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About US Wellness
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US Wellness is the nations leading provider of employer and community based health education and screening services. For over a decade, we have been serving our clients by providing health screenings and counseling to employees, patients and consumers across the country. We specialize in cholesterol and biometric testing, blood pressure, glucose, bone density, spirometry and smoking cessation. Through our good work we have touched millions of consumers nationwide. Join us!
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Featured Health Article
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How healthy are your bones?
Women over the age of 40 and men over the age of 50 should be aware of their bone health. One easy way to know how healthy your bones are is by taking a bone mineral density (BMD) test. BMD screenings may be performed by taking an ultrasound measurement of the heal or by taking an x-ray (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, DEXA) which measures bone density of the hip and spine. US Wellness commonly performs BMD testing via the ultrasound of the heal test. We have provided millions of people around the country with BMD screening for bone health. BMD screenings may also be available in your community through your doctor, hospital, community outreach programs and health fairs.
How do you interpret your results?
BMD screening yields a T-score result. A T-score of 0 means your BMD is equal to the norm for a healthy young adult. Differences between your BMD and that of the healthy young adult norm are measured in units called standard deviations (SDs). The more standard deviations below 0, indicated as negative numbers, the lower your BMD and the higher your risk of fracture.
As shown in the table below, a T-score between +1 and -1 is considered normal or healthy. A T-score between -1 and -2.5 indicates that you have low bone mass, although not low enough to be diagnosed with bone loss. A T-score of -2.5 or lower indicates that you may have bone loss. The greater the negative number, the more severe the bone loss.
| Normal |
Bone density is within 1 SD (+1 or -1) of the young adult mean. |
| Low Bone Mass |
Bone density is between 1 and 2.5 SD below the young adult mean (-1 to -2.5 SD). |
| Osteoporosis |
Bone density is 2.5 SD or more below the young adult mean (-2.5 SD or lower). |
| Severe (established) osteoporosis |
Bone density is more than 2.5 SD below the young adult mean and there have been one or more osteoporotic fractures. |
Low bone mass may be caused by various factors such as:
- heredity
- lack of bone development or less-than-optimal peak bone mass or a small bone frame
- a medical condition or medication to treat such a condition that negatively affects bone
- excess alcohol consumption
- cigarette smoking or past cigarette smoking
- lack of weight bearing exercise
- nutritional deficiencies (such as lack of significant calcium intake)
If you have low bone mass, you can take steps to help slow down your bone loss and prevent osteoporosis in your future. Ask you doctor about healthy habits like eating foods rich in calcium and vitamin C, and doing weight-bearing exercise like walking, jogging, or dancing. Regular exercise, good nutrition habits and getting a BMD screening every two years can help you keep you bones stronger for healthier tomorrow.
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