National Osteoporosis Foundation - http://www.nof.org/
- Fast Facts on Osteoporosis(National Osteoporosis Foundation) - http://www.nof.org/osteoporosis/diseasefacts.htm
- Osteoporosis and Its Impact(International Osteoporosis Foundation) - http://www.iofbonehealth.org/health-professionals/about-osteoporosis/impact.html
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Juvenile Osteoporosis
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Bone_Health/Juvenile/juvenile_osteoporosis.asp
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Kids and Their Bones: A Guide for Parents
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Bone_Health/Juvenile/default.asp
- Osteoporosis(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/grownup/conditions/osteoporosis.html
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Tweens and Teens Need Calcium Now More Than Ever!
(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/milk/milk.cfm
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Bone Health
(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/bone_health.cfm
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Increasing Physical Activity for Better Bone Health
(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/milk/can/physical.cfm
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Milk and Bone Health
(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/milk_bone_health.cfm
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Men Can Get Osteoporosis Too
(National Institutes of Health) - http://www.nih.gov/news/WordonHealth/apr2004/osteomen.htm
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Osteoporosis in Men
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/men.asp
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Screening for Osteoporosis in Men(American College of Physicians) - Links to PDF - http://www.annals.org/cgi/reprint/148/9/I-35.pdf
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Bone Health and Osteoporosis: A Guide for Asian Women Aged 50 and Older
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Background/asian_women_guide.asp
- Fashion Tips for Women with Osteoporosis(National Osteoporosis Foundation) - http://www.nof.org/patientinfo/fashion_tips.htm
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Fitness & Bone Health for Women: The Skeletal Risk of Overtraining
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Bone_Health/Exercise/fitness_bonehealth.asp
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Osteoporosis and African American Women
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Background/default.asp
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Osteoporosis and Asian American Women
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Background/asian_american_women.asp
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Osteoporosis and Hispanic Women
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Background/hispanic_women.asp
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Osteoporosis in Women: Keeping Your Bones Healthy and Strong(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/seniors/common-older/136.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/seniors/common-older/136.printerview.html
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Osteoporosis: Peak Bone Mass in Women
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/bone_mass.asp
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Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, and Bone Health
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) - http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Bone_Health/Pregnancy/default.asp
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Osteoporosis: The Bone Thief
(National Institute on Aging) - http://www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/osteoporosis.htm
- Special Considerations in the Very Elderly(International Osteoporosis Foundation) - http://www.iofbonehealth.org/patients-public/more-topics/special-considerations-in-the-very-elderly.html
- Calcium - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/calcium.html
- Fractures - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/fractures.html
- Bones, Joints and Muscles - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bonesjointsandmuscles.html
- Seniors - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/seniors.html
- Women - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/women.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Osteoporosis is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases - http://www.niams.nih.gov/
Osteoporosis - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/osteoporosis.html