A bone density test, often called a bone mineral density scan (BMD), is a test to determine the health, strength and density of bones. Typically, this test is given to women who may be at risk for osteoporosis. All women over the age of 65 and those over 60 with other risk factors are encouraged to receive screening for osteoporosis and doctors may recommend that these women receive a BMD.
Menopause
Typically, women who have gone through menopause will experience bone loss that increases each year. In fact, some women will experience 25 to 30 percent of loss within the first 5 to 10 years after menopause. A bone density test helps physicians diagnose women with osteoporosis and recommend medications that may help decrease bone loss.
Women with low estrogen levels, especially post-menopausal women, may be advised to have the bone density test done. In women, estrogen helps maintain bone density. As estrogen levels drop during menopause, bone loss can become more significant. Thus, most post-menopausal women are more at risk for osteoporosis than those who have not yet gone through menopause.
Small Framed Women/Low Body Weight
Women with small frames or lower body weight may be at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis than other women. This is because smaller-framed women have less bone mass than larger-framed women. Osteoporosis can cause fractures in all women, but smaller-framed women are often more at risk.
Women with Other Risk Factors
Other risk factors for osteoporosis include immediate family history of osteoporosis or fractures, women who have in the past or currently consume large amounts of caffeine, women who have experienced fractures as an adult and women who are taking medications that are known to cause bone loss, such as prednisone.
Men and the BMD
Women are not the only ones who experience osteoporosis. However, it is more common in women for several different reasons. Women have less bone mass, they typically consume less calcium, and women rely on estrogen to keep them healthy. However, some men suffer from osteoporosis as well. Men who may be considered at risk for osteoporosis may be advised to receive a BMD as well.
Men who are small-framed, who have experienced calcium deficiency, or who have a family history of osteoporosis in men may be at risk for developing osteoporosis. These men should have a bone density test, especially if they are over the age of 60.
What the Bone Density Test Does
The bone density test is a quick test, and takes between 10 and 30 minutes to administer. Individuals should not take calcium deposits for 24 hours before the test. During the test, the patient will lie down in a relaxed position while a machine passes over her body. It is absolutely pain-free, and is similar to having an X-ray taken.
The test allows physicians to see how much calcium and other minerals are packed into a certain amount of bone. The denser the minerals are packed, the less likely the individual is to experience osteoporosis. Before the development of bone density tests, the only way a physician could tell that an individual suffered from osteoporosis was from frequent bone fractures. Today, a BMD allows the doctor to see the risks before the injuries start to occur. This allows the doctor to prescribe calcium or medications that will help prevent or reverse bone loss.
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