Osteoporosis is an insidious illness that sneaks up on you. Studies suggest that about 50% of women over the age of 50 will suffer a fracture related to bone loss. And each year, approximately 80,000 men have a hip fracture. That’s why it’s so critical to undergo bone density testing. Even if you are otherwise “healthy”, getting a baseline bone density test can predict even the slightest beginnings of bone loss in your future.
There are a variety of bone density tests available, but the “gold standard” test for diagnosing osteoporosis is the DEXA scan (dual energy X-ray absorptiometry), which measures bone density in the spine, hip or wrist. If you do have low bone density, these are the most common locations for fractures.
Does the DEXA scan hurt?
A DEXA scan is painless and only takes about 15 minutes to perform. During the test, you lie on your back on a table and a scanner passes over your body taking radiographic images.
Who should get a DEXA scan?
DEXA screening is recommended for all men over the age of 70 and all women over the age of 65. Bone density should also be measured in women between the ages of 50 and 65 who are considered high risk for osteoporosis. In addition to obtaining an initial DEXA scan, repeating the scan every 2 to 5 years is recommended, depending on your risk factors.
What about radiation exposure?
The radiation emitted from a DEXA scan is about one-tenth the radiation emitted from a chest x-ray. Still, there are other bone density tests which emit less or no radiation at all: QCT scan, NTx urine test, or vitamin D test. To learn more about these tests, download our Comprehensive Guide, Osteoporosis Relief: Natural Remedies for Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment. The Guide can help you determine which bone density test is best for you.
Interpreting your bone density scores
DEXA bone density scores are measured as “T-scores”, which is a comparison of a person’s bone density with that of a healthy 30-year-old of the same sex. The lower bone density scores, the lower your total bone density.
T-Score Bone Density Chart:
A T-score of -1.0 to -2.5 signifies osteopenia, meaning below-normal bone density without full-blown osteoporosis. This stage of bone loss is the precursor to osteoporosis.
Using a bone density chart to estimate total bone loss
To better understand the current health of your bones, you should multiply your T-score by 10% (as shown in the bone density chart below). This will give you a rough estimate of how much bone density has already been lost.
Bone Density Chart for Estimated Amount of Bone Loss
Focusing too closely on the DEXA bone density scores can be a mistake!
Many doctors admit that the DEXA T-score is not a perfect predictor for bone health or fracture risk. That’s why it’s important to consider taking the other tests described in our Guide. Furthermore, your risk factors are just as important as your T-score and may lead to better predictions of bone disease. In order to determine your true osteoporosis risk factors, use our self-test here:
Should I Be Worried About Bone Loss? Use Our Quiz to Find Out!
Now that you understand your bone density scores, here’s what to do about it…
If your DEXA bone density scores show that you’re in danger for developing osteoporosis or if you have discovered by using our self-test that you indeed have several risk factors, this should not be ignored! You need to take steps right now to fight this disease. Don’t forget that full-blown osteoporosis is a serious condition that can have devastating consequences on your health and quality of life. Getting low bone density scores is only an initial warning. Are you going to sit there and do nothing or will you begin to prepare for the oncoming attack?
Our comprehensive guide, Osteoporosis Relief: Natural Remedies for Osteoporosis Prevention and Treatment, provides the top natural bone-building strategies recommended by integrative physicians who are helping their own patients rebuild strong bones with natural therapies. Don’t wait until it’s too late – until you’ve already broken a bone – to being thinking seriously about this debilitating condition. Even if you already have osteoporosis, the good news is that it’s never too late to reclaim your health! The most important thing is that you don’t wait any longer! By making a few small changes to your daily routine, you can dramatically decrease your chances of developing this “silent” disease. Isn’t it worth it?
Originally published in 2013.
The post Bone Density Chart: Understand Your Bone Density Scores appeared first on Natural Health Advisory.
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