Evaluating your Bone Strength -- DEXA Scan
If you're at risk for osteoporosis, your health
care provider may recommend a special test --
called a DEXA scan -- to evaluate the strength
and density of your bones. DEXA -- which stands
for dual energy X-ray absorptiometry -- measures
mineral density in different parts of the body,
most often the spine and the hip.
A DEXA scan is similar to an X-ray, except it
uses far less radiation -- about one-fifth that
of a standard chest X-ray. The scan is a simple,
painless procedure that takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
You lie on a table while an imager passes over
you, measuring bone density at the hip and spine.
Your bone mineral density (BMD) is compared to
the average BMD found at peak bone mass (achieved
between ages 20 to 30) and given a T-score. The
T-score is used to predict fracture risk and to
diagnose osteoporosis. Also, your BMD is compared
with the average for a healthy person of the same
age, producing a Z-score. Your Z-score helps detect
whether conditions other than aging and osteoporosis
are causing bone loss.
While DEXA can be helpful, it's not always covered
by insurance and shouldn't necessarily be included
in routine screening at menopause. However, a
DEXA scan can help you decide whether to choose
hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and can be
used to monitor the effects of therapies to slow
bone loss, such as HRT or biphosphonates.
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