Diagnosing Osteoporosis

U.S health department statistics reported that around 10 million Americans are suffering from osteoporosis and 34 million more are expected to have the condition. The ultimate result of this major health problem could be several types of fracture. Many kind of therapies are now being developed in order to control the outcome of this 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 disease that is defined by the diminishing level of one’s bone mineral density (BMD) is called 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:

• Race, family history of osteoporosis
• Medications taken
• Any fractures you have incurred
• Lifestyle, activities and exercise pattern
• General intake of calcium and vitamin D
• Menstrual history for women

If your doctor believes you have osteoporosis, he/she may let you do any of these procedures.

X-rays. If a person is complaining about lower back pains and/or a decrease in height due to a stooped posture, this procedure may be be advised. 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. One of the most accurate ways of determining the health of your bones is through a BMD test. 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 cases, quantitative computed tomography (QCT) can be also be used to show loss of BMD. 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. Due to the reports about one osteoporosis-preventive medicine called Fosamax, everyone are now careful of procedures task to help this bone condition. 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

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