Are You at Risk for Osteoporosis?
Posted on April 8, 2019
Osteoporosis is a bone disease that makes bones weaker and more likely to break. Anyone can develop osteoporosis, but women are more likely to develop osteoporosis than men, and it’s more common later in life. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, one in two women and up to one in four men will break a bone in their lifetime due to osteoporosis.
There are no signs or symptoms of osteoporosis. People usually don’t know they have it until a bone breaks unexpectedly, often from a minor fall. That’s why it’s so important to get a bone density test to measure your bone strength.
What is a bone density test?
A bone mineral density (BMD) test measures how strong your bones are. It’s the only test that can tell you if you have osteoporosis or not.
It can also:
• Predict your risk of fractures.
• Let you know if you have osteoporosis after a fracture.
• See if osteoporosis treatment is making your bones stronger.
Should you get tested?
A BMD test is advised for all women age 65 and older. Your doctor may also recommend it if you are at high risk for osteoporosis—whether you’re a man or a woman.
A BMD test can be done several ways. The most accurate method is called dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (or DXA for short). This test is painless and similar to having an x-ray.
What do the results mean?
The results of a BMD test are reported as T-scores, which compare the strength of your bones to those of a healthy 30-year-old. A low T-score means you have thinner, weaker bones than a healthy young adult. The more negative the number, the greater your risk of a broken bone.
A T-score:
• Between +1 and -1 means your bones are normal and healthy.
• Between -1.1 and -2.4 means your bone density is lower than normal, but not yet low enough
to be diagnosed as osteoporosis. Doctors call this low bone mass osteopenia.
• -2.5 or less means you have osteoporosis.
Even if a BMD test shows you have osteoporosis, you and your doctor can work together to manage it and help prevent fractures.
At your next visit, ask your primary care provider about scheduling a bone density test and what steps you can take to prevent weak bones and lower your risk for osteoporosis.
Sources: National Institutes of Health; National Osteoporosis Foundation; UpToDate
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