Osteoporosis is a debilitating disease that gradually weakens bones and often leads to bones becoming fragile. If not prevented or if left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks. Any bone can be affected but fractures are most common in the hip, spine, and wrist.

A hip fracture almost always requires hospitalization and major surgery. It can impair a person's ability to walk unassisted and may cause prolonged or permanent disability or even death. Spinal or vertebral fractures also have serious consequences, including loss of height, severe back pain, and deformity.

Millions of men and women are at risk for osteoporosis with women four times more likely than men to develop the disease. Some risk factors include being female, being menopausal or postmenopausal, having a family history of osteoporosis, a personal history of fractures as an adult, a thin or small build, an inactive lifestyle, and low calcium intake.

Osteoporosis can be easily diagnosed and treated to insure a healthy life style without the the elevated strength of broken bones from fragile bones. Women past menopause should have their bone health evaluated. The most common test for osteoporosis is a bone density test. This painless test can be preformed during an office visit with Dr. Bundren with the results almost immediate.

Dexa Scan