Vim & Vigor - Fall 2011 - Community Healthcare - (Page 49)

Fall By AngelA Moore Before the Why you need to get ‘dem bones’ checked O steoporosis is often viewed as a silent disease because most people do not know they have it until they experience a fracture. One way to detect bone thinning that can lead to osteoporosis is to undergo a bone density scan. “In the past, osteoporosis could only be detected after you broke a bone,” says Sally Villarreal, R.T.(R), coordinator for St. Catherine Hospital’s Women’s Diagnostic Center. “By that time, however, your bones could be quite weak. A bone density test makes it possible to know your risk of breaking bones before the fact.” Osteoporosis is a major public health threat, affecting an estimated 44 million Americans, which is about 55 percent of people age 50 and older. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, 10 million Americans have the disease, and an estimated 34 million have low bone density, which places them at increased risk for developing the disease. Using an X-ray, the test measures how many grams of calcium and other bone minerals are packed into a segment of bone. A bone density test is a fairly accurate predictor of your risk of fracture. If you have increased risk factors for osteoporosis, your doctor may recommend a DXA scan of the hip and spine—bones most susceptible to fracture. Your doctor may also recommend a DXA scan if you are a woman older than 65, or over 60 with one or more risk factors, including prior fragility fracture, heavy smoking, excessive alcohol intake, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic renal, liver, inflammatory bowel or respiratory disease, celiac disease or other risks. What’s a Bone Density test? A bone density test can help determine whether you have osteoporosis or are at risk of osteoporosis. This simple, noninvasive procedure is known as a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA or DEXA) scan and it can be performed with equipment that measures bone density in the hip and spine. The scan usually takes less than 15 minutes and the patient remains fully dressed. a seconD option to Measure Bone Density Another way to determine risk of osteoporosis is a peripheral bone mineral density (BMD) screening. This screening provides a baseline measure for those at risk. Testing helps determine risk for fragility fractures—fractures occurring without significant trauma. The screening uses a small, portable machine to measure BMD at the periphery of your skeleton, such as your heel. A peripheral bone mineral density screening is used to provide a baseline measure for those at risk for osteoporosis. Testing helps determine risk for fragility fractures, which occur without significant trauma. caLL St. Catherine Hospital offers free bone density screenings on campus once per month. Screening tests cannot be used for the diagnosis of osteoporosis or to measure your progress over time. If you have never been tested for osteoporosis, screenings give information about your risk and help determine if you need the central bone density test of your hip and spine. Call 219-836-3477 or toll-free, 866-836-3477, for more information and to register. FREE Monthly Screenings Vim & Vigor • Fal l 2011 49

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Fall 2011 - Community Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2011 - Community Healthcare
Contents
Community Message
Community Briefs
Special: A Healthy Weight for Life
Healthy Hues
The New Survivors
First (Aid) Things First
Find Your Groove
Cover Story: Carrie Underwood
Stay in Circulation
‘X’ Marks the Spot
Pregnancy Predictors
Play It Safe
Before the Fall
SPOTLIGHT ON: St. Catherine Hospital
SPOTLIGHT ON: St. Mary Medical Center
SPOTLIGHT ON: Community Hospital
The Big Picture

Vim & Vigor - Fall 2011 - Community Healthcare