Health by Design provides a DEXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) Bone Density Scan that measures the bone mass at the spine and hip and screens for osteoporosis.
What is a Bone Mineral Densitometry test?
Bone mineral densitometry tests, or BMD, determine the amount of calcium and other minerals in your bones and assists doctors in diagnosing osteoporosis and monitoring your progress during therapy. Doctors use bone densitometry to categorize patients as normal, osteopenic or osteoporotic.
A full body scan is often called a DEXA, short for dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. BMD systems send an invisible beam of low-dose X-ray through the bones being examined. Based on how much of the X-ray energy is absorbed by soft tissue versus how much is absorbed by bone, your bone mineral density is calculated. The X-ray dose from the BMD test is comparable to the naturally occurring radiation you are exposed to in one week.
What can I expect during my bone densitometry test?
The DEXA bone densitometer is a large, padded, comfortable examination table. You will be asked to lie on your back. The operator will position your arms and legs for the test, which is painless and typically takes one to ten minutes. You just need to lie still and breathe normally.