Osteoporosis Center - Harlingen, TX
Harlingen Internist Doctors for OsteoporosisType of Physician: Internist What is a Internist? A certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners provide long-term, comprehensive care in the office and the hospital, managing both common illnesses and complex problems for adolescents, adults, and the elderly. General internists are trained in primary care internal medicine, which incorporates an understanding of disease prevention, wellness, substance abuse, mental health and treatment of problems of the eyes, ears, skin, nervous system and reproductive organs. All internists are trained in the subspecialty areas of internal medicine including emergency internal medicine and critical care. Internists consult with surgeons when surgical management is indicated, and often act as consultants to other specialists. Specialty: Internal Medicine Common Name: Internist Doctors in Harlingen * Valley Baptist Medical Center Internal Medicine  Roberto J Vieto MD  Clinica Familia  Su Clinica Familiar  Su Clinica Familiar  Valley Diagnostic Clinic PA  Internal Medicine Assoc  Internal Medicine Assoc  Su Clinica Familiar  Alfredo Garcia MD  Rio Grande Medicine  Heart Institute of Brownsville  Heart Institute of Brownsville  Ricardo Adames MD  Roberto Ponce MD  Julio A Savinon MD  Eduardo Peguero MD  Pulmonary and Sleep Center of the Valley  Dionisio B Calvo MD  John J Dominguez MD  Gabriel Gonzalez MD  Pedro E McDougal MD  Robert Pardo MD & Associates  Robert Sepulveda MD  Leticia M Volpe MD  George Cantu MD  Daniel Malasko MD  Subramaniam S Anandasivam MD  Subramaniam S Anandasivam MD  Medical Associates of Brownsville  Christopher R Gill MD  Delta Medical Clinic  Juan Martinez MD  Brownsville Professional Medicine  The Heart & Vascular Clinic  Valley Doctors Clinic  Valley Doctors Clinic  Valley Doctors Clinic  Robert Lekach MD  Valley Doctors Clinic  Sundeep G Reddy MD  Marcos Reis MD  Elsa Mendoza MD  Jose F Pena MD  Michael A Flores MD  Brownsville Community Health Center  Brownsville Community Health Center  Brownsville Community Health Center  Brownsville Community Health Center  Brownsville Community Health Center  Miguel A Molinas MD PA  Luis F Morales MD PA  Nelson A Mata MD  Monzer H Yazji MD & Associates PA  Raul A Martinez MD  E L Villarreal MD  Monzer H Yazji MD & Associates PA  Alberto H Gutierrez MD  Jaime Hernandez MD & Omar Gomez MD  Jaime Hernandez MD & Omar Gomez MD  Maximiliano Hernandez MD  Manuel Mercado MD  Crosspoint Medical Clinic  SOCRATES A GARRIGOS, MD, PA  Carlos C Vela MD PLLC  Homero Salinas MD  Cooper Internal Medicine  Juan J Salazar MD  Encarnacion Rodriguez MD  Alvaro M Giraldo MD  Charles J Hines MD & Robert D Martinez MD  Savita Koolwal MD  Charles J Hines MD & Robert D Martinez MD  Infectious Disease Specialists  McAllen Primary Care Clinic  Pedro M Arrazola MD  Luis P Bay MD PA  Carlos I Moreno MD & Jorge Martinez MD  William Restrepo MD  Prakash Palimar MD  Tavarez Medical Center  Tavarez Medical Center  Harish Koolwal MD  Family Practice Center  Family Practice Center  Angel L Claudio MD  Sathiyaraj George MD Valley Internal Medicine  Hinojosa Diagnositc Clinic  Sathiyaraj George MD Valley Internal Medicine  Sathiyaraj George MD Valley Internal Medicine  Sathiyaraj George MD Valley Internal Medicine  Marcel B Twahirwa MD  Marlene Chang-Brown MD  Nelson R Kalaf MD  Francisco C Rugama MD  Valley Emergency Medical Services  Alcides N Amador MD  Luis Arango MD  Castrillon Family Clinic  Mission Internal Medicine Harlingen, TexasUpcoming Local Events2012-06-17
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OsteoporosisRead the Osteoporosis article » What is osteoporosis?Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by a decrease in the density of bone, decreasing its strength and resulting in fragile bones. Osteoporosis literally leads to abnormally porous bone that is compressible, like a sponge. This disorder of the skeleton weakens the bone and results in frequent fractures (breaks) in the bones. 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 to 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, ribs, and wrists are common areas of bone fractures from osteoporosis although osteoporosis-related fractures can occur in almost any skeletal bone.
