Twenty-five million Americans have osteoporosis, the most common bone disease, and fifty thousand people die each year because of it. Yet, most of us know little about protecting ourselves from this disease.

Osteoporosis results in more than 1.5 million hip, spine and wrist fractures annually. This disorder affects nearly one-half of all post menopausal women, the largest group at high risk for osteoporosis.

Research in osteoporosis, the disorder in which progressive bone loss results in increased risk of fracture, is making important new advances. A key factor in this success has been the availability of new and improved equipment to measure bone density. Divine Savior Healthcare recently replaced its bone densitometer with a new, enhanced model that performs scans more quickly and accurately.

Using our bone densitometer technology, your physician can measure patient bone density and follow it over time. If your bone density is low, or decreases at an abnormally fast rate, you may be at risk for osteoporosis. Through changes in diet, exercise habits and/or medication, further deterioration of bone can be prevented.

"The Lunar bone densitometer measures the density of the spine, hip and other bones that are the most frequent sites of fracture," explains Dr. Cynthia Pickney, Internal Medicine physician at UW Health-Portage.

"In just 30 seconds, this highly precise densitometer helps us to identify patients with low bone mass, so that we can treat them earlier and prevent a fracture. It also allows us to evaluate the patient's response to treatment so that we know whether our therapy is effective, or if we need to modify our approach."

"Recent research findings clarify the nature of the disease and demonstrate the effectiveness of new treatments. New diagnostic devices, such as the Lunar bone densitometer improve the early detection and treatment of osteoporosis," adds Dr. John David, Internal Medicine physician at Divine Savior.

Divine Savior Healthcare encourages you to talk to your physician about osteoporosis, your risk factors and being evaluated for a bone density examination. "There is no special preparation involved for the patient. The exam is very brief and is a comfortable procedure for the patient," he says.

Low bone density pictured to the left indicates a high risk for osteoporosis, compared to normal bone density, pictured on the right. Enhanced technology, like that available at Divine Savior Healthcare, helps physicians identify high-risk cases more quickly and at an earlier stage.

For additional information, talk to your physician or call Divine Savior's Diagnostic Services at (608) 745-6295.