A DEXA examination is a type of medical imaging test. It uses very low x-rays to measure how dense your bones are. DEXA is the complete form of “dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.” Medical experts observe the DEXA scan in Vernon, NJ, to be the most useful, easy, and inexpensive test for helping to diagnose osteoporosis. The test of bone density is said to be quick and painless. A bone mass or density test, DEXA, measures the mineral content of the bones in some regions of the skeleton. It’s a method to measure bone loss as you age. Healthcare providers often call these tests bone densitometry tests or DXA.

Osteoporosis can be said as a term used to describe brittle bones and also the risk of having a broken bone. As you get old, your bones can lose thickness and strength. Osteoporosis gives here the meaning of “porous bone.” DEXA tests assist your healthcare provider in tracking your bone density and risk of having a broken bone over time. Providers often get the DEXA tests done to help diagnose osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis results at the time as you lose bone faster than your body can create new bone tissue. This is very common in postmenopausal women. Over time, the tissue gets weaker. Brittle bones fracture more easily. Providers sometimes mention osteoporosis as a  “silent” disease because it doesn’t hurt. Many people initially realize they have osteoporosis after breaking a bone from a minor fall.

How can one get this test done in Vernon, NJ?

• One will here be asked to lie on a unique DEXA x-ray table. The technologist here helps you position your body correctly and use positioning devices such as foam blocks to help hold the desired position.
• As the hand of the DEXA machine passes over the body, IT uses two different x-ray beams. The beams take very little radiation to keep the test safer and help to distinguish bone from other tissues.
• The scanner then deciphers the bone density measurement data into pictures and graphs. Bone is very easily seen in white, while the fat and muscle tissue looks like shadows in the background on the technologist’s computer monitor.
• These results are then reviewed and interpreted by a radiologist or other physician trained in DEXA interpretation.
• Your healthcare personnel is sent a copy of the written report to discuss with you and consider what treatment is most appropriate.

Healthcare providers observe many factors when deciding who may benefit from a DEXA scan in Vernon, NJ and how often.