Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsScreeningWho Should Get a Bone Density Test?What to Expect?SummaryFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Screening
Who Should Get a Bone Density Test?
What to Expect?
Summary
Frequently Asked Questions
Anosteoporosisscreening involves a review of risk factors andbone density testing. Bone mass naturally declines with age; however, osteoporosis is a severe loss of bone mass with a high risk of bone fractures. In some cases, if you catch excess bone loss early, you can prevent osteoporosis through proper treatment.
This article discusses screening for osteoporosis—what it involves, who should get it, what to expect, and how to interpret your results.
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How Common Is Osteoporosis?Osteoporosis affects women more than men. After age 50, this condition affects around one in every five women and one in every 20 men.Osteoporosis is more common among non-Hispanic White women and men and Asian women.
How Common Is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis affects women more than men. After age 50, this condition affects around one in every five women and one in every 20 men.Osteoporosis is more common among non-Hispanic White women and men and Asian women.
Osteoporosis Screening
Osteoporosis screening is part of bone density testing, which provides information about current bone mass. When performed at regular intervals, bone density tests can measure the rate at which you lose bone mass.
Types of Bone Density Tests
The most common bone density test type is central dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (also known as aDEXA scanor DXA test).
DEXA scans occur in one of two ways:
Peripheral scans screen for osteoporosis and help determine whether or not follow-up central imaging should be performed.
When Not to Get a DEXA ScanDEXA scans are typically not performed within one week of having other nuclear testing or within 72 hours of having an X-ray with contrast.Keep this in mind when planning your bone density test for osteoporosis screening.
When Not to Get a DEXA Scan
DEXA scans are typically not performed within one week of having other nuclear testing or within 72 hours of having an X-ray with contrast.Keep this in mind when planning your bone density test for osteoporosis screening.
Benefits of Early Detection
A decreased bone density that has not progressed to osteoporosis is calledosteopenia. Early detection of decreasing bone mass offers many benefits. Most importantly, early treatment can help reverse bone loss before fractures occur.
Treatment for decreasing bone involves strength training and weight-bearing exercises that help make bones stronger.Calcium andvitamin D supplementsare also important for osteoporosis.If screening reveals that osteoporosis is already present, treatment may include medication.
Learn more:What You Need to Know About Osteopenia
There aren’t any early symptoms of osteoporosis. Many people are unaware of this condition until they break a bone or notice changes in posture or height. Bone fractures from osteoporosis can occur during simple events, such as bending over or sneezing.
Women over 65 and men over 70 with no risk factors should get a DEXA, and women 50–64 with risk factors, such as smoking or steroid use, should also consider undergoing this test.
Risk Factors
Despite the absence of early warning signs, there are risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing this disease.
Risk factors for osteoporosis include:
The risk of osteoporosis also increases with prolonged use of medications, such as:
Certain medical conditions can also increase the risk of osteoporosis, including:
Related:The Link Between Osteoporosis and Menopause
Bone density tests are relatively short (around 30 minutes) and do not cause pain. There is minimal preparation needed before a DEXA scan.
How to Prepare
Dress comfortably but plan to remove anything that contains metal—such as underwire bras, jewelry, glasses, zippers, or buckles—before the test. You’ll most likely be able to change into a gown or scrubs if needed.
Understanding Your Results
Your T-score represents standard deviations or the amount your score deviates from the average. The lower your T-score, the less bone mass you have. A T-score of 0 means that your bone mass equals the norm.
Results are interpreted in this way:
Bone density testing results can also be reported usingZ-scores, which compare your measurements with someone of the same age.
Related:What Your Osteoporosis T-Score Says About Your Risk
Diagnosing OsteoporosisOsteoporosis is diagnosed when a bone density test score, called a T-score, is -2.5 or less.
Diagnosing Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is diagnosed when a bone density test score, called a T-score, is -2.5 or less.
Osteoporosis screening is important for the early detection of decreasing bone mass. There are no early symptoms of this disease, but screening can help identify your risk and prevent bone fractures that often occur as the disease progresses. Screening is performed using a bone density test—most commonly with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA scan).
If you have risk factors for osteoporosis, talk to a healthcare provider about scheduling a bone density test. The earlier you know you have osteoporosis, the sooner you can start taking steps to slow the disease’s progression.
Learn MorePreventive Care: What’s Free and What’s Not
Bone density tests are relatively quick (around 30 minutes) and painless. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a slightly increased risk of cancer is associated with a DEXA scan; this is true for any exposure to radiation, such as X-rays.Learn MoreWhat Is a Bone Density Test?
Bone density tests are relatively quick (around 30 minutes) and painless. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a slightly increased risk of cancer is associated with a DEXA scan; this is true for any exposure to radiation, such as X-rays.
Learn MoreWhat Is a Bone Density Test?
The frequency of bone density testing will depend on your initial results. People with osteoporosis or borderline results will often have to repeat these tests every one to two years.Learn MoreAn Overview of the Stages of Osteoporosis
The frequency of bone density testing will depend on your initial results. People with osteoporosis or borderline results will often have to repeat these tests every one to two years.
Learn MoreAn Overview of the Stages of Osteoporosis
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Does osteoporosis run in your family?
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Osteoporosis.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Bone density test.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Bone health and osteoporosis.
NIH Clinical Center.Nuclear medicine procedures.
Reid IR, Bolland MJ.Calcium and/or vitamin d supplementation for the prevention of fragility fractures: who needs it?Nutrients. 2020;12(4):1011. doi:10.3390/nu12041011.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Get a bone density test.
University of Rochester Medical Center.Bone density test.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Bone densitometry.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Facts about bone density (DEXA scan).
Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation.Evaluation of bone health/bone density testing.
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