Facts and advice to help people understand and prevent osteoporosisThere are an estimated 55 million Americans over the age of 50 who have low bone mass. This easy-to-understand guide helps readers assess their risk and find a practical approach to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of osteoporosis. It covers bone density tests and a wide range of treatment options for osteoporosis-from hormone replacement therapy and acupuncture to calcium-rich foods, supplements, and exercise-and offers pointers on preventing broken hips and other common fractures.

Introduction.Part I: Understanding Your Bones.Chapter 1: Boning Up on Osteoporosis.Chapter 2: Loving the Living Tissue Called Bone.Chapter 3: Breaking Down the Risk Factors.Chapter 4: Men and Kids Get Osteoporosis, Too.Part II: Keeping Your Bones Healthy.Chapter 5: Eating Right for Good Bones.Chapter 6: Exercising for Strong Bones.Part III: Diagnosing and Treating Osteoporosis.Chapter 7: Facing the Consequences of Bones Gone Bad.Chapter 8: Finding (and Paying For) a Doctor to Treat Osteoporosis.Chapter 9: Testing Your Bones.Chapter 10: Taking Prescription Drugs for Osteoporosis.Chapter 11: Keeping Bones Strong withOver-the-Counter Supplements.Chapter 12: Managing Pain from Osteoporosis.Chapter 13: Recovering from a Fracture When You Have Osteoporosis.Chapter 14: Focusing on the Future of Osteoporosis.Part IV: The Part of Tens.Chapter 15: Ten Surprising Sources of Calcium.Chapter 16: Ten Things You Need to Know about Bones.Chapter 17: Ten Resources for Finding Out More about Osteoporosis.Chapter 18: Top Ten Questions Dr. O'Connor's Patients Ask about Osteoporosis.Chapter 19: Ten (Or So) Parenting Tips to Build Strong Bones.Appendix: Reviewing Osteoporosis Programs State by State.Glossary.Index.