New bone grows to replace the lost bone. The rate of that new bone growth changes as you age. When you are young, the amount of bone formed is greater than the amount lost. As you get older, your body is less able to stay ahead of the bone loss. Osteoporosis is the loss of mineral in the bones, causing bone weakness and making you more prone to fractures.
Women are four times as likely to develop osteoporosis but men can also develop it.
The test takes approximately 45 minutes to complete. During the examination, the technologist will take a history of your risk factors. The machine will scan over your lower back and hip area, and an additional scan of your wrist may also be taken. Using a computer, a printout will be created for the radiologist to interpret. A report of your scan will be sent to your physician.