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pageWomen's Health Services
Bone (Osteoporosis) Health
The Women's Specialty Center at St. Anthony's is committed to preventing and treating osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a medical condition that causes bones to become weak and brittle and commonly results in a fracture in the spine, hip or waist.
Evaluation and management of osteopenia and osteoporosis include:
- bone density screening
- education on lifestyle improvements
- nutrition guidance to enhance calcium and vitamin D intake and absorption
- strength training exercise class to increase bone density, tone muscle and burn calories
For your convenience, you may schedule a bone density scan at the same time you schedule your mammogram at the Women's Specialty Center. This is a safe and painless screening performed with the patient fully clothed. It takes about five minutes to complete. A bone density scan is covered by most insurance programs, but it must be ordered by a physician.
Causes of Osteoporosis:
- lower levels of bone mass
- in women, decreased estrogen production during menopause
- inadequate intake of vitamin D and calcium
- insufficient amount of exercise
Risk Factors:
- age—risk of osteoporosis increases with age
- gender—women younger than 75 are twice as likely to have osteoporosis
- race—those who are white or of Southeast Asian descent have greater risk
- family history
- frame size—exceptionally thin women or those with small body frames have higher risk
- tobacco use—tobacco use contributes to weak bones
- eating disorders
- low calcium intake
- sedentary lifestyle
- excessive soda consumption
- depression
- chronic alcoholism
For information or a physician referral, please call 800-554-9550 or visit our online physician referral.
At St. Anthony's, our vision is to be the area's premier health care organization — and your first choice for health care services.