T.J. Samson | Destination Health | February 2019

February 2019 7 Wellness You can’t feel your bones getting weaker. This means that osteoporosis—a disease of dangerously fragile bones—can sneak up on you. People often don’t realize they have it until they break a bone, usually in the hip, spine or wrist. That’s why bone density testing is so im- portant.This test is a snapshot of your bone health. It can detect osteoporosis before you break a bone. And it can also predict your risk of a fracture. Bone density testing can be done in sev- eral ways.The most common one, a central DXA test, is like having an x-ray and is painless. SHOULD YOU GET TESTED? Osteoporosis is common among older adults, especially women. Doctors advise bone den- sity testing for women 65 and older. But your doctor may also advise testing if you have a higher risk of osteoporosis—for example, if you have a family history of osteoporosis or you’ve broken bones after age 50. WHAT THE RESULTS MEAN Bone density testing compares your bone density to that of a healthy 30-year-old adult and the results are given as a T-score. If your T-score is: ●  ● -1 and above, your bone density is normal. ●  ● Between -1 and -2.5, you may have early bone loss (osteopenia). ●  ● Below -2.5, you have osteoporosis. If you have early bone loss, healthy habits can help you slow it down. And if you have osteoporosis, medicine, if needed, and healthy habits can help you prevent a broken bone. Sources: National Institutes of Health; National Osteoporosis Foundation; UpToDate Ask your doctor if you should be screened for osteoporosis. If a DXA test is recommended, you can schedule one by calling 270-651-1814. Do your bones a favor: Get screened One day, shortly after eating a big meal, you feel an unusual pain in your chest. You may wonder: Could it be a heart attack? But you don’t want to believe that—or upset your family with your concerns. Besides, what if the pain is just indigestion? But your family and friends are actually among the biggest reasons why you should never ignore any possible heart attack symptoms.The sooner you get emergency help for a heart at- tack, the better your chances of still being around for them. A heart attack happens when the heart’s blood supply is suddenly cut off, which damages the heart. If you call 911 and let an ambulance take you to a hospital, prompt treatment can help you survive with less damage to your heart. AS SEEN ON TV? DON’T COUNT ON IT Heart attacks aren’t always the swift and intense events that are portrayed on TV. So some people may delay calling 911 because they don’t realize that what they’re feeling is a heart attack. Most heart attacks involve discomfort (felt in the center of the chest) that lasts more than a few minutes or comes and goes. Many people describe it as pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain. Other warning signs or symptoms can include: ●  ● Pain in the upper body—such as in the back, neck, jaw, shoulders, or one or both arms. ●  ● Shortness of breath. ●  ● Cold sweat, upset stomach or dizziness. ●  ● Extreme tiredness, especially in women. If you suspect that you might be having a heart attack, don’t second-guess yourself. Call 911 immediately. Your loved ones will be glad you did. Sources: American Heart Association; National Institutes of Health Alternatives to a colonoscopy A colonoscopy isn’t the only screen- ing test for colon cancer. There are alterna- tive tests, but if one of these comes back positive you’ll need to follow it up with a colonoscopy: ●  ● CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy). ●  ● DNA stool test. ●  ● Fecal (stool) immunochemical test (FIT). ●  ● Flexible sigmoidoscopy. ●  ● Guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT). Source: American Cancer Society Listen to your heart Why you should never ignore possible signs of a heart attack