You are only exposed to a small amount of radiation-about the amount you get during a cross-country airplane flight. All you have to do is lie on a bed underneath a scanner while it moves around you to capture images.Ī computer compares your bone strength and risk of fractures to that of other people the same age and to young people at peak bone density (around age 30). Our bone density scanners use what's called Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) to take a picture of your spine, hip, body and wrist, and calculate their density.

Getting the test is simple, quick and painless. CHA is an easy, convenient place to get your bone density testing done. Your doctor may recommend you get regular bone density tests if you're a woman over 65 or a man over 70, or are at risk of bone loss for other reasons. Osteoporosis may have no symptoms, but it can lead to bone fractures and breaks. A bone density test measures the strength of your bones to see if you have osteoporosis, or bone loss. Over time they lose some of the calcium and other minerals that keep them strong. Lifestyle choices and some treatments can help slow bone loss.Your bones do a lot of work. If you have any risk factors for osteopenia, talk to your doctor about screening for low BMD. The condition doesn’t usually have any signs or symptoms until it progresses to osteoporosis. Osteopenia is a loss of bone mineral density (BMD).

Fracture a bone, especially doing something that might not normally be expected to cause serious injury.

Talk to your healthcare provider about a bone density test if you: When should I talk to my healthcare provider about bone density?

Treat slippery surfaces immediately, such as spills, ice and snow.

A scanner which is mounted passes over the patients’ body and the machine captures X-ray images of the spine and hips.

This provides an opportunity to reevaluate an individual’s. In general, based on bone density levels, a repeat bone mineral density measurement could be considered between two and 10 years later. The procedure for bone density test using DEXA is: The patient is asked to lie down on a table. Once bone density is measured, there is a lack of consensus regarding when or if a repeat measurement should be done, according to Dr. Remove any tripping hazards (for example, small furniture, rugs that turn up at the corners, items that are out of place). A bone mineral density test is usually performed at a radiologist’s office.Make sure your home has ample lighting.Besides making healthy lifestyle choices to maintain bone density, it’s important to prevent falls. How do I take care of myself with osteopenia?įalls are the leading cause of fractures in people with low bone density. The condition is usually detected when a person has a BMD screening. Rarely, some people with osteopenia may experience bone pain or weakness. Osteopenia usually doesn’t cause any signs or symptoms until it progresses to osteoporosis. Unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as smoking, drinking too much alcohol or caffeine, and not exercising.Surgery on the gastrointestinal system, which can affect the body’s ability to absorb needed nutrients and minerals.Poor nutrition, especially a diet too low in calcium or vitamin D.

Medications such as prednisone and some treatments for cancer, heartburn, high blood pressure and seizures.

Medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism.

Some things can make bone loss happen more quickly, leading to osteopenia, such as: Even in a healthy person, bone density decreases throughout life, by less than 1 percent per year. But after age 35, bones begin to break down faster than they build up. These proteins and minerals are created from the nutrients in your food. Collagen is a protein that provides the framework tissues for your bones, and the mineral calcium phosphate hardens them. The two main components of your bones are collagen and calcium phosphate.

Up until about age 30, a healthy person builds more bone than he or she loses. Bone density is the measurement of the minerals in your bone tissue.