| DEXA
or Dual Energy X-Ray
Absorptiometry
exams are one of the ways we can help your physician tell if your bones
have lost density. When bones lose density to a certain degree, that is
a condition called osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a disease process that
makes your bones lose strength. They become porous and brittle and,
understandably, they more easily break. Osteoporosis can lead to
fractures in any bone, but the most important to your overall quantity
and quality of life are your spine and your hips. Studies have shown
that one in five women who fractures her hip will die within one
year.
Women who are most at risk for
osteoporosis are women who smoke, are inactive, abuse alcohol, have had
inadequate calcium intake, take certain medicines (steroids and
thyroid medicines), had early menopause, are Caucasian or Asian, or are
of small build. |
|
In the "good old days", we just
took for granted that as women aged they became stooped. We thought that
this was an unavoidable process, or certainly not reversible. Things are
different now, Thanks to this DEXA technology, we can find out early if
you are losing bone density. There are also treatments for osteoporosis
that are new. These have been shown to be effective in retaining and
even increasing bone density.
More
information on Osteoporosis.
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