Determine Your Risk before Bones are Broken
RACELAND, LA – Ochsner St. Anne General Hospital in Raceland has installed a bone mineral density scanner from Lunar Prodigy Advance by General Electric. “We’re pleased to be one of the first in the area to offer this new technology for our patients,” says John Flannery, Director of Radiology at Ochsner St. Anne.
Years ago, the only time osteoporosis, a disease that causes bones to become more fragile and more likely to break, could be detected was after you broke a bone. By then, however, your bones might already be quite weak. “Today a bone density test, also called densitometry or DEXA scan, can determine if you have osteoporosis or are at risk for osteoporosis before you break any bones,” explains Flannery.
A bone density test uses special X-rays to measure how many grams of calcium and other bone minerals are packed into a segment of bone. The higher your mineral content, the denser your bones are. And, the denser your bones, the stronger they generally are and the less likely they are to break.
Routine bone density screenings are recommended for women age 65 and older or women age 60 who are at an increased risk for osteoporosis. A doctor can recommend the best screening interval based on a patient’s medical history and osteoporosis risk factors. Bone density testing is also indicated for both male and younger females that fall in the osteoporosis risk category. And, it can be used to follow the effectiveness of a calcium therapy treatment plan for patients diagnosed with osteoporosis.
Some of the risk factors include age, race, personal and family histories. The older you get, the higher your risk of osteoporosis because your bones become weaker as you age. Caucasian women and those of Southeast Asian descent are at greatest risk. African American and Hispanic men and women have a lower, but still significant, risk. Other risk factors for osteoporosis include low body weight, a personal history of fractures, a family history of osteoporosis and using certain medications that can cause bone loss.
For more information call Ochsner at 1-866-OCHSNER or visit www.ochsner.org/stanne. Office hours are Monday – Friday from 8:00am – 5:00pm.
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