Osteoporosis

Preventive Care and Wellness Services

Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones are thin, weak, and more likely to break. There are more than 25 million Americans that have osteoporosis. About ½ of all women over the age of 50 will suffer a fracture of the hip, wrist, or vertebra. Our bodies go through a continuous bone-building cycle. Old bone is broken down and new bone is formed. Osteoporosis is caused by an imbalance in this cycle where more bone is broken down and incompletely rebuilt.

A Bone Density test is the only way to detect low bone density and diagnose osteoporosis. Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) is a quick and painless test that can help detect early bone loss associated with osteoporosis before it causes a fracture. The lower a person’s bone mineral density, the greater the risk of having a fracture. A Bone Mineral Density test is used to:

• Detect low bone density before a person breaks a bone
• Predict a person’s chances of breaking a bone in the future
• Confirm a diagnosis of osteoporosis when a person has already broken a bone
• Determine whether a person’s bone density is increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable
• Monitor a person’s response to treatment

Risk Factors For Osteoporosis

• Postmenopausal women
• Family history of osteoporosis
• Caucasian or Asian descent
• Thin, small, or low body weight
• History of smoking
• Too much alcohol

• Too little exercise
• Too little calcium or Vitamin D
• Certain medications such as long use of steroids
• Early menopause