As a woman, you’re at risk for osteoporosis as you age. Osteoporosis is a bone-thinning disease that can cause bones to become weak and fragile. Low bone mass, also called osteopenia, is a condition that can lead to osteoporosis and also gradually makes bones more fragile and more susceptible to fractures. The spine, hip and wrist are areas most vulnerable to effects of osteoporosis. While osteoporosis can affect women and men, it is much more common in women after menopause.
Millions of women are affected by these disorders, and the best way to protect yourself is maintaining a healthy lifestyle for prevention and early detection if you have osteopenia or osteoporosis. The DEXA (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry) scan is considered the best screening method to detect low bone mass. It is a non-invasive and painless test. We encourage this test in our patients who we consider at risk for osteoporosis.
