Over 50? You could benefit from a bone densitometry test

Approximately 34 million Americans have low bone density, which means they are at risk for developing osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is more likely to develop in women, and Caucasian and Asian women are at the highest risk among all ethnicities. Other risk factors include family history, smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, having had your ovaries removed, inadequate calcium intake, and prolonged use of certain heartburn and steroid medications.

Unfortunately, most who have osteoporosis don’t know they have the disease until they suffer a painful fracture. An astonishing one-quarter of all post-menopausal women and 40% of women over 80 will suffer a spine fracture as a result of their osteoporosis!

These fractures can impair a person’s ability to walk and may cause permanent disability. They result in an increased risk of reduced lung function, bladder control issues and a decreased quality of life.

Now, the good news. If detected early, osteoporosis can be treated. The best way to achieve early detection is with a bone densitometry test, DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) bone mineral density scan, an inexpensive test that is covered by insurance and highly affordable for the uninsured.

DEXA is an easy, non-invasive test that uses a very low amount of x-ray energy to measure the density of bones within your body. The lower the bone mass, the higher the risk for osteoporosis. Early detection can help facilitate treatment before a fracture occurs. Today, there are excellent and effective treatment options for osteoporosis that can help maintain bone density and slow the progression of the disease.

DEXA is recommended for those over 65 years of age, and women 50-65 who have one or more of the aforementioned risk factors. While the risk is highest for women (1 in 5), 1 in 20 men over the age of 50 will develop osteoporosis. To schedule your DEXA bone densitometry test, talk to your doctor or visit our locations page to find a center near you.