Defining Osteoporosis

Contrary to popular belief, both men and women can develop osteoporosis, but it is far more common in women, especially after menopause. Osteoporosis slowly weakens bones and puts people at risk for fractures. As a result, nearly half of women and nearly one quarter of men over 50 will have a fracture due to osteoporosis during their remaining lifetime.

The consequences can be devastating. Spinal fractures may lead to stooped posture, loss of height, chronic pain and disability, and compression of the stomach or lungs. Hip fractures are even more dangerous. Each year, osteoporosis causes more than 2 million fractures of the spine, hip and wrist, causing pain, suffering, depression, difficulty functioning, and lower quality of life.

Promise of Prevention

Since osteoporosis is a silent disease, most people don't realize they have it until after they break a bone. However, there is a way to get an early warning about thinning bones that may allow you to take action. Machines that measure your bone density can help predict your future risk of fractures. Tests can detect osteoporosis before fractures, while preventive measures may still help.

How Bone Density Testing Works

Most devices that measure BMD rely on x-rays to take pictures of your bones. The procedure generally takes less than 15 minutes to complete, and exposes you to about one-tenth of the radiation used in a standard chest x-ray. A computer then calculates the test results to determine the bone density.

Several types of machines are available to read bone density. The most-accurate machines, called central machines, measure the density of your hip, spine, total body, or a combination of these sites. Peripheral machines, on the other hand, usually take measurements at only 1 location, such as your finger, wrist, kneecap, shinbone or heel.

BMD Testing Recommendations

Talk to your doctor about your risks for osteoporosis. Men and women should be evaluated individually to determine the need for BMD testing. People with multiple factors that place them at high risk for osteoporosis may benefit from early testing.

The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends BMD for:

• All women aged 65 years and older
• All men aged 70 years and older
• Any adult with a fracture after the age 50 years old

Postmenopausal women under the age of 65 years old, perimenopausal women, and men aged 50-69 years with at least one of the following:

Lifestyle risk factors, such as:

• Smoking
• Heavy drinking
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Low body weight
• Low intake of vitamin D and/or calcium
• Excess intake of vitamin A

Inherited risk factors, such as:

• Family history of hip fractures, especially with a parent
• Genetic disorders

Personal history of:

• Recurrent falls
• Previous fracture as an adult
• Poor health, such as frailty
• Impaired memory or eyesight
• Early menopause
• Certain medical conditions, such as Crohn disease, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, HIV infection, or heart failure
• Long-term use of certain medications, such as hormonal therapy, antiplatelets, glucocorticosteroids, immunosuppressants, or proton pump inhibitors

In BMD testing, the lower your results, or T-score, the higher your risk of developing a fracture. If you are unsure about your bone density status, talk to your doctor about osteoporosis screening. You may be able to avoid future fractures by getting tested.