DEXA scan at Santa Fe Imaging Center can help diagnose osteoporosis
A bone density scan, also known as DEXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry), is an enhance form of x-ray technology that’s use to measure bone loss. The Santa Fe Imaging Center’s DEXA scan can be used to identify osteoporosis. It’s most often use to diagnose osteoporosis usually occurring in women after menopause but can also be found in men. Our certify nuclear medicine technologists are expertly train to perform this test and analyze the results, which can help detect subtle changes in your bone health and even help determine if you are at increase risk of fractures or breaks.
What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a bone that breaks much more easily than expect. A stoop posture, loss of height over time, cause by a fractured or collapsed vertebra, and back pain are common symptoms. DEXA scans use x-ray technology to measure bone loss and can help diagnosis osteoporosis.
What is a DEXA Scan?
A DEXA scan is an enhance form of x-ray technology that is use to measure bone loss. It is most often use to diagnose osteoporosis, which usually occurs in women after menopause, but can also be found in men. The Santa Fe Imaging Center’s DEXA scan can be used to identify osteoporosis. A DEXA scan can help determine if a person has osteoporosis by measuring the density of their bones. If the bone density is low, it means that the person has osteoporosis. Symptoms of osteoporosis include a bone that breaks much more easily than expecte, a stoop posture, and loss of height over time cause by a fracture or collapse vertebra. Back pain may also be a symptom of osteoporosis.
Who should get a DEXA Scan?
Osteoporosis is a condition that causes bones to become thin and break more easily than expect. It is most common in women after menopause, but it can also occur in men. DEXA scans are use to diagnose osteoporosis by measuring bone loss. They are also use to predict the risk of future fractures. If you have a family history of osteoporosis, are over the age of 50, or have broken a bone after a minor fall or injury, you should talk to your doctor about whether a DEXA scan is right for you.
The Bottom Line
A DEXA scan is a simple, painless test that uses low-dose x-rays to measure your bone density. This information helps your doctor evaluate your risk for fractures. The Santa Fe Imaging Center’s DEXA scan can be used to identify osteoporosis. A bone density test is recommend for women 65 years of age and older and for men 70 years of age and older. If you have a family history of osteoporosis, you may need to start testing sooner. The results of a DEXA scan are given as a T-score. A T-score of -1 or above is consider normal bone density.
What can be diagnosed with a bone density scan?
A bone density scan, also call a DEXA or dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scan, is a type of enhance x-ray that is use to measure bone loss. It is most often use to diagnose osteoporosis, which is a condition in which bones become more fragile and are more likely to break. Osteoporosis usually occurs in women after menopause, but it can also be found in men. The most common symptom of osteoporosis is a bone that breaks much more easily than expecte. A DEXA scan can help diagnose osteoporosis by measuring the density of your bones.
Are bone density scans painful?
Most people feel no pain during a DEXA scan. You may feel pressure on your body from the machine, but this is not painful. The technologist will position you on the exam table and will ask you to lie still during the exam. The technologist may also use a soft tissue reinforcement pad, which does not require injection of contrast material, to minimize patient motion during the exam. The Santa Fe Imaging Center’s DEXA scan can be used to identify osteoporosis.
How do you prepare for a bone density test?
When you arrive for your appointment, you will be aske to remove any clothing or jewelry that might interfere with the x-ray images. You may be aske to wear a gown during the exam.
You will lie on an examination table while the technologist positions the x-ray camera above you. The camera will move back and forth across your body while taking images. The entire process usually takes about 10 minutes.
You should not feel any pain during the procedure, but you may feel slight pressure from the machine as it moves across your body.
After the exam, you can return to your normal activities. There is no special care that you need to follow after the test.
What are 5 symptoms of osteoporosis?
- You might not have any symptoms in the early stages of bone loss. As osteoporosis progresses, you might lose height, have a stoop posture, or develop a dowager’s hump at the base of your neck. (xanax)
- Your clothes might fit differently or you might feel like you need a larger belt to hold up your pants.
- You might break a bone more easily than normal. A broken bone can occur with little or no trauma to the area, such as from a fall from standing height or from coughing or sneezing.
What happens if your bone density is low?
If your bone density is low, it means that you have less bone tissue than normal. This can make your bones weaker and more likely to break. You may not have any symptoms at first, but as the bone loss gets worse, you may start to have pain, fractures, or hunch posture. A DEXA scan can help diagnose osteoporosis so that you can get treatment to improve your bone health.
Are bone scans safe?
Bone scans are consider safe for most people. The small amount of radiation use during the scan poses little risk to the patient. Bone scans are often use to diagnose osteoporosis, which is a condition that causes the bones to become weak and break easily. The DEXA scan is an enhance form of x-ray technology that is use to measure bone loss. It is most often use to diagnose osteoporosis usually occurring in women after menopause but can also be found in men. The DEXA scan is a painless and noninvasive procedure that takes about 15 minutes to complete.
How long does a bone density scan take?
A bone density scan is a quick and painless procedure that uses x-ray technology to measure bone loss. The entire scan takes about 15 minutes, and you will be able to go about your day as usual afterward. A DEXA scan is the most accurate way to diagnose osteoporosis, and it is the only test that can measure your risk for fractures. If you are experiencing any symptoms of osteoporosis, such as pain or difficulty moving, make an appointment with your doctor for a DEXA scan today.
What are 3 common causes of osteoporosis?
There are many different causes of osteoporosis, but some of the most common include
How do you diagnose osteoporosis symptoms?
Bone densitometry, or DEXA, is a test that uses x-ray technology to measure bone loss. This test is most often use to diagnose osteoporosis, which is a condition that usually affects women after menopause. However, men can also develop osteoporosis. Symptoms of this condition include bone pain, fractures, and stoop posture. A DEXA scan can help diagnose osteoporosis by measuring the density of your bones. If you have osteoporosis, your bones will be less dense than normal. This test is painless and takes just a few minutes to complete.
What is abnormal bone density?
Having abnormal bone density means that your bones are not as strong as they should be. This can put you at risk for fractures and other problems. A DEXA scan can help diagnose osteoporosis by measuring your bone density. If your bone density is low, it may be a sign that you have osteoporosis. There are treatments available that can help improve your bone density and reduce your risk of fractures.
