Osteoporosis Test

Anyone who is worried about osteoporosis or a condition that may preclude this bone disease can take a bone density test. A doctor will perform a test to determine bone density in their office, usually through blood work. The bone density test results can indicate if you have bone loss or if you are already in the throes of osteoporosis. Bone densitometry is the standard by which bone density and bone loss is measured. A doctor who is giving you results for a test osteoporosis will usually measure bone densitometry to discover how much bone loss, if any, you have endured.

There are several ways a doctor can obtain bone density test results. Osteoporosis is a bone disease in which there is a loss of bone minerals, which causes a loss of bone density. When the bone density is low, it causes brittle bones and breakage. Those who suffer from osteoporosis also often suffer from compression fractures in the spine that can actually cause them to lose height. The disease affects primarily postmenopausal women. Women who are at the age of 65 are urged to take a bone density test and get bone density test results from their doctor to check their bone mineral density.

A doctor will review the bone density test results based upon a blood test or a DEXA scan. A DEXA scan is an imaging test that can give a more accurate bone densitometry of the amount of bone loss there is in the system and is considered to be a better test than a blood test for this disease. However, many doctors will still rely on blood tests, a clinical exam and even a urine test to make a diagnosis of osteoporosis.

The bone densitometry is a measurement of the amount of bone loss in the system. Those who have a bone loss of more than 2.5 percent below the standard bone densitometry reading are considered to have the disease of osteoporosis. A doctor will then reveal the bone density test results with you and give you options for treatment.

Many women have bone loss that comes up in a bone densitometry reading that is less than 2.5 percent. In this case, they are usually diagnosed with a condition called osteopenia. This is a condition that often leads to osteoporosis and can be reversed through diet and exercise.

Depending upon your age, the symptoms as well as your physician, you may get a DEXA scan to determine bone densitometry or you may take a blood test to measure bone density test results. Many doctors will skip the imaging scan if the patient clearly has the signs and symptoms of osteoporosis such as back pain, a decrease of height and increase in fractures.

In order to get treatment for your condition, you need to see your doctor for a bone mineral density test so that they can determine bone loss. Both the blood test and often the DEXA scan can be performed right in the office of the doctor. Once the tests are completed, the doctor can go over your bone density test results with you and tell you your bone densitometry numbers. If you have the condition or are experiencing bone loss, your doctor will offer you treatment that may include medication, as well as follow up with you to continue to check on your bone densitometry to make sure that any treatment plan prescribed is working.

Osteoporosis

Bone density is measured by the protein minerals in the bones. Most of those who get a bone density test will do so because they are concerned about bone disease such as osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a bone disease the primarily affects older women of past the age of 60. It can cause brittle bones and bone breakage as well as pain. In some cases, those who suffer from a lack of bone density will also notice a decrease in height as they experience compression fractures in the spine.

Most women are advised to get a bone density test beginning at the age of 65. However, there are other conditions that can cause bone disease and can affect bone density earlier in life. While osteoporosis is the most common of these conditions, other conditions that can cause brittle bones include osteonecrosis which affects the tissue surrounding the bones, usually in the spine or in the hips as well as osteoarthritis, which affects the joints and the bone tissues surrounding them. Because bone density tends to decrease with age, it is important for older individuals as well as those with underlying health conditions, particularly auto immune disorders, to get a bone density test.

There are several ways that a doctor can perform a bone density test. In most cases, blood tests are used to measure bone density. This can be effective as a way to not only diagnose osteoporosis but lead to the diagnosis of other conditions as well. The DEXA scan is the most accurate of all of the bone density test methods that are available today as it can measure the smallest fractions of bone loss in an individual. While osteoporosis primarily affects women, men can also be affected by this bone disease.

The bone density test that a doctor recommends depends upon the symptoms of the disease as reported in a clinical exam. In some cases, a bone density test may be given in the case of a fracture or a break. This can determine the amount of bone loss in an individual so that proper treatment can be recommended. Not all bone disease is related to osteoporosis, so it is important that anyone who suffers from the following symptoms be given a bone density test:

Back pain
Compression fractures
Joint pain
Frequent bone breakage
Decrease in height
Inability to stand up straight

Doctors can use both blood tests as well as imaging tests such as the DEXA scan to determine the cause of the symptoms. They can then advise the proper treatment. In most cases when it comes to bone disease, calcium supplements as well as a diet that is rich in calcium is recommended. In addition, it is important for anyone who is suffering from a bone disease or who wishes to prevent bone disease take a supplement of Vitamin D so that they can help absorb calcium into their body.

Eating the right foods, exercising and also avoiding foods that are high in phosphates are also a crucial aspect of maintaining good bone health. It is never too late to take care of your bones, and there are various treatments, including medications, for those who are suffering from bone disease such as osteoporosis.