Osteoporosis, commonly known as brittle bone disease, affects an estimated 44 million Americans with the majority of people affected aged 55 and older. Eighty percent of osteoporosis sufferers are women. Since osteoporosis and the related condition osteopenia can lead to spontaneous bone fractures, it is important to detect bone loss in its earliest stages. The good news is that osteoporosis/osteopenia is preventable! The bone density scans at AccuImaging’s facility in PearlRidge and can give you the early osteopenia/osteoporosis diagnosis you and your doctor need to stay healthy.
For more information, review the information below and contact our radiology facilities.
- What is osteoporosis/osteopenia?
- Why is a bone density scan important?
- Does osteoporosis screening hurt? Is it accurate?
- What should I do after an osteoporosis/osteopenia diagnosis?
- Why is AccuImaging's scanner different than heel scanners or other older DEXA machines?
- Will insurance cover my bone density scan?
Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by bones losing the calcium and structure that keep them strong. This is a very common disease in older men and post-menopausal women, especially Caucasian and Southeast Asian women.
Since the disease causes bones to become brittle and weak, those with osteoporosis are prone to fractures, especially in their hips, spine, and wrist. In the past, it was thought that those with osteoporosis broke their bones by falling. It is now known that severely weakened bones can spontaneously break, leading to a fall.
Hip fractures are of particular concern, because they typically necessitate major surgery followed by hospitalization, and can cause permanent disability and even death.
Osteopenia is a decrease in the mineral density of bones that can be, but is not always, a precursor to osteoporosis. As with osteoporosis, it is associated with the loss of estrogen that accompanies menopause in women.
An early osteopenia or osteoporosis diagnosis is the key to preventing debilitating fractures. AccuImaging Kapolei offers osteopenia/osteoporosis testing, known as a bone density scan, at our Kapolei office in Leeward Oahu, as well as at our Kapahulu facility in East Oahu. A bone density scan can give your physician an osteopenia or osteoporosis diagnosis before you break any bones, or indicate whether you are at risk for either condition. A bone density scan lets patients find out if they have the early signs of bone loss and take steps to prevent further loss.
Osteoporosis testing uses special, low-dose X-rays to measure how much bone mineral content is packed into a given segment of bone. Dense bones contain more calcium. And the denser your bones are, the stronger they are, and thus less likely to break.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends osteoporosis screening for all women over 65, or those who are 60 but are at increased risk for developing osteoporosis. Risk factors for the disease include low body weight, a personal history of bone breakage, a family history of osteoporosis, and the use of certain medications such as steroids and anti-seizure medications that can cause bone loss.
Patients from all over Oahu have found that a bone density scan is fast, easy, and painless when performed at AccuImaging’s state-of-the-art facilities. The test takes only about 15 minutes, during which the client lies quietly on a comfortable bed on the scanner. The scanner emits low-dose X-rays and creates images of the spine, hip, or wrist. The scan exposes the patient to a tiny amount of radiation, about one-fiftieth that of a chest X-ray.
This method of osteoporosis testing is very precise, and can even detect whether you have osteopenia – a condition in which bone density is slightly lower than usual. The test is precise enough to give an early osteopenia/osteoporosis diagnosis, so a fracture can be prevented by taking the necessary steps to halt or slow bone loss.
A bone density scan can determine whether our patients have weakening bones, but it can’t tell you the cause. To find out the cause of bone loss, you will need a complete medical evaluation, which will help your doctor better interpret the results of the scan.
The key to treating osteoporosis is to treat the underlying disease and to prevent fractures before they strike.
Generally, patients at risk for osteoporosis or osteopenia are treated with vitamin D and calcium supplements. Those with osteoporosis or osteopenia, or those who are at high risk, can be treated with an array of prescription medications such as Fosamax® and Actonel®. There is also an exciting new class of drugs called Dual Action Bone Agents, which actually stimulate the growth of bone-building cells. The exact treatment regimen will be provided by your doctor after he receives the results of the bone density test.
Your doctor may also recommend dietary changes and exercise. Weight-bearing exercises like jogging and walking treat osteoporosis and osteopenia by improving bone mineral density and developing major muscle groups, which reduces the risk of falls. In addition, increasing your intake of calcium, vitamin D, and other supplements such as magnesium has been shown to improve bone density.
Many Oahu patients are able to stay active for years after their diagnosis. Indeed, staying active is an excellent way to prevent osteoporosis from ever developing, and to prevent fractures and further bone loss if you are diagnosed with the condition.
AccuImaging has the latest in bone density technology. Our scanner was designed to provide the most comprehensive combination of clinical and productivity solutions ever offered. AccuImaging's scanner also has over 40 percent better precision, in addition to direct digital acquisition of the patient's images which can then be transmitted via the Internet for quick and precise interpretation during annual or follow-up exams. Our scanners are the same at any of our locations; they are calibrated exactly the same, which allows the radiologist to have confidence in the quality of the exam and also be capable of retrieving earlier studies from our digital storage archive for comparison.
Bone density scans are not covered by all health insurance plans, so check with your insurance provider. Medicare pays for osteoporosis screening in a few specific situations. To learn more about osteoporosis testing and osteopenia diagnosis, contact our radiologist practice today.
AccuImaging Pearlridge
PearlRidge Shopping Center Uptown II, Top Level
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MRI
Mon - Fri: 8:00AM - 8:00PM Saturday: 8:00AM - 4:00PM
CT, X-Ray, DEXA
Mon - Fri: 8:00AM - 5:00PM Saturday: 8:00AM - 1:00PM
Ultrasound
Mon, Wed: 8:00AM - 4:00PM Saturday: 8:00AM - noon
Sunday & Holidays: Closed
If you’re interested in osteopenia/osteoporosis screening or diagnosis, contact AccuImaging today. We can give you a painless and highly accurate bone density scan at our facility.