Osteoporosis

Some Basic Facts

Osteoporosis is a condition of low bone mass which can lead to life-threatening fractures.

Osteoporosis is a silent disease, sometimes going undetected for many years until a fracture occurs.

About 25 million Americans are at risk for fractures, primarily because of fragile bones from osteoporosis.

In the United States, nearly 1.5 million fractures occur each year, often with devastating consequences.

A 50 year-old woman has up to a 50 percent chance of at least one major osteoporotic fracture during her remaining life.

At least 20 percent of hip fracture patients die within six months from complications; more than 50 percent never return to independent living. 

Diagnosis

Osteoporosis screening uses a bone density scan - the latest in bone mass measurement. The screening is:

Informative - a valuable test in predicting likelihood of fracture
Safe - very low X-ray radiation, about half that received during a trans-Atlantic flight
Fast - measures bone density of spine and hips in less than 90 seconds
Accurate - scans are analyzed by computer to precisely measure bone loss over time
Painless - actually comfortable
Interesting - almost fun
Easy - requrires no special preparation

For additional information, please call (631) 444-4000.