May is Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month
Osteoporosis is a condition in which the structure of our bones loses strength due to loss of Calcium. It is a silent disease growing in severity until the amount of lost Calcium weakens the bones sufficiently to cause them to fracture spontaneously after a fall. In any given year, 1.5 million patients will present with osteoporotic fractures. Certain bones are more sensitive to this condition particularly the vertebral bodies (spine), femur (hips), and distal radius (wrist). Femoral neck fractures are particularly important since they are associated with a risk of death of 10%. Countless other patients have suffered the pain and incapacity resulting from fractures in the back and wrists.
The loss of Calcium is a natural result of the aging process but can be slowed significantly through diet, exercise and in some cases medications or hormone replacement. Women, (who are at greater risk) than men for the development of this disorder, are most prone to development of osteoporosis after menopause. Individuals of either sex are at greater risk of developing osteoporosis if they experienced poor nutrition at an early age, did little exercise, smoked or took certain medications known to prevent the development of strong bones (steroids, thyroid hormones or anticonvulsants).
Since osteoporosis is a silent disease until later life, it is important that individuals who are at risk discover its presence before they develop fractures. The most sensitive and safest tool available to detect and measure the degree of osteoporosis is BONE DENSITOMETRY and the most sensitive and accurate way to do this is Dual X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA). At Diagnostic Radiology Associates, we have been performing these studies at our Grandview Avenue office for the past 10 years and utilize the most advanced system in production (the GE-Luna whole body Imager). Unlike screening units using ultrasound or simpler single photon units, we are able to measure bone density in both back and hip sites. Our unit is also reliable and reproducible enough, so that the results of therapy for patients with proven Osteoporosis can be accurately measured.
The examination requires no preparation and can be performed in street clothes. Patients lie on a comfortable table for approximately 20 minutes. Since a low dose of x-ray is utilized, the examination is performed by a licensed radiology technician who has received special training in DEXA scanning. The results are interpreted by our Board Certified Radiologists and a report is sent within 24 hours to the referring physician who decides on possible treatment or lifestyle modifications.
Treatment of Osteoporosis is available and patients who receive therapy will be followed at regular intervals to make certain that they are responding. Given the significant problems associated with a failure to diagnose the disease coupled with the ease of diagnosis, it is not surprising that DEXA scanning has become a valuable tool in the management of individuals at risk for the development of Osteoporosis.