Dexa Scan
offering Bone Density (DEXA Scan) for Osteoporosis Screenings at Pinehurst Surgical Clinic
Did you know that both men and women will lose bone strength as they grow older? Throughout childhood and young adulthood, bones grow in strength and size. However, around the age of 30, bones reach their peak strength and begin to weaken.
We proudly offer bone density tests to patients throughout Central North Carolina, South Carolina and beyond. Through this test, our physicians can determine a patient’s level of bone loss and subsequently detect and diagnose osteoporosis.
What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a condition where bones become weak to the point of breaking. Symptoms of osteoporosis do not typically occur until a significant amount of bone strength has been lost. The most visible symptoms of the disease include loss of height, as well as excessive curvature of the upper back. Osteoporosis may also result in a crippling and painful fracture, occurring most often in the hip, back or wrist.
Osteoporosis Risk Factors
Although loss of bone strength is most often associated with natural aging, there are many additional factors that may contribute to a patient’s osteoporosis. Some of the most common risk factors of osteoporosis include:
- Female
- Caucasian
- Advanced age
- History of bone fracture
- Small, thin frame
- Family history of osteoporosis
- Removal of the ovaries
- Early menopause
- Low calcium diet
- Lack of exercise
- Eating disorders
- Certain medicines (such as steroids)
- Alcohol and tobacco use
Women are known to have a higher risk for osteoporosis than men because they often have smaller, thinner frames. Menopause may speed up the onset of osteoporosis in our female patients as well. Post-menopause, a woman’s body will produce less estrogen, a hormone that helps protect her body against bone loss.
At Pinehurst Surgical Clinic, our doctors offer a variety of health maintenance services related to bone loss prevention, breast cancer prevention, and much more.
Frequently Asked Questions About Osteoporosis
How do I know if I have osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is often called the “silent disease” because there are rarely signs of the disease until a significant amount of bone has been lost. For this reason, a bone density test is the best way to screen for osteoporosis. At Pinehurst Surgical, we offer the bone densitometry test, which uses small amounts of X-ray to measure the amount of bone mineral in a patient.
How does the densitometer work?
The bone densitometer uses small amounts of X-ray to produce images of the spine or hip. The X-ray is composed of two energy levels, which are absorbed differently by the bones in the body. The technical term for the method is “dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry,” or DEXA. A computer is able to determine from these differences how much bone mineral density (BMD) is present.
Pinehurst Surgical Clinic is a multi-specialty clinic comprised of ten specialty centers located in a state-of-the-art surgical facility in Pinehurst, NC. We also have six additional locations in Laurinburg, Hamlet, Raeford, Rockingham, Sanford and Troy and serve patients throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, and beyond.