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How Is Osteoporosis Diagnosed?
Diagnosis
During a physical examination, your doctor may find that you are shorter than you thought you were or that you have a "dowager's hump," a curve of the spine in the upper back that produces a hump. X-rays may show that your bones are less dense than expected. While this could be caused by osteoporosis, there are other causes, such as not enough vitamin D.
Your doctor will suspect osteoporosis if you have had a fragility fracture. A bone density test can confirm the diagnosis. Several...
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From Our Experts
Another Country, Same Problems Diagnosing Osteoporosis
It was saddening to hear that the UK health system has similar problems (or perhaps even worse) diagnosing and treating osteoporosis as... Read more »
Is Osteoporosis Hereditary?
Reader Question: I have a family member that was diagnosed with osteoporosis. Is it hereditary?There are definitely hereditary factors... Read more »
The First 48 Hours: Osteoporosis Medications
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From Our Sources
Fingernail test could diagnose osteoporosis
A test for osteoporosis that doesn't require a hospital visit is being evaluated by researchers. Crescent Diagnostics' Bone Quality Test (BQTTM)... Read more »
Osteoporosis diagnostic tool draws criticism
A new diagnostic tool from the World Health Organization (WHO) called FRAX is drawing fire from some critics. They say that the tool is faulty... Read more »
Treatment Options for Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to weaken and break. The most common bones affected are the hip, wrist and vertebrae. Approximately 10... Read more »
Osteoporosis
Source: ADAM Encyclopedia
Thin bones Treatment The goals of osteoporosis treatment are to: Control pain from the disease Slow down or stop bone loss ... Read more »
Supercomputer may help spot osteoporosis
Scientists are using an IBM BlueGene/L supercomputer to build intricate simulations of human bones that could be used to diagnose osteoporosis in its... Read more »
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