On absorptioetry day Dual-enrgy Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry procedure exam you can eat and drink normally. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Inc; Top herbal extracts Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry procedure must hold very still and may need to hold your breath for a few seconds while the technologist takes the x-ray. While research on the benefits of tai chi for osteoporosis is promising, researchers note the need for more rigorous studies.

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry procedure -

Your healthcare provider may recommend a DEXA scan if you have any of these other risk factors. DEXA scans should be used when the health benefits outweigh the risks.

Talk to your healthcare provider about any concerns you have before a DEXA scan. Find information on special considerations pregnant women and children. Learn more about the benefits and risks of imaging tests, including nuclear medicine, and how to reduce your exposure to radiation.

DEXA scans are different from other imaging procedures because they are used to screen for a specific condition. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.

Radiation and Your Health. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Radiation in Healthcare: Bone Density DEXA Scan Minus Related Pages. What You Should Know Your healthcare provider may recommend a DEXA scan to test for osteoporosis or thinning of your bones.

Nearly 1 in 5 women and 1 in 20 men over the age of 50 are affected by osteoporosis. Osteoporosis increases the risk for broken bones and can have serious effects in older adults.

What To Expect Before the procedure Make sure to let your healthcare provider or radiologist medical professional specially trained in radiation procedures if you are pregnant or think you may or could be pregnant.

But as bone density varies in different parts of the skeleton, more than one part of your body may be scanned. The forearm may be scanned for certain health problems, such as hyperparathyroidism , or if scans are not possible in the hip or spine. Some of the X-rays that are passed through your body will be absorbed by tissue, such as fat and bone.

An X-ray detector inside the scanning arm measures the amount of X-rays that have passed through your body. The scan usually takes 10 to 20 minutes. You'll be able to go home after you have had it done. A bone density scan compares your bone density with the bone density expected for a young healthy adult or a healthy adult of your own age, gender and ethnicity.

The difference is calculated as a standard deviation SD score. This measures the difference between your bone density and the expected value.

The difference between your measurement and that of a young healthy adult is known as a T score,. The doctor may want to follow up with a second DEXA scan in two years, to measure any changes.

If your results indicate osteopenia or osteoporosis, your doctor will discuss with you what you can do to slow bone loss and stay healthy. Treatment may simply involve lifestyle changes. Your doctor may advise you to start weight-bearing exercises , balance exercises, strengthening exercises, or a weight loss program.

If your osteoporosis is more severe, the doctor may advise that you take one of the many drugs that are designed to strengthen bones and lessen bone loss. Be sure to ask about side effects of any drug treatment. Making a lifestyle change or starting a medication to help slow your bone loss is a good investment in your health and longevity.

Studies suggest that 50 percent of women and 25 percent of men over 50 will break a bone because of osteoporosis, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation NOF. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Find out what exercises are best for building bone health, strengthening muscle, and improving balance. Learn how osteoporosis increases your likelihood of bone fractures, why postmenopausal women have a higher incidence of fractures, and how to reduce….

Dairy is the best source of calcium in the diet, the main mineral in bones. For this reason, milk is often recommended to optimize bone health. Calcium supplements can help you build strong bones. However, they may also cause negative health effects for many people.

Osteopaths and chiropractors are healthcare professionals who offer complementary forms of medicine. While they treat similar conditions, their…. The prevalence of osteoporosis describes how common this condition is within specific groups.

It's most common in women over the age of A bone density scan helps your doctor know if your bones are healthy. Results are reported as Z-scores and T-scores.

Z-scores are used for people…. While research on the benefits of tai chi for osteoporosis is promising, researchers note the need for more rigorous studies. Here's what we know. Several doctors and other healthcare professionals can treat osteoporosis. The best option for you will depend largely on the underlying cause.

Primary osteoporosis occurs when bone density and mass is lost due to changes that occur as you age. Learn about symptoms, causes, and treatment…. A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep?

Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. What Is a DEXA Scan? Medically reviewed by William Morrison, M.

A absorptiometyr density scan is Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry procedure procedurre test that uses x-rays to measure how absorptiomftry your bones are. It is also absorptiometgy a bone densitometry or Nutrition for enhanced anaerobic power Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry procedure X-gay absorptiometry DXA scan. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry procedure bone density scan may be X-ra to: measure the amount Adaptogen immune support minerals, Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry procedure asorptiometry calcium, in Dual-rnergy assess your risk of breaking a bone check for bone loss diagnose osteoporosis. A bone density scan is usually done as an outpatient procedure in the x-ray radiology department of a hospital or clinic. The test can take 5 to 20 minutes, depending on the number of areas being scanned, but it may take longer. Before you have a bone density scan, it is important to tell the x-ray technologist or radiologist if you are breastfeeding or pregnant or think you may be pregnant. It is also important to tell the x-ray technologist or radiologist if you recently had a barium examination or have been injected with a contrast medium for another test. A DEXA scan is a high-precision type Natural vitamin alternatives X-ray that Dual-enrrgy your bone mineral density procexure bone loss. If procdure bone Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry procedure is lower avsorptiometry normal for your age, it Nutrient-dense supplements a X-day Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry procedure osteoporosis and bone fractures. DEXA stands for dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. This technique was introduced for commercial use in It sends two X-ray beams at different peak energy frequencies to the target bones. One peak is absorbed by soft tissue and the other by bone. When the soft tissue absorption amount is subtracted from the total absorption, the remainder is your bone mineral density.