Additional specific indications depend on the individual clinical profile of patients and left to the discretion of the caring physician.

Bone mineral density scans are important to monitoring your bone health, especially as you age. Find out how this scan detects bone brittleness. There are many respiratory illnesses caused by irritants in the workplace and at home. Find out what Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome (RADS) and Irritant Induced Asthma (IIA) are and how they differ.

With normal aging, underlying medical conditions, use of medications and family history of osteoporosis/fractures, bones can weaken and fracture. The most common cause of bone weakening is osteoporosis. As the bones weaken, the probability of fractures increases. In the U.S. today, 10 million people already have the disease and 18 million more have low bone mass resulting in an increased risk for the disease and fracture. Osteoporosis is responsible for more than 1-2 million fractures per year.

Recent guidelines issued by the National Osteoporosis Foundation recommend bone mineral density testing for the following individuals:

No, each woman should be assessed by her doctor about the risk of developing osteoporosis and be referred for a bone density measurement if necessary.

If you are using medications that are known to cause bone loss, including corticosteroids such as Prednisone, various anti-seizure medications such as Dilantin and certain barbiturates, or high-dose thyroid replacement drugs.

Yes. Research shows that female tea drinkers had much stronger bones than non-tea drinkers. Tea drinkers had 5% more bone mineral density at the lumbar spine, indicating a 10% to 20% lower fracture risk. Researchers speculate that isoflavonoid chemicals in tea may have a weak estrogenic effect, reducing bone deterioration and osteoporosis risk. Click here for more on tea's health benefits.

The Bone Density Scan can accurately predict who is at increased risk for fractures and be used to accurately follow those with osteoporosis for worsening or improvement. It can be used to guide treatment of this potentially devastating disease. The Bone Density Scan uses electron beam tomography to measure bone density. Quantitative Computed Tomography is the GOLD Standard for bone densitometry.

A diagnosis of osteoporosis is defined in terms of standard deviations from the average peak bone mass. The World Health Organization defines osteoporosis as a bone mineral density 2.5 standard deviations below that of a normal healthy 30 year old. Those who are between 1 and 2.5 standard deviations below the norm are defined as having osteopenia or low bone mass. Individuals within one standard deviation of the 30-year-old norm are considered to be at low risk for osteoporotic fracture.

The federal 1997 Balanced Budget Act passed by Congress includes a provision that outlines how Medicare is to cover densitometry testing. Uniform coverage of bone mass measurements under Medicare Part B went into effect July 1, 1998. Previously, interpretation of guidelines on this subject was left up to the individual carriers. The Act authorizes coverage for testing for individuals who fall into the following categories: These benefits apply to all Medicare plans, including managed care plans.

A bone density test measures how much bone you have. The size and density of a bone influences strongly whether or not it will break, so measuring the density of a bone can be used to estimate its risk of breaking. However, there is no need to measure the density of every bone in the body. Osteoporosis is a global disease that affects the whole skeleton, some parts more than others, but all to some extent, so that measuring any one bone helps to estimate your overall risk for fracture.

Bone densitometry is performed to investigate osteoporosis. The purpose is to establish the presence of the disease with certainty because a person who suffers from the disease will be more susceptible to fractures. The risk can be significantly reduced by early prevention and treatment of the disease. Measurement of the calcium content of bone (also known as bone densitometry) is the basis of any diagnostic procedure for osteoporosis.

A study at the Pacific Health Research Institute in Honolulu was designed to provide concrete data on the restoration of bone mass in post-menopausal females. Bone density rose with an average of 5.6%. At the university of Graz in Austria a similar study clearly showed an increase in bone density after one year of around 6%. These results make all the difference in functioning in good health or suffering with an increasing risk for spontaneous fractures.

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A bone density test, sometimes called a Dexa scan, is a bone density measurement, which indicates how solid bones are, and how strongly they are fortified by calcium. The bone density test is a very simple procedure using a very low dose of radiation. The patient lies down on the scan table and two images are taken, one of the spine and one of the hip. The computer generates images of the region scanned. The computer, to obtain the bone mineral density value, then analyzes the images.

A bone density test is a very simple exam to determine the status of osteoporosis. You will be asked to lie on a comfortable table and a sponge will be placed under your knees for more comfort. The actual scan will only take about 15 minutes. The technologist will make an image of your spine and one image of your hip. After these images are made you will be allowed to get up.

The National Osteoporosis Foundation's recommendations specify that the following people should have bone density measurement: Postmenopausal women who have one or more risk factors for osteoporotic fracture other then menopause

Osteoporosis is a silent, progressive disease that can have crippling effects on both women and men. There are 44 million men (20%) and women (80%) in the United States with either osteoporosis or low bone mass. Reduced bone strength can lead to fractures resulting in loss of mobility and independence. Osteoporosis is responsible for over 1.5 million fractures, of which 300,000 are hip fractures.

Your examination may be the easiest medical test you will experience. Certified Technologists with specialty training in bone densitometry will conduct the exam. You will be positioned on the exam table on your back while a scanner passes over one area of your skeleton, usually the lower spine and hip. You will not feel anything during the exam. Lie still. Breathe normally. Rest comfortably.

Norwalk Radiology utilizes "Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry" (DEXA) technology which offers an extremely low x-ray dose. The amount of radiation for a Bone Density scan is only a fraction of that received from a standard chest x-ray. It is comparable to the amount received on a transcontinental flight. The DEXA method produces less radiation than other methods such as QCT.

Bone densitometry is a safe, painless X-ray technique that compares your bone density to the peak bone density that someone of your same sex and ethnicity should have reached at about age 20 to 25, when it is at it's highest. It is often performed in women at the time of menopause. Several types of bone densitometry are used today to detect bone loss in different areas of the body.

During the study, participants at three of the WHI clinical centers had regular bone mineral density scans. Analysis of these scans showed that women taking active CaD supplements did have significantly higher hip bone density than those taking placebo. There are several possible explanations why participants in the active CaD group had higher bone density, but no significant difference in hip fractures.

If you have a fracture from a simple fall, that is a good indicator that you have osteoporosis. But you don't want to wait until you have a fracture to find out if you might be at risk.

The model calculates fracture risk using the deviation of your patient's BMD from that expected for age (the lower of the hip or spine Z-scores). T-scores were not used because the model compares individual risk with risk in the population of women of the same age, i.e., Z-score). The T-score compares BMD between the patient and young normals--and is not appropriate to use in this model.

In the new 2006 medical textbook titled Vitamin D: New Research, published by Nova, you will find a chapter written by Waterhouse JC, Marshall TG, Fenter B, Mangin M, Blaney G on High levels of active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D despite low levels of the 25-hydroxyvitamin D precursor - Implications of dysregulated vitamin D for diagnosis and treatment of Chronic Disease A copy of the chapter can be found at this Internet address:

Yes, your doctor must provide a referral (prescription) in order for you to receive a bone density scan. In addition, some insurance carriers or HMO's require a precertification. Please discuss this with your doctor and your insurance company or HMO prior to your test. Medicare requires a "Certificate of Medical Necessity" which your doctor will complete.

Do not take calcium supplements the day of the exam. Wear any kind of clothing you like, but please avoid metal buttons or buckles.