Long-term use of medications - Steroid medications, such as Prednisone, can interfere with the bone-rebuilding process, which can later lead to osteoporosis.A sign of osteoporosis is easily fractured bones in the hips, wrists, or spine.
Fractured a bone - Risk of bone fractures increases as a person's bone density decreases.Lost at least 1.5 inches in height - This may indicate compression fractures in the spine which is most commonly caused by osteoporosis.
Recently entered menopause - During the first 4 to 8 years of menopause, women can lose bone more rapidly due to decreased levels of estrogen. Although, regardless of your sex or age, your doctor may recommend a DXA if you’ve: Monitor a person’s response to treatmentīone density tests are generally for women 65 and older and are especially important if you have a family history of low bone density or factors that put you at high risk for bone loss. Determine whether a person’s bone density is increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable. Confirm a diagnosis of osteoporosis when a person has already broken a bone. Predict a person’s chances of breaking a bone in the future. Detect low bone density before a person breaks a bone. The lower a person’s T-score or bone mineral density, the greater the risk of having a fracture or developing osteoporosis.Ī Bone Mineral Density test is important because it is used to: This means your bones are stronger, denser, and less prone to breakage. It’s measured with a T-score, which is the number that shows the amount of bone density you have compared to a young adult of the same gender with peak bone mass. The x-ray is usually taken from two sites, the lower spine and hip joint, and bones in your forearm. It’s a very quick and painless exam and is used to diagnose bone loss, osteopenia, and osteoporosis. What is a Bone Density Test?Ī bone density test, also known as a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, DEXA, or DXA, is a scan that uses a small amount of x-ray to measure the amount of minerals and calcium in your bones. Moreland OB-GYN offers bone density testing services to help detect if a woman has low bone density and a greater chance of developing osteoporosis, a condition in which the bones are thin, weak, and more likely to break. Screening Options for Genetic Abnormalities. Follow-up tests should be taken every two years to measure improvements or decreases in density. The test should take approximately 15 minutes and can be taken at most hospital radiology departments and medical practices. DXA machines give off low doses of X-rays and show bone density. Patients are be tested by using a DXA machine. The bone density in the spine and hip are the most frequently tested. Barium and radioisotopes exposure can also affect test results. Patients must not take any minerals or vitamins the day of the exam. D octors will work with patients and consider the need for osteoporosis treatment based on the results of the tests. Some patients can have low bone density but not yet have osteoporosis. Bone density can be tested in a number of places: They can also determine if osteoporosis medication is working. Bone density tests can tell if a patient is at increased risk for breaking bones. This determines the strength and durability of the bones. What is a bone density test?Ī bone density test measures the calcium in the tested area of the bone. Contact your provider if you believe you could benefit from a bone density test. This painless procedure is the only test patients can use to tell if they have weakened bones or osteoporosis. Bone density tests, or DEXA scans, can tell if you are at a higher risk for breaking bones or if you have osteoporosis.
0 kommentar(er)
