What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that increases and individual’s risk of sustaining a fracture. This disease occurs when the body fails to form the right amount of new bone, causing bones to become thin or lose their density.  Bone development is affected by different factors including the body’s absorption of certain minerals and hormone levels. The minerals calcium and phosphate are essential for normal bone formation. A lack of these minerals can lead to the development of osteoporosis.  The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) estimates that 10 million Americans have osteoporosis. Women are more prone to the disease then men, as the leading cause of osteoporosis is a drop in estrogen levels following menopause.

Symptoms:

  • Pain or tenderness in the bones
  • Fractures without a significant traumatic event
  • Decreasing height over time
  • Neck or lower back pain
  • Stooped posture

How is osteoporosis diagnosed?

There are 34 million Americans who have low bone mass which may continue to progress to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis can be diagnosed by measuring bone density (mass) through the use of Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA). This test measures bone density in grams per centimeter squared to calculate a numerical score. This score is your bone density, which can be used to assess your fracture risk for osteoporosis. The test is painless and consists of a very low dose of radiation. The DXA can measure bone density at the hip and spine and, if needed, the radius in your forearm.

Schedule a Bone Density Test:

DXA scans are performed in our office. The testing takes approximately 10 minutes to complete once patients fill out a self-administered questionnaire. 

How is osteoporosis treated?

There is no cure for osteoporosis, but it is possible to control the progression of the disease to minimize the risk of injury. Most treatments include lifestyle changes to reduce the likelihood of falls or other traumatic events that would cause a fracture.

Other treatment goals include:

  • Control bone pain
  • Slow or stop bone loss
  • Prevent fractures by strengthening existing bone
 
Call today to set up an appointment to discuss your risk for osteoporosis.