Diagnosing Osteoporosis
When all the risk factors are duly considered, no one is safe from osteoporosis, medical experts say. As of the latest count, more than 10 million Americans, both men and women, have already been identified to have acquired this brittle bone disease with 34 million more at high risk. So that health plans will be initiated sooner, detecting the disease before it develops further is crucial. A discovery was then made regarding how osteoporosis can be prevented through protein-rich diet.
Many people push hard in preventing or treating osteoporosis, although some of their measures may not be therapeutic at all. For instance, soy supplements do not lessen symptoms of osteoporosis which many have included in their treatment regimen.
To determine if you are a candidate for osteoporosis, your bone mineral density (BMD) is being measured. The role of screening for osteoporosis is very crucial on your therapy; hence, listed below are some procedures that you might get to meet during checkup.
Dexa Scan (Dual X-ray Absorptiometry or DXA)
In measuring BMD, most doctors prefer DXA. A DXA machine produces 2 x-ray beams with different energy levels one beam has higher while the other has lower energy level. BMD is measured by the amount of x-rays passing through the bone which profiles their.
Quantitative Computed Tomography
QCT bone densitometry uses high amount of exposure to radiation and costs a lot of money causing it to be unavailable for general clinical use. The method uses a CT scanner to get an accurate status of your bone. The mechanism of action for QCT still uses a CT scanner and because it is 3 dimensional, this procedure is 2-3 times more sensitive that DXA scan.
Ultrasonography
Quite a new diagnostic tool to determine your BMD, the ultrasound does not use radiation. The sonar beam is directed to a certain area where the scattering and the absorption of the waves will allow the assessment of BMD. Perhaps because it's a relatively new tool, the results of ultrasound however, is not as precise as the previous two methods and considerable studies are still being conducted.
Living everyday when you are dealing with osteoporosis is never easy. The bouts of the disease itself may already be a great suffering; and if you are taking bisphosphonates, the adverse effects of the drug may also be another. For instance, some long-term Fosamax users claimed they have been harmed by the prolonged use of the drug which triggered them to file a lawsuit against its maker. Now, as these lawsuits kept on increasing in number, the makers of the drug have to face a Fosamax class action lawsuit.
Many people push hard in preventing or treating osteoporosis, although some of their measures may not be therapeutic at all. For instance, soy supplements do not lessen symptoms of osteoporosis which many have included in their treatment regimen.
To determine if you are a candidate for osteoporosis, your bone mineral density (BMD) is being measured. The role of screening for osteoporosis is very crucial on your therapy; hence, listed below are some procedures that you might get to meet during checkup.
Dexa Scan (Dual X-ray Absorptiometry or DXA)
In measuring BMD, most doctors prefer DXA. A DXA machine produces 2 x-ray beams with different energy levels one beam has higher while the other has lower energy level. BMD is measured by the amount of x-rays passing through the bone which profiles their.
Quantitative Computed Tomography
QCT bone densitometry uses high amount of exposure to radiation and costs a lot of money causing it to be unavailable for general clinical use. The method uses a CT scanner to get an accurate status of your bone. The mechanism of action for QCT still uses a CT scanner and because it is 3 dimensional, this procedure is 2-3 times more sensitive that DXA scan.
Ultrasonography
Quite a new diagnostic tool to determine your BMD, the ultrasound does not use radiation. The sonar beam is directed to a certain area where the scattering and the absorption of the waves will allow the assessment of BMD. Perhaps because it's a relatively new tool, the results of ultrasound however, is not as precise as the previous two methods and considerable studies are still being conducted.
Living everyday when you are dealing with osteoporosis is never easy. The bouts of the disease itself may already be a great suffering; and if you are taking bisphosphonates, the adverse effects of the drug may also be another. For instance, some long-term Fosamax users claimed they have been harmed by the prolonged use of the drug which triggered them to file a lawsuit against its maker. Now, as these lawsuits kept on increasing in number, the makers of the drug have to face a Fosamax class action lawsuit.