Bone & Calcium

Osteoporosis: Drugs That Stop Bone Being Lost

Bone looks solid and permanent, but it's actually a living tissue in constant renovation — old bone removed, new bone laid down. Osteoporosis is what happens when removal outpaces replacement and bones become fragile. Most osteoporosis drugs work by one simple idea: slow down the demolition crew. Understanding that turns a confusing list of drugs into a single clear strategy.

Calcium, Vitamin D & PTH: The Body's Calcium Thermostat

Blood calcium is held within an astonishingly narrow range, because too little makes nerves and muscles misfire and too much is toxic. Two hormones — parathyroid hormone and vitamin D — act on three organs to keep it exactly right. Learn that neat system and you'll understand calcium supplements, vitamin D, and a whole set of disorders at once.