#YesYouScan Know Your Risk For Osteoporosis
Thank you for visiting the HealthyWomen #YesYouScan Campaign! Did you know approximately 10 million Americans have osteoporosis, and around one out of every two women are likely to break a bone because of the disease in their lifetime?
Osteoporosis causes your bones to become brittle. Unfortunately, however, you can’t feel your bones getting weaker, and there are often no warning signs of osteoporosis. But you can take steps to keep your bones strong and healthy — and you’re never too young to start.
No Bones About It – Get Your DXA Scan
A great first step is to get preventive bone screenings — known as dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, or DXA, scans — to help you change the path of this disease. DXA scans are a powerful tool for predicting fractures. And they are fast, easy, noninvasive and painless to perform.
Helping Americans Take Control of Their Health
It’s important that preventive bone screenings are accessible and affordable for all women. Bone density tests are extremely effective at predicting future risk of fractures, yet testing has declined since 2007, when cuts in Medicare Part B for scans done in a doctor’s office took effect. Better access to these scans could lead to earlier detection of low bone density and an osteoporosis diagnosis. Early diagnosis could spare millions from unnecessary fractures, pain, disability and even death.
