You may have heard of bone density terms or bone mass tests, or sometimes bone mineral density tests
(BMDs). They all refer to one of the common tests to determine your bone health by measuring your bone mass.
This test is used to diagnose osteoporosis, your risk of fracture / fracture, and measure your response to osteoporosis treatment. You can repeat the test every one or two years. This will allow your doctor to diagnose you with osteoporosis and provide the right treatment for you.
While there are several ways to test your bone density, the most commonly used method is called central absorptimetry, or a central DXA test. This test measures bone density in the hips and spine. Another type of bone mass test is a bone density test kit to measure bone density at the bottom of the arm, wrist, finger or heel.
Read Also : Benefits of bone density Examination
Usually the test will be done on a fractured bone such as your lower spine bone, thigh (narrow neck next to your hip joint) and the bones in your arm. But bone density is different in other parts of the body. If the test results in one of the bones shows you have a bone disease, your doctor may want to check other bones as well.
Why should I do a bone density test?
Bone tests can be used to measure your bone density. From the test results, your doctor may:
1. See if you have weak bones or osteoporosis before the condition gets serious.
2. Predict and reduce the chances of future fractures.
3. See if treatment to increase bone density has improved your condition.
4. Find out if treatment for osteoporosis works.
Who should do a bone density test?
Your bones have the ability to regenerate, but this ability will weaken with age. Women generally have lower bone density than men. It is recommended that all women over age 65 should have a bone density test. But if you are younger than 65 years and have a high risk for fractures, you still have to do a test as well.
In addition to age, there are some signs that can be a warning to make your bone density test. These signs include:
How do I read my test results?
After taking the test, you will be given a T-score: the amount shows your bone density compared to the average number of healthy adults aged 30 years. The lower the amount you have, the more likely you are to have bone disease.
Some drugs can slow or even reverse osteoporosis. Your doctor will advise you to take a screening test every year to check your progress.
Another result for the bone density test is Z-score: the amount shows your bone density compared to the average number of your age group. T-score and Z-score can be swapped. Pediatricians use a percentile to interpret the height of the child.
None of these scores can predict the risk of fractures unless you also know his age. Since T-scores and Z-scores can be converted back and forth, your fracture prediction is the same as each other.
Is my bone mineral density related to body mass index?
Body mass index, often known as BMI, is measured by height and weight (BMI = weight / (high * high)). Your bone mineral density (BMD) is measured by scanning your bones.
It is proven that the lighter your weight, when your BMI is <18.5, your risk for osteoporosis increases. When you are underweight, your bones are weak and can be broken easily. Thus, both BMI and weight can be attributed to BMD. There is research on this but the results vary. Thus, the role of obesity as a risk factor for BMD, osteoporosis, and low fractures remains unclear.
This test is used to diagnose osteoporosis, your risk of fracture / fracture, and measure your response to osteoporosis treatment. You can repeat the test every one or two years. This will allow your doctor to diagnose you with osteoporosis and provide the right treatment for you.
While there are several ways to test your bone density, the most commonly used method is called central absorptimetry, or a central DXA test. This test measures bone density in the hips and spine. Another type of bone mass test is a bone density test kit to measure bone density at the bottom of the arm, wrist, finger or heel.
Read Also : Benefits of bone density Examination
Usually the test will be done on a fractured bone such as your lower spine bone, thigh (narrow neck next to your hip joint) and the bones in your arm. But bone density is different in other parts of the body. If the test results in one of the bones shows you have a bone disease, your doctor may want to check other bones as well.
Why should I do a bone density test?
Bone tests can be used to measure your bone density. From the test results, your doctor may:
1. See if you have weak bones or osteoporosis before the condition gets serious.
2. Predict and reduce the chances of future fractures.
3. See if treatment to increase bone density has improved your condition.
4. Find out if treatment for osteoporosis works.
Who should do a bone density test?
Your bones have the ability to regenerate, but this ability will weaken with age. Women generally have lower bone density than men. It is recommended that all women over age 65 should have a bone density test. But if you are younger than 65 years and have a high risk for fractures, you still have to do a test as well.
In addition to age, there are some signs that can be a warning to make your bone density test. These signs include:
- Your spinal x-ray shows a fracture or bone loss.
- Back pain with possible fractures in your spine.
- Losing height 1 cm or more in one year.
- Total decreases in height 3 cm from your original height.
How do I read my test results?
After taking the test, you will be given a T-score: the amount shows your bone density compared to the average number of healthy adults aged 30 years. The lower the amount you have, the more likely you are to have bone disease.
- From -1 to +1: Normal.
- From -1 to -2.5: You have low bone mass, though not low enough to be diagnosed with osteoporosis. You should consider asking for medication to prevent osteoporosis to help slow bone loss and prevent osteoporosis in your future. Your doctor may ask you to keep healthy habits such as eating calcium-rich foods and vitamin D and doing weight-bearing exercise such as walking, jogging, or dancing.
- From -2.5 or lower: You have osteoporosis. The lower the score, the more severe the osteoporosis is. In this case, you should take medicine.
Some drugs can slow or even reverse osteoporosis. Your doctor will advise you to take a screening test every year to check your progress.
Another result for the bone density test is Z-score: the amount shows your bone density compared to the average number of your age group. T-score and Z-score can be swapped. Pediatricians use a percentile to interpret the height of the child.
None of these scores can predict the risk of fractures unless you also know his age. Since T-scores and Z-scores can be converted back and forth, your fracture prediction is the same as each other.
Is my bone mineral density related to body mass index?
Body mass index, often known as BMI, is measured by height and weight (BMI = weight / (high * high)). Your bone mineral density (BMD) is measured by scanning your bones.
It is proven that the lighter your weight, when your BMI is <18.5, your risk for osteoporosis increases. When you are underweight, your bones are weak and can be broken easily. Thus, both BMI and weight can be attributed to BMD. There is research on this but the results vary. Thus, the role of obesity as a risk factor for BMD, osteoporosis, and low fractures remains unclear.
What You Need To Know About Bone Density Screening
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