Diagnosing Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is being suffered by more than 10 million Americans and there are 34 million more people at risk of being afflicted with the condition, U.S. health department records show. Several types of fracture are expected from this problematic medical condition. Hence, it is important that therapies are developed for this kind of bone disease. growth hormone therapy has the possibility to treat osteoporosis is just one of the things discovered from many studies being developed for this medical condition.
A diminished bone mineral density (BMD) happens to a person when he/she is afflicted with osteoporosis. Many examinations are capable of getting concrete information of the health of your bones. Before you will go through diagnostic examinations, the following questions must first be asked:
- Menstrual history for women
- Race, family history of osteoporosis
- Any fractures you have incurred
- Lifestyle, activities and exercise pattern
- Medications taken
- General intake of calcium and vitamin D
If you are believed to be suffering from osteoporosis, then you will be advised to go through the following procedures:
X-rays. This will be done to determine if a fracture or bone loss has happened and if a person experiences low back pain and/or a decrease in height resulting from stooped posture.When one experiences low back pain and/or a decrease in height resulting from stooped posture, an X-ray may be done to determine whether you have a fracture or if there is bone loss. However, x-ray may not be enough as it can only detect bone loss if more than 30% has been depleted and osteoporosis may be missed.
BMD tests. The BMD test is the most accurate way to assess the health status of your bones. Among the most widely recognized BMD test is dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scan or DEXA scan. This procedure is quite fuss-free. It uses very limited radiation exposure and will last for only 10 minutes.
CT Scan. In rare occasions your doctor might need let you go through quantitative computed tomography (QCT) to inspect for bone loss. This particular type of CT scan is used mainly to assess disease conditions that may be defined by unusual BMD as well as to monitor response to therapy for these conditions.
It does not matter what procedure you need to go through; but what is crucial is the early detection of osteoporosis so that appropriate actions are done immediately. However, being careful is also necessary as osteoporosis preventions, like the drug Fosamax, which had been reported to cause adverse effects, such as femur fractures and osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). Since a Fosamax class action lawsuit is currently faced by the makers of this drug, people should really be very careful.
References:
http://www.bizjournals.com/prnewswire/press_releases/2011/11/29/DC12556
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/osteoporosis/DS00128
http://www.nof.org/aboutosteoporosis/detectingosteoporosis/diagnosing