| A loss of bone density and strength can ultimately | | | | wrist are examined to determine the accurate |
| lead to a diagnosis of osteoporosis and the potential | | | | density of the bone. |
| of years ahead of morbidity that you wouldn't wish | | | | Your physician will interpret the results and based on |
| on your worst enemy. Diagnosing osteoporosis must | | | | standardized findings will be able to The DEXA scan |
| be taken seriously and it must be diagnosed as early | | | | will be able to establish if you are at a higher risk |
| as possible so that you can salvage as much bone | | | | than others in the norm group to sustain a bone |
| loss as you can. | | | | fracture. |
| There are very high health costs associated with an | | | | Current recommendations suggest that all women |
| inaccurate or a missed diagnosis of osteoporosis | | | | over the age of 65, postmenopausal women under |
| since this can lead to unnecessary bone loss and | | | | the age of 65 who have multiple risk factors, |
| additional fractures that could have been prevented. | | | | patients who have taken a long-term course of oral |
| When you see your physician for an exam and she is | | | | corticosteroids, and patients with a |
| trying to determine if you have osteoporosis, and if | | | | hyperparathyroidism should have a DEXA scan to |
| this is a positive diagnosis, she will also look to | | | | determine bone density and risks. |
| determine if you have either primary or secondary | | | | Diagnosing osteoporosis is a painless and rather simple |
| osteoporosis. | | | | thing for your health care practitioner to do. |
| Primary osteoporosis means the osteoporosis itself is | | | | Particularly if you are in the risk group, see your |
| the root of the problem. Secondary osteoporosis | | | | healthcare provider for a complete history and |
| means that there is an underlying health condition | | | | physical exam along with any appropriate bone scans, |
| that is creating the osteoporosis. Some of the causes | | | | such as the DEXA scan so that you can have a |
| of secondary osteoporosis can be chronic alcohol | | | | definitive diagnosis of osteoporosis or not. Your |
| use, diabetes, Cushing's disease, lymphoma, multiple | | | | health depends on it. |
| myeloma or even Marfan's syndrome. Your | | | | We all want to live healthy and when there is |
| healthcare provider must know whether you have | | | | something so simple that you can do about it, take |
| primary or secondary osteoporosis since the | | | | action. There's no pain involved...well, that is unless |
| treatment is different for both. | | | | you choose to ignore your osteoporosis and then |
| The gold standard used when diagnosing | | | | you will have to contend the rest of your life with |
| osteoporosis is the DEXA scan, which disperses very | | | | the results of bone fractures that you possible could |
| low amounts of radiation. This test takes about 10 | | | | have avoided. |
| minutes to complete and is totally painless. With the | | | | Make the call! Your health deserves it! |
| DEXA scan the bones in the hip, the spine or the | | | | |