| Gynecology » Healthy Women » Bone Density Testing |
|
|
A bone density test is used to detect decreases in bone mass associated with osteoporosis. You may be at risk for osteoporosis if you have the following characteristics:
Smoke cigarettes daily
Drink more than three ounces of alcoholic beverages a day
Avoid milk and other dairy products
Get little or no exercise
Female who exercises excessively (long distance runner/ballerina)
Diet high in animal protein or red meat
Add high quantities of salt to diet
Vegetarian
Have an eating disorder and get too little nutritious foods
Eat high amounts of fiber
Heavy caffeine use
Have a family history of osteoporosis
White, northern European or Asian
Small bone framed, over 70 years old
WHO SHOULD HAVE BONE DENSITY TESTING?
Indivduals who have:
Low body weight
Cigarette smoker
Heavy alcohol intake
History of osteoporosis
Diet low in calcium
Have had a bone fracture in the past
Have taken medications that accelerate bone loss (Cortisteroids or Anti-seizure medications)
A BONE DENSITY TEST is a simple, painless, non-invasive test that uses low levels of radiation to scan the bones in your wrists and hips. The bone density is plotted on a graph so your bones can be compared to the peak bone mass. If a woman does not take hormone replacement therapy at menopause she should be screened for osteoporosis.
|
|
|
