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Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF), if left untreated this disease can progress painlessly until a bone breaks.
Who is at Risk?
Millions of Americans are at risk for osteoporosis. According to the NOF, 10 million Americans already have the disease, and 34 million more have low bone mass, which puts them at an increased risk. Eighty percent of those affected are women.
Prevention and Treatment
While there is no cure for osteoporosis, it is preventable and drug treatments are available. Early detection is important, and the SwedishAmerican Osteoporosis Prevention Program offers convenient risk assessment, education and bone density testing with state-of-the-art technology in the comfort and privacy of our Center For Women.
Our fast, safe, painless, non-invasive test uses DEXA, or dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, to quickly detect osteoporosis before a fracture occurs, predict a patient's chance of fracturing in the future, determine the rate of bone loss, and monitor the effects of treatment if the test is conducted at intervals of one year or more.
To Schedule a DEXA Scan
A doctor's order isn't required for this relatively inexpensive test, but certain guidelines must be met. Our staff can discuss these and schedule an appointment. For more information, please call (815) 391-7676, (800) 962-2776, or send an e-mail message to: osteo@swedishamerican.org.
To Learn More about Osteoporosis
SwedishAmerican can provide you with the most current educational literature on osteoporosis prevention, diagnosis, treatment and support at our Center For Women. Our professional staff would be glad to assist you with any information you might need or guide you to free support groups in the region. Simply call (815) 391-7676, stop by the center on the second floor of the Renaissance Pavilion at 1340 Charles Street, or send an e-mail message to: womenshealth@swedishamerican.org.
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Midlife & Beyond
For All Women
