have a thyroid condition, such as hyperthyroidism.have high bone turnover, which shows up in the form of excessive collagen in urine samples.have type 1 (formerly called juvenile or insulin-dependent) diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease or a family history of osteoporosis.use medications that are known to cause bone loss, including corticosteroids such as Prednisone, various anti-seizure medications such as Dilantin and certain barbiturates, or high-dose thyroid replacement drugs.are a man with clinical conditions associated with bone loss, such as rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney or liver disease.are a post-menopausal woman who is tall (over 5 feet 7 inches) or thin (less than 125 pounds).have a personal or maternal history of hip fracture or smoking.are a post-menopausal woman and not taking estrogen.These factors are taken into consideration when deciding if a patient needs therapy.īone density testing is strongly recommended if you: The risk of fracture is affected by age, body weight, history of prior fracture, family history of osteoporotic fractures and life style issues such as cigarette smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. The DXA test can also assess an individual's risk for developing fractures.
Osteoporosis involves a gradual loss of bone, as well as structural changes, causing the bones to become thinner, more fragile and more likely to break.ĭXA is also effective in tracking the effects of treatment for osteoporosis and other conditions that cause bone loss. What are some common uses of the procedure?ĭXA is most often used to diagnose osteoporosis, a condition that often affects women after menopause but may also be found in men and rarely in children.