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Bone Density Tests/DEXA-scan
Our Lady of
Bellefonte Hospital (OLBH) now has available to patients the area's best
precision in diagnosing osteoporosis and bone disease. The new DEXA-scan
bone densitometer offers up to 40 percent more accuracy compared to competing
bone densitometers.
Osteoporosis occurs when the body loses bone faster than it can be replaced.
When bones become weak and have a greater likelihood of breaking, hip or
other fractures become a risk. OLBH's DEXA-scan identifies the density of
bones to determine risk for osteoporosis, fractures and broken bones. The
equipment, which can estimate a patient's fracture risk for a 10-year period,
was purchased using funds raised during the OLBH Foundation's Paint the
Town Pink event in September.
A bone scan
using the DEXA-scan is similar to an x-ray. The process is quick (approximately
10-20 minutes) and painless. A patient relaxes on a cushioned bed during
the scan. A bone density test is recommended every one to two years to measure
changes in bone density. Women in particular are susceptible, as four out
of five people with osteoporosis are women. Annually, women suffer more
fractures due to osteoporosis than they do heart attacks, strokes and cases
of breast cancer combined.
OLBH offers a full range of services to help ease the risks of osteoporosis
and to diagnose and treat the disease. For information on osteoporosis and
how to receive a DEXA-scan, contact the OLBH CareLine at (606) 833-CARE
(2273).
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