| Osteoporosis
Imaging Center
We are pleased to announce our acquisition of the latest in
osteoporosis early detection. Our equipment provides fast and
accurate information, allowing us to make an accurate diagnosis,
and the patient will receive results in minutes. We will provide
referring physicians, if requested, with their patient’s
results that same day. This highly sensitive equipment identifies
a specific degree of bone loss in just minutes. The two most
common evaluations are:
· Measurement of both upper-legs (femur)
to assess the average density;
· Measurement of total body density and body fat assessment.
This is an excellent tool to assess weight loss therapies, endocrine/growth
disorders, and pediatric patients with secondary osteoporosis.
On October 14, 2004 the surgeon general's
office released Bone health and Osteoporosis: A Report of the
surgeon General.
"According to this report, 10 million
Americans over the age of 50 have osteoporosis, the most common
bone disease, while another 34 million are at risk for
developing it. Each year, about 1.5 million people suffer a
fracture related to Osteoporosis or low bone mass. The central
focus of the report is to alert individuals and the medical
community to the meaning and importance of the bone, including
its impact on overall health and well being, and of the need to
take action to prevent, assess, and treat bone disease
throughout life".
Who
is at risk?
 Age
is an important risk factor. Both men and women lose bone strength,
as they grow older. Women have a higher risk for osteoporosis
than men do as women often have smaller, thinner frames. Women
also are affected by the change of life known as menopause.
After menopause, women produce less of a hormone called estrogen.
Estrogen helps protect women against bone loss.
Important risk factors for osteoporosis include:
· Female
· Caucasian
· Advanced age
· History of bone fracture
· A small thin frame
· A family history of osteoporosis
· Removal of the ovaries
· Early menopause
· A low calcium diet
· Lack of exercise
· Eating disorders
· Certain medicines such as steroids or anticonvulsants
· Alcohol and tobacco use
How
do I know if I have osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is often called the silent disease. There are rarely
signs until a lot of bone has been lost. A medical test that
measures the amount of bone is the best way to detect osteoporosis.
Our bone densitometer test will detect if you have this disease.
The bone densitometer test uses a small amount of x-ray to measure
the amount of bone mineral. The amount of bone mineral relates
directly to bone strength.
What is fracture risk?
Why is it important?
The bone densitometry test provides information about your own
risk of bone fracture in the same way a cholesterol test indicates
risk of heart attack. A diagnosis of osteoporosis cannot predict
a fracture. Instead, it means that the risk of having a fracture
is higher than that of normal bones. Your test results combined
with other factors give you your overall risk of fracture. Knowing
your risk of fracture is important. There are a number of ways
to prevent osteoporosis and to reduce your risk of fracture.
Your doctor may suggest a number of steps including exercise,
changes in diet, hormone therapy, or other medicines known to
build bone strength.
For physicians who are interested in our new screening program,
please call us at (805) 486-6565 Ext 12.
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