Having bones is very important if you want to move around well keep your balance and enjoy life. The tricky part is that you might lose bone strength slowly without even feeling it. This is why bone density testing is such a way to see if your bones are getting weak and to check if you are at risk for osteoporosis or broken bones.
A Bone Doctor Bangalore can look at your bone health check your risk factors and tell you if a bone density test is an idea for you.
Bone Density Test – What Is It?
It is a test that examines the mineral density of bones. People usually take dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, known as DXA or DEXA. This test usually looks at the bone density in your hip and your spine. It is a fast test that does not hurt and it uses a very small amount of X-ray radiation.
The information gained is used to diagnose osteoporosis, detect low bone density prior to the onset of osteoporosis, determine the probability of bone fracture and check whether the current osteoporosis therapy is working.
Why Is Bone Density Testing Important?
1. Early Detection of Osteoporosis
Since osteoporosis is asymptomatic until one’s bones suffer from a break, bone density testing can detect osteoporosis prior to a pathological bone fracture. This gives you time to think about ways to prevent it or start treatment.
2. Helps Assess Fracture Risk
When your bone density is low you are more likely to break a bone. A bone density result along with health factors helps doctors figure out how much risk you really have.
3. Supports Osteoporosis Diagnosis
DXA testing is the way doctors measure bones to help diagnose osteoporosis. Doctors look at your results along with your age, your medical history and other things that might matter.
4. Helps Monitor Treatment
If you are already taking medicine for osteoporosis follow-up bone density testing helps doctors see if your bone mineral density is changing and if the treatment is doing its job.
Who May Need a Bone Density Test?
Whether or not you need a test depends on things like your age, your sex, your medical history if you have broken bones before and risks.
For example some guidelines suggest that women aged 65 years or older should get screened. They also suggest checking women who’re younger than 65 if they have higher risks after menopause.
People who have broken bones people with certain medical issues or people taking medicine that can cause bone loss might also need a personal checkup.
Understanding Bone Density Results
Bone density results might show a T-score or a Z-score. This depends on how old you’re your specific situation.
In cases of people who have undergone menopause or men above 50 years, a T-score is normally used by physicians. This is what each of the scores represents:
- -1 or higher: your bone density is usually healthy
- Between -1. -2.5: Your bone density is low which is sometimes called osteopenia
- -2.5 or lower: this might mean you have osteoporosis
You should always let a healthcare professional explain your results based on your risk of breaking a bone.
Factors That Can Affect Bone Health
A few things can make your bone density go down such as:
- Growing older
- Having a family history of osteoporosis
- Breaking bones in the past
- Not being active enough
- Not eating the right foods
- Smoking
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Taking certain medicines
- Changes in your hormones
This information will enable you to devise a plan for maintaining strong bones.
How to Maintain Strong Bones
Bone density testing is one way to keep bones healthy. Depending on what you need you can also support bone health by:
- Doing activities that carry your weight
- Doing strength training
- Consuming enough calcium and vitamin D
- Maintaining a healthy body weight
- Not smoking
- Not drinking too much alcohol
- Making sure you do not fall
A Bone Doctor Bangalore can give your personal advice based on your life and your health.
When Should You Consult a Bone Doctor?
You should think about seeing a doctor if you have:
- Broken a bone after a small fall
- Worried that your bones feel
- A family history of osteoporosis
- Noticeably lost height
- Broken bones more than once
- Other risk factors for osteoporosis
Checking things early can help find bone problems and show you what to do next.
Conclusion
Bone density testing is a way to find low bone density check your risk of breaking bones diagnose osteoporosis and track your treatment. Since you might not feel bone loss happening getting checked early can be very helpful if you have risks.
If you are worried about your bone health talking to a Bone Doctor Bangalore can help you decide if a bone density test is right, for you. Dr. Akshay Shetty provides bone health care to help patients understand their bones and take the right steps to stay strong and active.
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