What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a bone disease that occurs when the bones become weak and a fall or mild stresses, such as a cough, can cause a fracture. Bone breaks and fractures are most likely to occur in the hip, spine, or wrist.
Did you know?
Osteoporosis is preventable and treatable with a healthy diet and medications- Nearly 54 million Americans are diagnosed with osteoporosis
- Every 1 in 2 women and 1 in 4 men will break a bone due to osteoporosis
Symptoms
If you have early bone loss, you may not experience any signs or symptoms. It is often called the “silent disease” because it typically does not produce symptoms until a fracture occurs. However, some symptoms of osteoporosis include:
- Back pain
- Loss of height over time
- Stooped posture
- Bone fracture that occurs easily
Risk Factors
Bones are living tissue and are in a constant state of renewal. As you get older, bone mass is lost faster. There are many factors than can increase your likelihood of developing osteoporosis, some of which are out of your control. The unchangeable risks include:
- Gender – Women develop osteoporosis more often than men
- Age –You are at greater risk of osteoporosis the older you get
- Race – Caucasians and Asians are at the greatest risk
- Family History
- Small body frame
Bone Density Scan (DEXA)
A bone density scan, also known as duel-energy x-ray absorptiometry or DEXA, uses a small dose of X-ray to measure the bone mineral density in your body. This exam helps physicians detect and diagnose osteoporosis. The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends a bone density test if:
- You are a woman age 65+
- You are a menopausal or postmenopausal woman, under age 65 with risk factors
- You are a man age 70+
- You are a man age 50-69 with risk factors
- You break a bone after age 50
Delaney Radiologists offers DEXA services 5 days a week from 8:00am to 5:00pm. Are you scheduled for a DEXA scan at Delaney Radiologists? Learn more here about how to prepare for your exam and what to expect.
