Staying Strong, Preserving Bone Health

The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) defines osteoporosis, explains how it can be prevented, and, under "Prevention," shows how you can tell if you are at risk for developing osteoporosis. This site also offers tips for locating a doctor to treat osteoporosis.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has a Web page about osteoporosis, with some preliminary information you may need to understand osteoporosis better. Some of the basic facts presented include an explanation of what bone is and what certain numbers mean in bone mass measurement.

eMedicineHealth presents an "Osteoporosis and Bone Health" page that helps you understand what bone loss is and how it happens, and also explains that osteoporosis is a condition experienced by some men.

The National Women's Health Information Center is a federal government resource for female health information which maintains an osteoporosis page that addresses the effects of osteoporosis on certain groups of women, including those who are pregnant or nursing and women who are lactose intolerant but want to maintain a sufficient calcium intake.

Novartis Oncology is primarily a site for cancer patients, but its "Cancer and Osteoporosis" page does discuss bone loss as a side effect of some cancer treatments.

The Center for Young Women's Health focuses its health information specifically on teen girls. In a discussion of eating disorders, the site notes that osteoporosis is an additional risk young girls with food issues may face.

The HealthCentral Network covers a variety of medical conditions, including osteoporosis. You'll find information about managing your osteoporosis through  diet and exercise and learn how to participate in clinical trials that may benefit you. Simple videos show how drug treatments may help people who already have osteoporosis, the biology behind osteoporosis, and how to keep your bones strong.

The WebMD Osteoporosis Health Center Center, although similar to other sites discussing the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis, also presents a "Living & Managing" section, which discusses how to prevent bone fractures and falls, and how to protect your hips. Actress Sally Field also shares her story about living with osteoporosis.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons provides information about bones and joints, along with injury prevention articles that discuss how to reduce your chances of falling, how to react if you do fall, and how to make your home safer in order to lessen your chances of getting hurt. The "Osteoporosis" section has a particular focus on early detection and prevention. The "Women's Health" section contains some of the same osteoporosis articles, but also has exercise-related articles.

familydoctor.org is part of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Here you can review a "Smart Patient Guide" that includes advice about choosing a doctor. You'll also learn about healthy living habits and medical issues for men, women, and seniors. The osteoporosis section is extensive and covers several treatment options.

EndocrineWeb is focused on information about thyroid, parathyroid, and other endocrine disorders and written by physicians who treat these conditions. The "Osteoporosis Center" discusses the roles of estrogen, calcium, exercise, and menopause in the development of osteoporosis. Sections on hormone and drug therapy as osteoporosis treatments are also available.

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) has a physician finder, which you can use to find an AACE member endocrinologist in your area.

The American College of Rheumatology provides information about treatment and research in rheumatology. The "Osteoporosis" section includes links on topics like how the disease is treated, the role of the rheumatologist in osteoporosis treatment, and how to find a rheumatologist.

Orthopaedic Web Links (OWL) is a compilation of links containing information specific to orthopedics. The "Osteoporosis" section includes 17 links to Web sites emphasizing patient education.

MedicineNet.com has an "Osteoporosis Center" organized with numerous links you can use to go directly to the topic that interests you. Treatment and prevention options, such as vitamin D, hormone therapy, and long-term corticosteroids are clearly presented.

DrugDigest serves as a reference you can use to learn about medications you may be taking and to check for any possible drug interactions. The "Osteoporosis" page lists some of the drugs used to treat osteoporosis.

RadiologyInfo teaches medical patients about many of the radiological procedures they might undergo and explains how the procedures are performed. Under the "Diagnostic Radiology" section, you will find information about bone density scans.

HealthWorld Online has a listing of articles about conventional and alternative treatments of osteoporosis. The more conventional articles discuss diet and exercise while the alternative articles focus on herbal medicine, homeopathy, and naturopathy, among other methods of treatment.

Mayo Clinic discusses various aspects of a bone density test, which can be used to diagnose osteoporosis. You'll learn how and why bone density tests are performed, how you can prepare for a test, and how to interpret the results.

The Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention features "Your Disease Risk," an interactive tool to help you determine your risk for five diseases: osteoporosis, stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Take the quiz for osteoporosis to determine your risk level and to get recommendations on things you can do to lower your risk.

Health24.com has a comprehensive section devoted to osteoporosis. In addition to news updates and preventive measures both men and women can take to avoid developing osteoporosis, the site lists several risk factors, from lifestyle choices to ethnicity, for both women and men.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Web site contains "Boning Up on Osteoporosis," an article that focuses on calcium and its possible effects on the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

WebMD has helpful articles about calcium and vitamin D, and their role in protecting you from osteoporosis. At the end of the article, see the "4 Must-See Articles" for more ways to take special care of your bones.

The National Dairy Council discusses the role of dairy products in bone health and offers some information about osteoporosis. The site also has recipes and health tips for including enough dairy products in your diet, along with links to recipes that use dairy products.

girlshealth.gov is dedicated to providing health information for girls ages 10-16. The "For Parents & Caregivers" section has an area devoted to bone health and shows how girls and teens can start protecting their bones early through diet and exercise.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sponsors "Powerful Bones. Powerful Girls," a Web site for The National Bone Health Campaign. The site is designed to teach girls the proper nutrition and weight-bearing exercises necessary to keep their bones healthy. The National Bone Health Campaign companion Web site teaches parents how to help young girls develop strong bones.

HealthBoards , which has message boards for people coping with specific medical conditions, makes an osteoporosis board available here. Registration is required to post messages, but you can view messages without registering.

DailyStrength also offers an online support group for osteoporosis, among many other medical conditions. Learn about the latest treatments and news, recent discussion topics, and join the community. Use of this message board is free but registration is required.

Caregiver's Home Companion has resources and an online support community for people providing medical care to the elderly. The "Community" section offers free message boards under "Forums" and an "Ask an Expert" feature where you can submit a question to a qualified professional.

The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), recommended earlier in this guide, is the primary osteoporosis support group in the United States. This page will explain how you can start an osteoporosis support group or find a NOF-sponsored support group in your area. NOF also supports a "Linking Up" online osteoporosis support group for men and women.

Men's Osteoporosis Support Group is dedicated to the over five million American men at risk of developing osteoporosis. Join the confidential electronic support group network to communicate with others via e-mail or phone. The Web site also has archives of the group's newsletters and links to other medical and osteoporosis Web sites.