The global trend of population aging has not bypassed the Republic of Belarus. We all want to live as long as possible and as high quality as possible: without pain and fractures, be free in our movements and socially active, enjoy a healthy life and participate in the lives of relatives and friends.

Osteoporosis is a disease of fragile bones that develops slowly and asymptomatically, leading to fractures with minimal trauma, long-term disability, disability, and even death. One in three women and one in five men over age 50 will experience an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime.

INDICATIONS FOR THE DENSITOMETRY STUDIES

Pay attention to these signs in yourself, your parents, close relatives and sign up for X-ray densitometry:

• if your height has decreased by more than 2 cm compared to the height of 25-35 years old;
• children and grandchildren tell you that you have become small and stooped;
• Your clothes have become too long;
• It became more difficult to get dishes from the top shelf;
• you went through menopause before age 50;
• You are taking or have taken glucocorticosteroids (methylprednisolone, prednisolone) for more than 6 months;
• You had low-traumatic fractures of the forearm, lower leg, vertebrae, ribs, hip and other localizations (minimal trauma, fall from your own height);
• Your parents had hip fractures.

How can I find out about the condition of my bones?

The "gold standard" for diagnosing osteoporosis worldwide is X-ray densitometry.

THE PROCEDURE OF OSTEODENSIMETRY

You will be placed on a special comfortable table and asked to lie down without moving for about 5 minutes, you do not need to hold your breath, no special preparation is required. The study is absolutely painless, fast and accurate. Do not worry about radiation exposure, it is minimal.

In 20 minutes you will receive a result on your bone mineral density and, accordingly, on the risk of fractures. You will need to consult a rheumatologist, endocrinologist or gynecologist if your parameters are different from normal.

PREPARATION FOR OSTEODENSITOMETRY

HOW TO MAKE DENSITOMETRY IN RCMC

1. Call the Contact Center to schedule an appointment
2. Conclude an agreement for the provision of paid services at the registry office
3. Pay the bill at the cash desk of the RCMC or through ERIP
4. Perform densitometry at the scheduled time.

Please note:
For your comfort, an osteoporosis room is open every Tuesday, where you can perform X-ray densitometry and, immediately after the examination, a rheumatologist will discuss the results with you and prescribe treatment if necessary.
For a consultation with a rheumatologist after X-ray densitometry, it is desirable to have the following results:

• previous x-ray densitometry (if performed at another institution),
• blood chemistry (calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, alkaline phosphatase, urea, creatinine, bilirubin, AST, ALT, glucose, cholesterol, total protein), general analysis blood.
• X-ray images of the spine (thoracic, lumbar) or CT, MRI of the indicated parts of the spine (no more than 2 years old).