Live Life Team
DEXA scan is one type of test which is performed to find out the bone density of the patient. It is one painless measure and stands for dual energy X-rays absorptiometry. The ideology behind It is that the bones would last longer and provider a stronger structure to the body, if they are denser in nature. The scan can actually help in finding out if the patient suffers from osteoporosis or if there is some sort of risk developing in the body towards developing it. The test is quite useful in finding out if the person has been suffering from some kind of a bone disorder and can also monitor the amount of fat and muscle in the body of the patient. The scanning is quite fast in nature and also has been seen to be quite accurate. The test is much preferred over the x-ray and also for being much more sensitive. Since the test can also find out the calcium content of the bones apart from the bone mass. This can not be done by the ordinary X-ray machine. The test can be done on the central and the peripheral scanning devices. The central DEXA are huge machines which measure the bone density and peripheral devices are smaller sized and should be able to measure on the periphery of the body like fingers or heels.
Why is it necessary
The scan is used for finding out the bone density and also to find out if they are suffering from some disorder. Also it can help in determining the correct correlation in the density of bones and the age of the person, which can be another measure to find out the correct physical health of an individual. The tests are useful to find out the correct body composition and also the exact amount of fat, muscle and also the amount of water in it. The test would let the patients track their weight loss and maintain general heath conditions.
How is this test performed
The scan would use a small amount of X-Rays being passed through the individual’s body and separated into beams of different intensity. The scan is able to detect the bone and soft tissues with differences in its intensity. As the scan is under progress, one may be asked to lie on the back and then to keep still while under scan. The test does not requir or call for any preparations and depending on the place to be scanned for, one may be asked to remove any metallic covering. The scanner should be able to scan the body and then send a reading to the computer which would help to calculate a score which is called the bone density score. The lower the score, the lower the reported bone density.
Who can use it
The doctor may advice an individual for this test in case they suspect osteoporosis. The test can also be recommended in case there is a fracture or a minor injury. Pregnant women are not advised to go for this test.
