Did you know that May is Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month? While not nearly as talked about as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it’s just as important. Did you know that you can schedule an appointment at Bergen Imaging Center to be screened for the crippling disease?
Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens bones—reducing bone density, and making them more susceptible to fractures. While it is most common in postmenopausal women, it can also affect men, and even children.
Roughly 10 million Americans suffer from osteoporosis , while another 44 million have low bone density, and are at risk for developing the disease. That means that approximately 54 million people, or half of the population over the age of 50, are at risk for bone fractures.
Just because osteoporosis doesn’t get the same amount of attention as cancer or heart disease doesn’t make it any less serious—an estimated 20 percent of people who break a hip die within one year, and another 50 percent end up in a nursing home.
While there is no sure fire way to prevent osteoporosis or loss of bone density—maintaining a healthy diet, incorporating strength training into your workouts, and avoiding tobacco and alcohol can lower your risk.
It’s also important to discuss risk factors with your doctor, and find out if you could benefit from DXA bone density testing.
Bone Mineral Densitometry, more commonly referred to as bone density screening, is a non-invasive diagnostic tool that measures bone density using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) technology.
The procedure is quick and painless, and patients are exposed to minimal levels of radiation—equivalent to roughly one day of background radiation from natural sources.
If it’s time for your bone density screening, give us a call at 201.568.4242, or visit us online to schedule your appointment.