Bone Health

At St. Elizabeth Healthcare, we’re committed to helping you prevent osteoporosis-related fractures and slow bone loss. We offer individual assessments and bone density testing to identify and treat the disease to prevent broken bones.

Call Pre-Access: (877) 424-5750

Women and Osteoporosis

Although men can get osteoporosis, women make up the majority of people affected by the disease – 80%, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Consider these facts from the National Women’s Resource Center:

  • Women are four times more likely than men to get osteoporosis.
  • The number of fractures in women caused by osteoporosis is greater than the number of heart attacks, strokes and cases of breast cancer combined.
  • Women can lose up to 20% of their bone mass in the first five to seven years after menopause.

Why Bone Density Testing Is Important

Osteoporosis is a treatable disease that thins and weakens your bones. Up until age 30, your body builds more new bone tissue than it breaks down, but that changes as you get older. In the first few years after menopause, most women go through rapid bone loss. Although the process slows, it continues during your postmenopausal years. Bone loss related to osteoporosis usually doesn’t cause symptoms in the early stages. In fact, many women don’t realize they have the disease until they start to feel pain or break a bone.

Schedule an Appointment

You need a doctor’s order to schedule a DEXA scan. Call pre-access at (877) 424-5750 to schedule an appointment or speak with your primary care provider.

What You Can Do to Prevent Bone Loss

Our healthcare experts offer advice to help slow bone loss with healthy lifestyle changes, such as:

  • Eat a well-balanced diet.
  • Don’t smoke – quit today with our Freedom from Smoking program.
  • Exercise regularly.
  • Get enough calcium and vitamin D.
  • Limit alcohol to no more than one drink a day.

 Common Risk Factors

  • Gender – Women get osteoporosis more often than men.
  • Age – The older you are, the greater your risk of osteoporosis.
  • Body size – Small, thin women are at greater risk.
  • Post-Menopausal – During the first few years of menopause, women go through rapids bone loss, increasing their risk of developing osteoporosis.
  • Ethnicity – White and Asian women are at highest risk.
  • Family history – Osteoporosis tends to run in families.

Take the Osteoporosis Risk Test

Take this one-minute online assessment from the International Osteoporosis Foundation to learn more about your risk of osteoporosis.

Bone Density Testing

DEXA Scan

 

Bone health is an important part of aging. If your physician is evaluating you for osteoporosis, he or she will order a DEXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) scan – a quick, painless and non-invasive test that measures bone mineral density.

  • What is a DEXA Scan?

    A DEXA scan measures your bone mass at specific locations like the hip and spine and sometimes the forearm. A DEXA scan can predict fracture risks, monitor bone loss, and detect undiagnosed vertebral fractures.

  • Should I get a DEXA Scan?

    Consult your primary care physician if you are a woman over 65, experiencing menopause, have a family history of osteoporosis, maintain a low body weight, recently had a bone fracture, or are a smoker. Men over 70 or those with specific medical conditions can also benefit from this non-invasive assessment for comprehensive bone health insights.

  • A DEXA scan does require a physician’s referral, so make sure to have a bone density conversation with your physician at your next wellness visit. Call (877) 424-5750 to learn more or to schedule an appointment for a bone health assessment at St. Elizabeth Women’s Health.

Schedule An Appointment Today

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Your well-being is our priority, and we’re excited to be part of your health journey. To schedule an appointment at one of our Women’s Health offices, please visit MyChart.

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