At least one in five American women over the age of 50 have osteoporosis, but many don't know it. Updated guidelines from the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommend women 65 and older to have a bone density scan to screen for the bone disease. Osteoporosis is often described as a "silent disease" because there are few, if any, symptoms until someone fractures a bone -- usually in the hip, wrist or spine.
Osteoporosis screening guidelines updated: Do you need a bone scan?