eNewsletter - May 2010
Osteoporosis and Bone Densitometry Testing
What Can You do to Prevent Osteoporosis?
- Eat a balanced diet rich in calcium and Vitamin D.
- Exercise regularly.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle.
- Prevent falls (for example, by removing loose wires, cords, and rugs around your house; wearing sturdy rubber-soled shoes; installing grab bars in your tub or shower) so you can stay active.
Who should get tested for osteoporosis?
An initial examination for osteoporosis is recommended at menopause if you have risk factors. This assessment will alert you to any problems and allow doctors to prescribe treatments to curb bone loss and monitor your progress as you grow older. All women over the age of 65 and men with risk factors should have a bone density test.
Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)
The most accurate test available for detecting osteoporosis and other bone diseases is dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). This test, which takes about 10 to 15 minutes, measures the bone loss in your hips and spine. It also helps your doctor determine how quickly you are losing bone mass, as well as predict your risk of fracture. The test is also used to follow the course of the disease and monitor the effects of various treatments.
Before your DEXA test
You do not have to change your daily routine before this test. Eat, drink, and take your medicines you normally would. However, do not take calcium supplements (such as Tums) for 24 hours before your bone densitometry test. If you think you might be pregnant, notify your doctor.
During the test
You must wear a hospital gown, and you will be asked to lie on your back while the technologist performs the test. No needles or injections are involved. The DEXA procedure is similar to having a standard X-ray. The amount of radiation used is very small.
After the test
Generally, you can resume your usual activities immediately. The results of your test will be reviewed by a specially trained technologist and board-certified doctors. Your test results will be provided to your doctor, who will discuss the results with you.
Other information
Retail stores sometimes sell a smaller version of the DEXA machine that measure bone mass in your forearm. However, these readings do not reflect the bone loss in your hips and spine, where the most common debilitating fractures occur. Medicare now covers bone density testing for many patients, as required in the Bone Mass Measurement Act of 1998.
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