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BMD—BONE
MINERAL DENSITY (DEXA SCAN)
Osteoporosis is a disease in which bone density decreases,
making bones brittle and prone to fractures. It is estimated
that at age 50, a woman has nearly a 40% chance of developing
an osteoporotic fracture during her remaining lifetime. A
woman’s lifetime risk of hip fracture alone is equal
to the combined risk of developing breast, uterine, and ovarian
cancer—and up to 20% more women who suffer hip fractures
die within one year of the fracture than those of a similar
age who haven’t suffered a hip fracture. It is therefore
important to identify those women who are at risk for developing
osteoporosis.
DEXA Dual
Energy X-ray Absorptiometry.DEXA is the most accurate
and advanced test available for measuring bone density (strength).
Its results are reproducible, therefore allowing measurements
to be taken over time showing progression of disease or improvement
in bone density due to treatment. Minimal radiation (less
than 1/20 of a chest x-ray) is used to determine the bone
density of the spine, hip or wrist. A DEXA test is more sensitive
than ordinary x-rays, more accurate than heel measurements
and can diagnose bone loss at an earlier stage. Safe and painless,
the 10 minute DEXA scan is the most reliable test to determine
even the earliest stages of bone loss associated with osteoporosis.
- More
than 25 million Americans have osteoporosis.
- Four
out of five of them are women.
- Osteoporosis
is the cause of over 1.3 million fractures annually, including
more than 500,000 vertebral fractures, 250,000 hip fractures,
and 240,000 wrist fractures.
- The
direct medical costs of osteoporosis exceed $10 billion
annually in the U.S.
Wear
comfortable clothing. You cannot have a DEXA exam if you have
had a barium study within the last five days.
Frequently
asked questions
In the years following menopause, women will naturally experience
bone loss because of a decrease in estrogen. Most will have
no symptoms, even while the disease progresses. These factors
add to your risk of developing osteoporosis.
- Age
- Caucasian
or Asian Descent
- Thin
or Small Build
- Previous
Fracture
- Family
History of Osteoporosis
- Early
Menopause
- Smoking
- Inactive
Lifestyle
- Certain
Medications (including steroids & thyroid hormones)
- Alcohol
Abuse
- Inadequate
Calcium Intake
Prevention of osteoporosis, delaying its onset or lessening
its severity will result in decreasing the chance of osteoporotic
fractures, which can lead to pain, lack of mobility and even
increase the chance of death. There are now treatments to
prevent osteoporosis, once it has been diagnosed.
No. The test takes less than 15 minutes and involves lying
on a table. There are no injections.
Yes, do not take anything that contains Calcium or Milk of
Magnesia the day before or the day of the exam.
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