osteoporosis & bone density testing
Osteoporosis is often called the “silent disease” because it doesn’t produce symptoms until a fracture occurs. A woman’s risk of hip fracture alone — the most painful and debilitating of osteoporotic fractures — equals her combined risk of developing breast, uterine or ovarian cancer.
the silent disease
Osteoporosis and related bone disorders affect 27 million American women, 75 percent of whom don’t even know they have it. While some bone loss can be expected as me bone loss can be expected as part of the normal aging process, osteoporosis is a dangerous disease. It occurs when bones become porous, brittle and likely to break. Half of women past menopause have or are at high risk of developing osteoporosis.
The good news is that testing is quick, easy and painless, and there are many different treatments available that can reduce the risk of fractures.
bone densitometry
Bone densitometry measures the density of bone
material to determine if there is an increased risk of fracture or osteoporosis. The bone densitometer uses small amounts of X-rays to measure the amount of bone material in the spine, hip or whole body. Test results will be compared to that of a young person, when bone is at its strongest, and to the bone density of people your own age. This gives the physician a basis to determine if you are at risk of osteoporosis fractures. There are several ways to reduce your chance of fractures, and your physician can discuss these with you.
Screening available in our Belleville office
