Osteoporosis is a disease that reduces the strength of your bones, causing them to become brittle, less dense and considerably more prone to fractures. Osteoporosis affects more than 20 million women and 5 million men in this country, primarily over the age of 50. A woman's risk for osteoporosis related injury, such as a hip fracture, is equal to the combined risk of developing breast, uterine and ovarian cancer.
Until recently, osteoporosis was often undiagnosed, progressing silently over the years, until a fracture occurred. With the development of DEXA, early diagnosis is possible and fractures associated with this disease can be prevented. It is apparent that early diagnosis, therapeutic interventions and use of bone density testing to diagnose and monitor osteoporosis have enabled physicians with technology and treatment options that were unavailable in the past. We now have the tools not only to identify, but overcome Osteoporosis.