Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital

Women's Center

Bone Health Services

Osteoporosis is known as the “silent epidemic.” While the effects of osteoporosis are most likely seen later in life, women need to be concerned about it across the lifespan to help prevent the risk of suffering from this debilitating disease. Major bone change related to osteoporosis can be minimized by practicing good health early on.

Perhaps the most important defense against osteoporosis is adopting, starting at a young age, a healthy lifestyle aimed at building and maintaining strong bones.

Osteoporosis is not an inevitable consequence of aging. With proper diet, supplemental calcium, and exercise, it can be prevented. Among the consequences of osteoporosis are the following:

• Bone Fractures – If you have osteoporosis, you may break or fracture bones more easily, especially in the spine, wrist and/or hip.
    
• Severe Back Pain – Osteoporosis can cause severe back pain that forces you to limit some of your activities.
    
• Curved Back – Sometimes called “dowager’s hump,” or kyphosis, a curved back can be caused by osteoporosis as multiple fractures collapse the vertebrae in the spine.
    
• Height Loss – You may experience height loss due to osteoporosis. An example may be if your pants seem longer or your waist seems thicker without weight gain.

Approximately 50 percent of postmenopausal women have osteoporosis and do not know it. This degenerative disease thins and weakens bones as women age and puts them at risk for osteoporosis-related fractures.

• Bone densitometry is a state-of-the-art radiology procedure that measures bone mineral density, or bone mass. These measurements can identify bone strength and weakness. It is a simple, painless procedure that takes approximately 15 minutes and only delivers 1/10th of the radiation of a regular X-ray. It can be done before or after a mammogram or can be scheduled at a separate time. The information provided by the test is a useful diagnostic tool for your physician in diagnosing osteoporosis and determining an effective treatment program for you to reduce your risk for bone fractures.
  
• Instant Vertebral Assessment is a sophisticated procedure that identifies and evaluates bone mineral density with vertebral spine fracture prevalence. Test information is used to make the best possible preventive treatment strategy.

Additional support services include:

• Physical therapy consults
• Nutritional consults
• Support groups
• Midlife health risk assessments
• Consultation with our Women's Health Navigator

For Appointments

To schedule a bone densitometry, call 281-364-2514.