Fighting Off Osteoporosis

How Is Osteoporosis Diagnosed?
Although there is no particular diagnosis to identify the problem of osteoporosis one has to take the bone density test , as the only symptom for diagnosing osteoporosis is a fracture it self as it continues painlessly until a breakage in the bone occurs , which then suggests that a person is suffering from the disease, along with a sudden loss of height. X- rays can reveal osteoporosis of the bone which appears thinner and lighter than the normal bone. However X rays cannot detect the bone density accurately as by the X-rays do detect Osteoporosis 30% of the bone has already been lost.

Who Should Be Tested For Bone Density:
According to the ( NOF ) National Osteoporosis Foundation there are certain guidelines for certain groups of people who should go through the DEXA test.
1. Mainly postmenopausal women below the age of 65
2. Women aged 65 and above
3. Postmenopausal women with fractures regardless of the bone density and treatment should begin immediately.
4. Women with medical conditions related to osteoporosis.

What is a DEXA test ( bone density test):
The DEXA test is the most commonly used procedure to detect alow bone density in the body and is considered most accurate for the body as well wherein one can detect the early stages of Osteoporosis. The full form of DEXA is ( Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry). The DEXA test is better than the regular X-rays and CAT scans because ……..it is more accurate than the reugular X-rays which will only detect the condition of osteoporosis once the bone density has already reduced by 20 % to 30 %, whereas the DEXA test can detect osteoporosis in the early stages only after a 1% change in the bone density. The DEXA test requires less radiation then the CAT scan and tekes about 10 minutes to detect the disease of Osteoporosis. The DEXA test is less costlier than the other tests.