Will Your Bones Pass the Test?

Osteoporosis—a condition that makes bones weak and more likely to break—is a public health threat for about 54 million Americans, or 55 percent of people 50 years or older. In fact, as many as half of all women and a quarter of all men older than 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis.

Though there is no cure for osteoporosis, treatment can slow the condition. Prescription medications, weight-bearing exercise, a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D and injury prevention are ways to protect bones. However, diagnosing osteoporosis early enough to form a treatment plan is important and only accomplished through a bone density screening.

Tell me about this screening

A bone mineral density (BMD) test measures how much calcium and other types of minerals are present in a section of your bone. A doctor uses this test, along with other risk factors, to diagnose osteoporosis and predict the future risk of bone fractures.

The most common and most accurate method of screening is called a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan. There are two different types of DEXA scans:

• Central DEXA. While you are lying on a cushioned table, a scanner passes over your lower spine and hip.
• Peripheral DEXA (p-DEXA). These smaller machines measure the bone density in your wrist, fingers, leg or heel.

A central DEXA scan that measures bone density in your lower spine or hip is the best test to predict your risk of fractures.

Normal results

The results of your test are usually reported as a "T-score" and "Z-score."

• The T-score compares your bone density with that of healthy young women.
• The Z-score compares your bone density with other people of your age, gender and race.

In either score, a negative number means you have thinner bones than the standard. The more negative the number, the higher your risk of a fracture. T-scores are within the normal range if they are -1.0 or above.

What abnormal results mean

Bone mineral density testing does not diagnose fractures. However, along with gauging other risk factors, it helps predict your risk of having a bone fracture in the future. Your doctor will help you understand the results.

• A T-score between -1 and -2.5 indicates the beginning of bone loss.
• A T-score below -2.5 indicates osteoporosis.

Treatment recommendations depend on your total fracture risk.

If you’re 50 or older, talk to your doctor to see if a bone mineral density test is recommended. Your doctor will assess your risk and determine if this osteoporosis screening is right for you. Catching osteoporosis early is the best way to keep your bones as strong as possible, for as long as possible.

Has it been a while since your last primary care appointment, or do you need a new physician? Call us at 317.565.0565 to request an appointment.

Sources: NLM.NIH.gov, NOF.org