What are the symptoms of osteoporosis?Osteoporosis can be present without any symptoms for decades because osteoporosis doesn't cause symptoms until bone fractures. Moreover, some osteoporotic fractures may escape detection for years when they do not cause symptoms. Therefore, patients may not be aware of their osteoporosis until they suffer a painful fracture. The symptom associated with osteoporotic fractures usually is pain; the location of the pain depends on the location of the fracture. Fractures of the spine (vertebra) can cause severe "band-like" pain that radiates from the back to the sides of the body. Over the years, repeated spinal fractures can lead to chronic lower back pain as well as loss of height or curving of the spine due to collapse of the vertebrae. The collapse gives individuals a hunched-back appearance of the upper back, often called a "dowager hump" because it commonly is seen in elderly women. A fracture that occurs during the course of normal activity is called a mini... Recommended Reading Related to OsteoporosisHeart attack facts
Other Related Osteoporosis ArticlesEmergency Contact for Harlingen
Nearby Harlingen Hospitals *Valley Baptist Medical Center Harlingen Medical Center Brownsville Doctors Hospital Knapp Medical Center Valley Regional Medical Center Valley Baptist Medical Center Brownsville Cornerstone Regional Hospital Edinburg Regional Medical Center LifeCare Hospitals of South Texas McAllen Campus North Doctors Hospital At Renaissance McAllen Heart Hospital Rio Grande Regional Hospital McAllen Medical Center LifeCare Hospitals of South Texas McAllen Campus South Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Osteoporosis by Our Doctors
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Related Diseases & Conditions
23 articles-
Lower Back Pain
- There are many causes of back pain. Pain in the low back can relate to the bony lumbar spine, discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and discs, spinal cord and nerves, muscles of the low back, internal organs of the pelvis and abdomen, and the skin covering the lumbar area.
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Cushing's Syndrome
- Cushing's syndrome, sometimes referred to as hypercortisolism, is a hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of the hormone cortisol. Symptoms may include obesity, thinning arms and legs, a rounded face, and increased fat around the neck. Some causes of Cushing's syndrome is from taking glucocorticoid hormones such as prednisone for inflammatory diseases. Treatment for Cushing's syndrome depends on the cause.
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Heart Attack
- Heart attack happens when a blood clot completely obstructs a coronary artery supplying blood to the heart muscle. A heart attack can cause chest pain, heart failure, and electrical instability of the heart.
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Hyperthyroidism
- Hyperthyroidism is an excess of thyroid hormone resulting from an overactive thyroid gland. Symptoms can include increased heart rate, weight loss, depression, and cognitive slowing. Treatment is by medication, the use of radioactive iodine, thyroid surgery, or reducing the dose of thyroid hormone.
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Celiac Disease
- Celiac disease is a result of an immune reaction to gluten, a protein found in wheat or related grains and present in many foods that we eat. Celiac disease causes impaired absorption and digestion of nutrients through the small intestine. Signs and symptoms of celiac disease include malabsorbption (diarrhea, foul smelling gas, bloating, and increased amounts of fat in the stool) and malnutrition (weight loss, edema, anemia, bruising easily, neuropathy, and infertility). Treatment for celiac disease is a gluten free diet, and at times if necessary, medications
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Hyperparathyroidism
- Hyperparathyroidism is a disorder of the parathyroid glands. There are two types of hyperparathyroidism, primary and secondary. When the parathyroid glands produce too much hormone, hyperparathyroidism is the resulting condition. Most cases of hyperparathyroidism have no evident cause. Symptoms include fatigue, weakness, depression, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, constipation, or confusion. Increased calcium and phosphorous excretion may cause kidney stones. The main treatment of hyperparathyroidism is parathyroidectomy.
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Fracture
- Fractures occur when bone cannot withstand the outside forces applied to the bone. Fractures can be open or closed. Types of fractures include: greenstick, spiral, comminuted, transverse, compound, or vertebral compression. Common fractures include: stress fracture, compression fracture, rib fracture, and skull fracture. Treatment depends upon the type of fracture.
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Menopause
- Menopause is the time in a woman's life when menstrual periods permanently stop, also called the “change of life." Menopause symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, irregular vaginal bleeding, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, urinary incontinence, weight gain, and emotional symptoms such as mood swings. Treatment of menopausal symptoms varies, and should be discussed with your physician.
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Vitamins and Calcium Supplements
- Vitamins are organic substances that are essential for the proper growth and functioning of the body. Calcium is a mineral essential for healthy bones and is also important for muscle contraction, heart action, and normal blood clotting.
