SGCMH Women Health and Wellness Services – Bone Density Testing

Osteoporosis is a bones disease that happens when you lose too much bone; make too little bone or both. As a result, your bones become weak and may break from a minor fall or, in serious cases, even from simple actions, like sneezing or bumping into furniture.

Osteoporosis means “porous bone.” If you have osteoporosis, the holes and spaces in the honeycomb are much bigger than they are in healthy bone. This means your bones have lost density or mass and the structure of your bone tissue has become abnormal. As your bones become less dense, they also become weak and more likely to break. If you’re age 50 or older talk to your healthcare provider and ask if you should have a bone density test.

Bone Density Testing

Keeping your bones strong

Bone mass usually peaks between the ages of 25 and 35 and after the ages of 35, women begin to lose bone—a loss that accelerates after menopause. Eventually, if your bone loss goes unchecked, you develop a condition called osteoporosis.

The good news is that it’s possible to prevent osteoporosis and that starts with a quick and painless bone density test. Our Women’s Wellness Services uses Lunar DEXA technology, the “gold standard” for bone density testing. The test takes only a few minutes, and the results are mailed to your doctor so together you can determine if lifestyle changes or medications are needed to keep your bones strong.

Talk to your provider about bone density testing.