Osteoporosis
Medical Author: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Medical Editor: Dennis Lee, MD
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Are All Calcium Supplements the Same?
Author:
Betty Kovacs, MS, RD
Medical Editor: William
C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
 A Viewer Asks: I've heard that not all calcium supplements are the same. Which over-the-counter vitamins or minerals help build bones? Which brands or types are better than others?
Expert Answer: You heard right, not all calcium supplements are the same. The supplements will differ by the kinds of calcium that they contain, the amount that they contain, and any thing else that is added to them (other minerals or vitamins). Along with that, there are other factors that will
affect how much of the calcium you will actually absorb, including medications that you are taking, your age, your vitamin D levels, the amount of calcium that you are taking and if you are pregnant. If you have any concerns over any of these, it would be best to speak with your physician before taking anything.
The most common forms of calcium in supplements are calcium carbonate and calcium citrate. The differences between the two are...
Top Searched Osteoporosis Terms:
risk factors,
diet,
age,
prevention,
drugs,
osteopenia,
men,
nutrition,
menopause,
weight-bearing exercise,
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What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by the loss of the
normal density of bone, resulting in fragile bone. Osteoporosis leads to literally
abnormally porous bone that is more compressible like a sponge, than dense like
a brick. This disorder of the skeleton weakens the bone causing an increase
in the risk for breaking bones (bone fracture). Normal bone is composed of
protein, collagen, and calcium all of which give bone its strength. Bones that are affected by osteoporosis can break
(fracture) with relatively minor injury
that normally would not cause a bone fracture. The fracture can be either in the
form of cracking (as in a hip fracture), or
collapsing (as in a compression
fracture of the vertebrae of the
spine). The spine, hips, and wrists are common areas of
bone fractures from osteoporosis, although osteoporosis-related fractures can also occur in almost
any skeletal bone.
What are the symptoms of osteoporosis?
The osteoporosis condition can be present without any symptoms for decades, because
osteoporosis doesn't cause symptoms unless bone fractures. Some osteoporosis
fractures may escape detection until years later. Therefore, patients may not be
aware of their osteoporosis until they suffer a painful fracture. Then the
symptoms are related to the location of the fractures.
Fractures of the spine
(vertebra) can cause
severe "band-like" pain that radiates around from the back to the side of the
body. Over the years, repeated spine fractures can cause chronic lower back pain
as well as loss of height or curving of the spine, which gives
the individual a hunched-back appearance of the upper back, often called a "dowager hump."
A fracture that occurs during the course of normal
activity is called a minimal trauma fracture or stress fracture. For example, some patients with
osteoporosis develop stress fractures of the feet while walking or stepping off a curb.
Hip fractures
typically occur as a result of a fall. With osteoporosis, hip fractures can
occur as a result of trivial accidents. Hip fractures may also be difficult to
heal after surgical repair because of poor bone quality.
Next: What are the consequences of osteoporosis? »
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There is credible information available to women not only on such problems as eating
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