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Women's Health
- Women's health is an important topic area to guide a woman through the stages of her life, as well as knowing the conditions and diseases that may occur. Educating yourself so that the transitions into different phases of life is key to a healthy, happy, and productive life.
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Prevention
- Enjoying a healthy diet helps to prevent diseases. A good diet also helps to control celiac disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure and maintain health by preventing loss of bone mass, muscle strength, and vitamin deficiencies.
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Indigestion (Dyspepsia, Upset Stomach)
- Dyspepsia (indigestion) is a functional disease in which the gastrointestinal organs, primarily the stomach and first part of the small intestine, function abnormally. It is a chronic disease in which the symptoms fluctuate infrequency and intensity. Symptoms of dyspepsia include upper abdominal pain, belching, nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating, early satiety, and abdominal distention (swelling). These symptoms are most often provoked by eating.
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Disease Prevention in Women
- Disease prevention in women includes screening tests that are a basic part of prevention medicine. All screening tests are commonly available through your general doctor. Some specialized tests may be available elsewhere.
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SARS
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV. Symptoms include fever and shortness of breath. Patients with SARS often require oxygen and severe cases require mechanical ventilation.
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Loeys-Dietz Syndrome
- Loeys-Dietz syndrome is a syndrome is an inherited genetic syndrome characterized by aortic aneurysms in children. Children with Loeys-Dietz syndrome are at a greater risk of dying from the aortic aneurysms, because the aneurysms are prone to rupture at a smaller size than other aneurysms. Physical characteristics of the syndrome include early fusion of the skull bones, widely spaced eyes, and split uvula or cleft palate. Treatment includes surgical repair fo the aneurysms.
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Gluten Free Diet (Celiac Disease)
- Patients with celiac disease are required to eat a gluten-free diet. Gluten is found in rye, barley, and wheat. Gluten damages the intestine in patients with celiac disease. Some mediations contain gluten, so careful monitoring of products consumed is imperative. Patients with celiac disease are also at risk for developing nutritional deficiencies. The information in this article contains both foods that contain gluten, and foods that do not contain gluten.
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Kyphosis
- Kyphosis is outward curvature of the thoracic spine (upper back). Abnormal kyphosis results in the appearance of a hunchback, which is accompanied by back pain, stiffness, and muscle fatigue in the back. There are three types of abnormal kyphosis: postural, Scheuermann's, and congenital kyphosis. Postural kyphosis is caused by poor posture and a weakening of the back's muscles and ligaments. Scheuermann's kyphosis is caused by a structural deformity of the vertebrae. Congenital kyphosis is caused by an abnormal development of the vertebrae prior to birth. Treatment of kyphosis depends upon the type of kyphosis the patient has.
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Oral Health and Bone Disease
- Osteoporosis may be linked to bone loss in the jaw, which in turn, leads to tooth loss. Low bone density may result in ill-fitting dentures, tooth loss, and gum disease. Dental X-rays may be able to distinguish people with osteoporosis from those with normal bone density.
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Premature Ovarian Failure (POF)
- Premature ovarian failure (POS) is the cessation of normal functioning of the ovaries in women under the age of 40. Premature ovarian failure may be caused by follicle depletion or dysfunction. The most common symptom of premature ovarian failure are irregular periods. There is no "treatment" that will restore the ovarian function, but there are treatments that my relieve symptoms.
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Broken Foot
- There are several bones in the foot, and these bones can be broken (fractured) in a variety of ways. Falling from heights, dropping heavy objects on the foot, or stress fractures from running or walking. Treatment of a broken foot depends on what bone in the foot is broken.
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Juvenile Bone Health
- Setting a good example for your children when it comes to diet and exercise will help them to make healthy decisions about nutrition and fitness. Eating calcium-rich foods and performing weight-bearing exercise will help your children prevent osteoporosis and fractures later in life.
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Low Testosterone (Low T)
- Low testosterone can affect both men and women. Causes of low testosterone in males include undescended testicles and injury to the scrotum. Low testosterone in females includes ovary conditions. Treatment for low testosterone in men includes testosterone replacement therapy. Currently there is no FDA approved testosterone treatment for women.
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Osteopenia
- Osteopenia is a bone condition characterized by bone loss that is not as severe as in osteoporosis. Bone fracture is the typical symptom of osteopenia, though the condition may be present without symptoms. Treatment involves lifestyle modifications (quitting smoking, not drinking in excess) and ensuring an adequate intake of vitamin D and calcium.
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Lower Back Pain
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Medications
33 articles -
Procedures & Tests
5 articles -
Pictures, Images & Quizzes
12 articles -
Doctor's & Expert's Views
41 articles -
Health News
80 articles -
Health Features
22 articles
