Bone Density
Bone Density: Finding Out What Your Bones are Trying Telling You
You may have only heard about bone density in recent decades. Although it may not seem important to you, it is an important piece of information that could spare you from the complications of osteoporosis.
What It Is
In simple terms, your bone density reflects the amount of minerals for every section of your bone. A higher degree of density means that you are less likely to have brittle bones that can easily get fractured. The density of the bones is therefore also an important indicator if a person has osteoporosis or if a person who already has the condition is at a high risk of suffering from a fracture. Determining the density of the bones is one way to monitor the condition of individuals with osteoporosis.
Density References
The measurement of your bone density would be useless if there is no way to interpret it. Medical experts would know if you have a good score or a bad score through your t-score and z-score. On the one hand, a t-score is the result of a person’s bone density compared with the density of a young adult of the same gender and race. A score of 46.6 and above for women above 64 years old signifies osteoporosis. A z-score on the other hand is a score that compares a patient’s density with a person of the same age, gender and race.
Bone Density Scanner
Procedures Used
In general, the density of bones is measured through the use of a machine that releases small amounts of radiation. There are however, different machines and techniques used for determining bone density. The most popular is the dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan which uses more than one x-ray beam to measure density in the hip, spine or other parts of the body. Other possible methods include dual photon absorptiometry, single energy x-ray absorptiometry, quantitative computed tomography and qualitative ultrasound.
Who Should Be Tested
It is often recommended that women above 64 years of age should undergo tests for bone density. The test however can also be beneficial to women below 64 years old who are past the menopause stage and who are at particular risk of developing osteoporosis. You may also consider having yourself tested if you have an abnormality of the bone or if you have suffered from a fracture and you are past the menopause stage.
Concerns with Density Scans
It cannot be denied that scanning for the density of bones offers great benefits and advantages. It should be noted though, that bone density scans also have certain disadvantages and drawbacks. Previous damage to the bones and the size of the person may affect the accuracy of density scans. It is also quite possible that scanning a bone section that is not the hip or the spine may not return results that are true for other bone sections in the body. This may result in the recommendation of unnecessary medication.
Before you consent to a bone density test, make sure you discuss the procedure and implications with your doctor. In any case, this procedure may be of great help to you especially is you are at risk of osteoporosis.
