Bone densitometry, commonly known as DEXA or DXA, uses a very small dosage of ionising radiation (x-rays) to produce images of the body internally, typically the lumbar spine and hips, in order to determine how dense or strong your bones are.

Bone density scans are frequently used to diagnose osteoporosis, a disease that causes bones to weaken and shatter more easily. They help to determine a person’s risk of getting osteoporotic fractures.

DEXA is a simple, quick, and painless procedure.

What is the difference between osteopenia and osteoporosis?

Bone loss which occurs the stage before osteoporosis is known as osteopenia.

As a part of the aging process, bone density diminishes over time. The rate in which it decreases varies from person to person. However, a low bone density doesn’t necessarily mean you have osteoporosis, but that your bone density is lower than the average adult’s.

A change in lifestyle is the first step in treating osteopenia, because diet and exercise have an impact on bone health. Increasing your physical activity can help to strengthen your bones. Through doing regular weight-bearing exercises such as cycling, walking, jogging or even engaging yourself in a fun dancing activity, you can help to improve your bone density.

Osteoporosis affects both men and women of all ages. It is, however, more common in older post-menopausal women, because their oestrogen levels decrease after menopause, which then leads to a loss of bone density.

Additional reasons you may opt to get a DEXA scan to determine osteoporosis include:

• ­Having a history of periods stopping for more than one year before the menopause;
• ­You are under 45 and have had a hysterectomy;
• ­You are underweight; or
• ­After a slight bump or tumble, you’ve shattered a bone.

What is the best and safest treatment for osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis often doesn’t present any symptoms, so it is unfortunate that unless you break a bone, the disease will often go undetected.

Though there are no clear symptoms of osteoporosis, you can look out for these signs that indicate weak bones in your back. If you notice any of these possible osteoporosis symptoms, don’t hesitate to consult your doctor:

• Severe back pain;
• Curled spine;
• Loss of height; or
• Stooped posture

Prescription medications which help to build bone mass increasingly over time can be taken for osteoporosis treatment.

Osteoporosis is associated with low intake of which mineral?

‘Calcium is the most abundant mineral found in the body and most of it is found in our bones. It is one of the most important minerals involved in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis. Adequate amounts of calcium in your diet can help reduce bone loss by 30 – 50 percent!’ – Harvinder S. Sandhu, MD Spine Universe.

Why choose Oryon for your private healthcare?

By choosing to go private, you are opting to receive the best service. At Oryon, we provide an efficient and high-quality service that’s not only affordable but very accessible.

Our DEXA is a central device which is used to measure bone density in the hip and lumbar spine. At Oryon, our DEXA patients can self-refer, which cuts out the wait time to receive a referral from your GP, and the NHS wait time to be seen. Our patients can also receive same-day appointments depending on availability, and our team are highly trained to ensure you have a good experience with us.

After arriving at our imaging centre, located in the renowned Harley Street medical district in Central London, you can expect to be there for no more than 45 minutes – from signing in, to seeing our attentive expert DEXA technician, to departing with your images from the scan. We also deliver swift DEXA scan results within one working day.

How much does a DEXA scan cost?

Did you know the national average cost for a DEXA scan is £103? At Oryon we pride ourselves on offering affordable diagnostic scanning, with our DEXA scans priced at just £95. We also accept payments from major private healthcare insurance providers including; BUPA, Aviva, AXA Health, Vitality and many more. If you have any questions about payment for our DEXA scans or questions about the scan please call our friendly Bookings Team on 020 7042 1888.

What do you need to make an appointment?

Please email your referral form to us and we will call you to schedule an appointment. You can also contact 020 7042 1888 to book an appointment.

Alternatively, simply fill out our self-referral form to see if you need a DEXA scan to check for osteoporosis and email it over to us. Once we approve your request, we will help you choose the most convenient time and the date and get you booked in!