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Osteoporosis
Screening
Osteoporosis affects 25 percent of women
over the age of 60. This debilitating disease
often shows no symptoms until the damage
is done - bone structure that has deteriorated
to the point that it causes severe pain
or fractures. Broken hips, bone pain and
dowager's hump are results of brittle bones
weakened by osteoporosis. Women are at greatest
risk for osteoporosis after menopause. Other
risk factors include:
- Early menopause
(before age 45)
- Caucasian or Asian
ethnicity
- Thin or small build
- Family history of
osteoporosis
- Smoking
- Excessive alcohol
use
- Inactive lifestyle
Roper St. Francis Healthcare has a state-of-the-art
bone densitometer, which helps diagnose osteoporosis before it causes
irreparable damage. The bone densitometer determines bone mineral
density and estimates risk of a fracture during a simple, safe,
painless and non-invasive procedure. In a few short minutes, the
procedure rates the patient's bone density against those of healthy,
young adult bones and against age-matched controls. The bone density
screen can also be used to monitor the effectiveness of therapy
designed to prevent or reverse osteoporosis. Your doctor can help
you decide if you should have a bone density screen.
Menopause
It is estimated that 55 million American
women are now over the age of 50. The average woman will spend one-third
to one-half of her life in menopause. Roper St. Francis Healthcare
primary care and OB/GYN physicians can provide valuable information
and guidance to women who are making the transition from peri-menopause
to menopause. The services we have in place for the maturing female:
- Referral based consultation.
- Educational programs
emphasizing risks and benefits of hormone
replacement and alternative medication
for women who are unable to use hormone
replacement therapy.
- Nutrition and exercise
consultations, bone density determination,
mammography, metabolic testing recommended
deemed appropriate.
- Group and individual consults.
- Written educational
materials.
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