Bone Density
Stomach ache. Sore throat. Rash. These are clear indications that you may have the flu, strep throat or poison ivy. Unfortunately, some health conditions don’t have such clear symptoms. Osteoporosis is one of them.
Osteoporosis means “porous bone,” and it's the medical term for severely low bone mass. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, one in two women over the age of 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis in their lifetime. Additionally, 54 million Americans have low or thinning bone mass—called osteopenia—a precursor to osteoporosis.
Females have an increased risk of developing osteoporosis; however, it also affects men.
Along with gender, risk factors include:
Since there are no clear indicators of thinning bone mass, osteoporosis oftentimes isn’t diagnosed until a person breaks a bone. Fortunately, Reedsburg Area Medical Center (RAMC) has several resources to help patients prevent the loss of bone mass, catch osteoporosis before a break and manage it once its been diagnosed.
The first step to utilizing these resources is visiting with Liz Hank, Physician Assistant, Fracture Liaison Coordinator. In this role, Liz works with the RAMC Physicians Group providers to focus on each patient’s bone health. One way she does this is by educating patients on ways to maintain overall bone density, which helps prevent the development or worsening of osteopenia or osteoporosis.
Liz also works with the RAMC orthopedic physicians to assist patients who’ve experienced a break learn about management and treatment options like medication.
A second way RAMC helps patients keep up on their bone health is an on-site bone density scanner. This is the most accurate method for looking at bone density and diagnosing osteoporosis. It is a painless procedure that uses a low-dose x-ray to measure bone density at the low back, hip and occasionally the wrist.
Bone density screenings are recommended for:
A third bone health resource at RAMC is Strong Woman, a program that focuses on progressive weight training, flexibility and balance.