Osteoporosis Detection : : Critical Care 2011

Anyone?may?get osteoporosis because of its all-encompassing risk factors. Right now, more than 10 million Americans both men and women have already been afflicted with this major health problem and 34 million moreare?at?a?great risk. Detecting this disease at an early rate is essential so that interventions are done?promptly?to prevent the disease from further developing.

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People wield so much effort to thwart or to treat osteoporosis; yet some of their practices may not be helping at all.

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To determine if you are a candidate for osteoporosis, your bone mineral density (BMD) is being measured. Osteoporosis screenings play a very significant role in your therapy and here are some of the?diagnostic?procedures you might encounter during?check-up.

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Dexa Scan (Dual X-ray Absorptiometry or DXA)

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In measuring BMD, most doctors prefer DXA. A DXA scanner produces?two?x-ray beams with different energy levels, one beam with high energy while the other with low energy level. BMD is measured by the amount of x-rays passing through the bone which profiles their.

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Quantitative Computed Tomography

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QCT bone densitometry, on the other hand, requires higher amount of exposure to radiation, not to mention its higher cost, making it less common in general clinical use. This method uses a CT scanner to get a detailed picture of your bones. The mechanism of action for QCT still uses a CT scanner and because it is 3-dimensional. This procedure is 2-3 times more sensitive than?DXA scan.

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Ultrasonography

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Quite a new diagnostic tool to determine your BMD, the ultrasound does not use radiation. The sonar beam is directed to a certain area where the scattering and the absorption of the waves will allow the assessment of BMD. The results,however, are not as precise as the other methods previously mentioned and perhaps considerable research is still needed for this relatively new screening method.

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Life with osteoporosis is never a joke. The disease itself is already a big distress and the adverse effects of its treatment drug bisphosphonates may also be another. Take the case of some long-term Fosamax users who are now pursuing a lawsuit?against the manufacturer of the drug after allegedly being harmed by the drug which is why?Fosamax and osteonecrosis of the jaw?is such a big issue.

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Source: http://www.criticalcare2011.org/osteoporosis-detection

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