Elderly women who suffer from severe osteoporosis experience hip, wrist, spine and other traumatic fractures from minor falls that would normally not occur in young adults. Hip fractures in elderly people can be difficult to treat and sometimes require prosthetic hip reconstruction and painful rehabilitation. Around age 35, this process balances out. If bone loss becomes severe, a woman may develop osteoporosis. The key to avoiding severe effects from osteoporosis is prevention .
BMD tests measure the amount of calcium and collagen in specific regions in the bones.
DEXA is a quick, painless test that accurately measures a patient s bone density. Elderly women and others at risk for osteoporosis are encouraged to have routine BMD tests. This way, technologists may compare current calcium and collagen levels to previous test results and determine whether a substantial decrease has occurred. If a patient s bone density is found to be lower than normal, she should consider treatment options that will increase bone density and strength. Copyright 1997-2001 Imaginis Corporation.