Osteoporosis
1 in 3 women, and 1 in 5 men over 50 will experience osteoporotic fractures 85% of wrist fractures occur in women The combined lifetime risk for hip, forearm and vertebral fractures coming to clinical attention is around 40%, equivalent to the risk for cardiovascular disease  In white women, the lifetime risk of hip fracture is 1 in 6, compared with a 1 in 9 risk of a diagnosis of breast cancer In women over 45 years of age, osteoporosis accounts for more days spent in hospital than many other diseases, including diabetes, myocardial infarction and breast cancer Hip fractures can kill you. Hip fractures have a reported morbidity rate up to 24% in the first year after a hip fracture8,9 and a greater risk of dying may persist for at least 5 years afterwards. 40% of hip fracture survivors are unable to walk independently and 60% will still require assistance one year later.11 Because of these losses, one third of those who suffer a hip fracture are totally dependent or in a nursing home in the year following a hip fracture If you are looking for pre-owned DXA bone densitometers look no further. Consider purchasing a certified pre-owned bone densitometer from GE Healthcare Lunar. Only newer Lunar densitometers qualify for our certified pre-owned program. All systems go through extensive refurbishment including complete diagnostics and quality control in our ISO certified facilities by certified technicians. Product offerings include, Prodigy, DPX-NT, DPX-DUO, DPX Bravo, Achilles Express and Achilles InSight.

About osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disease in which the density and quality of bone is reduced, increasing the risk of fracture. It affects around one in three women and one in five men around the world.

Osteoporosis, which literally means "porous bone", is a disease in which the density and quality of bone are reduced. As the bones become more porous and fragile, the risk of fracture is greatly increased. The loss of bone occurs "silently" and progressively. Often there are no symptoms until the first fracture occurs. The most common fractures associated with osteoporosis occur at the hip, spine and wrist. The incidence of these fractures, particularly at the hip and spine, increases with age in both women and men.

Of notable concern are vertebral (spinal) and hip fractures. Vertebral fractures can result in serious consequences, including loss of height, intense back pain and deformity. A hip fracture often requires surgery and may result in loss of independent living.

The good news is that osteoporosis is now a largely treatable condition and, with a combination of lifestyle changes and appropriate medical treatment, many fractures can be avoided.

The importance of early diagnosis
 
Men and women over 60 are at higher risk of osteoporosis than younger people. Nevertheless, it is possible to have osteopenia (low bone mass) or osteoporosis at a much earlier age. As osteoporosis has no obvious symptoms other than a fracture when the bone is already significantly weakened, it is important to go to your doctor if any of the risk factors apply to you. By making positive lifestyle changes and following appropriate treatment strategies in consultation with a doctor, osteoporotic fractures can be prevented. Your doctor will take a thorough medical history that includes information on any recent fractures and may determine that the next step is to have a bone mineral density (BMD) test.