You Have An Appointment
For A Bone Density Scan:
Bone Density Scan
Date:___________________________________
Time:___________________________________
Want to Reduce Your Chance of Getting
Osteoporosis?
• Get sufficient calcium intake. Experts recommend a
daily intake of 1000-3000mg depending on your age.
You can achieve this by taking supplements or eating
foods that are enriched with calcium such as dairy
products; dark green leafy vegetables; lima beans,
kidney beans, white beans and soybeans; almonds;
tofu; and fish with small bones such as sardines.
____ Belmond Facility
Please enter at the main entrance and register
at the admissions desk.
_____ Clarion Facility
Please enter at the ER/Outpatient entrance
and register at the admissions desk.
For questions or more information,
call 641-444-5656 for Belmond
or 515-532-9353 for Clarion.
• Get adequate supply of Vitamin D. Experts recommend
taking a supplement with a daily intake of 400 to 800
IU, to help your body absorb calcium. Eating fortified
dairy products (egg yolks, saltwater fish) or simply by
getting 10-15 minutes of sunlight daily can help in
getting a sufficient amount of Vitamin D.
• Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol intake.
• Speak with your provider about testing for bone density
and potential fractures.
• Have a bone density test performed.
Once patients are identified for osteoporosis, there are a
number of treatments available that can stop the progress of
bone loss, and even replenish bone, strengthen the skeleton,
and decrease the risk of future fracture.
The first step is to have adequate testing. Visit with your
provider today for a referral for a bone density scan with
Iowa Specialty Hospital’s Radiology Department. Proper
testing can lead to effective prevention and treatment.
Locations
Belmond
403 1st Street Southeast
Belmond, Iowa 50421
Phone: (641) 444-3500
Clarion
1316 South Main Street
Clarion, Iowa 50525
Phone: (515) 532-2811
844-ISH-4321
www.IowaSpecialtyHospital.com
psi2go.net
Revised 6-15
Bone Density Scan
A bone density scan determines if you have osteoporosis
– a disease that causes bones to become more fragile
and more likely to break. Iowa Specialty Hospital’s
Radiology Department offers bone density imaging with the
DiscoveryTM QDR bone densitometry system from Hologic®.
This technology provides the best diagnostic tools to
support the early detection and treatment of osteoporosis
and the most comprehensive platform for bone health
assessment, obesity, heart disease, and many other clinical
applications.
The bones in our skeleton are made of a thick outer shell
and a strong inner mesh filled with collagen (protein),
calcium salts and other minerals. The inside looks like a
honeycomb, with blood vessels and bone marrow in the
spaces between the bone. Your body keeps your bones
strong by replacing old bone with new bone. This process
of renewal is called bone turnover.
Although osteoporosis is more common in older women, men
also can develop the condition. Regardless of your sex or
age, your provider may recommend a bone density scan if
you have:
• Lost height. People who have lost at least 1.6 inches
(4 centimeters) in height may have experienced
compression fractures in their spines. Osteoporosis is one
of the main causes of compression fractures.
• Fractured a bone. Fragility fractures occur when a bone
becomes so fragile that it breaks much more easily than
expected. Fragility fractures can sometimes be caused by
a strong cough or sneeze.
• Taken certain drugs. Long-term use of steroid
medications, such as prednisone, interferes with the
bone-rebuilding process, which can lead to osteoporosis.
• Received a transplant. People who have received an
organ or bone marrow transplant are at higher risk of
osteoporosis, partly because anti-rejection drugs also
interfere with the bone-rebuilding process.
• Experienced a drop in hormone levels. In addition to the
natural drop in hormones that occurs after menopause,
women may also experience a drop in estrogen during
certain cancer treatments. Some treatments for prostate
cancer reduce testosterone levels in men. Lowered
hormone levels weaken bone.
Preparing for the Scan
There is no preparation neccessary for the bone density scan.
When osteoporosis occurs, the holes between the bone
become larger and the body begins to lose more bone
than it can replace, making the bones weaker. Weak
bones are more likely to fracture. Osteoporosis usually
affects the whole skeleton, but it most commonly causes
breaks or fractures in the spine, hip, and forearm.
Reasons for the Scan
A bone density scan can determine if you have
osteoporosis. A bone density scan uses x-rays to measure
how many grams of calcium and other bone minerals are
packed into a segment of bone. The ones that are most
commonly tested are located in the spine, hip and forearm.
During the Scan
You will lay on a padded platform while a mechanical arm
passes over your body. The amount of radiation you’re
exposed to is very low, much less than the amount emitted
during a chest x-ray. The scan usually takes 10 to 30 minutes.
After the Scan
When your scan is complete, a radiologist analyzes the
images and sends a report to your provider. Your provider
will discuss your results and further treatments necessary.
Osteoporosis Facts and Statistics
Any bone can be affected, but fractures of the hip
and spine are especially concerning. Each year over
one million people have a hip fracture, which in most
cases requires hospitalization and major surgery. Hip
fractures may cause prolonged or permanent disability or
sometimes death. Spinal or vertebral fractures also have
serious consequences, including loss of height, severe
back pain, and deformity.
•O
steoporosis can strike at any age.
•1
in 3 women and 1 in 5 men will experience
osteoporotic fractures.
•3
0% of women and 20% of men over 50 will
experience osteoporotic fractures.
•W
omen who develop a vertebral fracture are at
substantial risk for additional fracture within the next
year.
• T he combined lifetime risk for hip, forearm, and
vertebral fractures is around 40%, equivalent to the
risk for cardiovascular disease.
• In caucasian women, the lifetime risk of hip fracture
is 1 in 6, compared with a 1 in 9 risk of a diagnosis
of breast cancer.
You Are at a Greater Risk of Developing
Osteoporosis if...
• You smoke or drink alcohol.
• You are older, due to the thinning bones as we age.
• You are a woman, due to changes that occur during
menopause.
• You have a family history of osteoporosis or hip
fracture.
• You are a caucasian or Asian woman.
• You are a small-boned woman weighing less than
127 pounds.
• Early menopause occuring naturally or because of
surgery.
• You have low calcium and/or vitamin D levels.
• You have taken corticosteroids for a long time.
Osteoporosis is a growing healthcare crisis affecting over
75 million people worldwide. It is often called the “silent
disease,” because bone loss happens without any symptoms.
Osteoporosis occurs when bone loss is so severe it causes
bones to become porous, brittle and more likely to break. If
left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a
bone breaks.
Specializing in You.