People who have low bone density are at risk of fractures and breaks, usually in the hip or spine. Damage to these bones can lead to surgery, hospital stays and lengthy recovery times, all with the associated medical bills. Prevention of low bone density is possible, and a bone density analysis is one tool to help you and your doctor understand the risks you face in relation to your bone health.
Purpose
A bone density analysis helps confirm that you are experiencing bone loss, and how severe the loss is. The National Osteoporosis Foundation defines severe bone loss as osteoporosis, a disease that weakens bones and makes them susceptible to breaks and fractures. Osteopenia is a form of bone loss that is less severe than osteoporosis.
Types
The NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center identifies several types of bone density analysis, and states that a bone mineral density, or BMD, analysis is the best way to identify bone loss. A BMD uses dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry to measure bone density. A traditional x-ray can identify bone density problems, but only when 30 percent of the bone has been depleted. A bone scan uses a dye injected into the patient that helps identify changes in bone tissue such as depletion, cancer or fractures.
How It Works
A bone mineral density analysis targets the state of your bones at your spine and hip, determining how much calcium and other minerals are present. The BMD analysis is painless and non-invasive and, according to MedlinePlus, uses a low dose of radiation that is roughly one-tenth the strength of a traditional x-ray. You will need to remove your jewelry, empty your pockets of metal objects and lie still while the x-ray machine is positioned over your body.
Benefits
Effective treatments, which help strengthen the bones, are available for osteoporosis and osteopenia. Identification of either condition through a bone density analysis gives you the opportunity to decrease your risk of a break or fracture through targeted diet, exercise programs and medication. Early identification can also reduce the associated medical costs of hospital stays and surgery. Research published in the June/July 2010 issue of the journal "Value in Health" found that bone density analysis is cost effective when followed-up with the use of osteoporosis medications to strengthen weak bones.
Misconceptions
Some people believe that bone density problems only impact the elderly. But people of all ages and backgrounds can suffer from bone loss, and a bone density test is one way to predict future problems. Talk to your doctor about your diet and lifestyle in relation to bone loss. She can order a bone density analysis as a proactive tool to help determine if you are in the early stages of bone loss, and can recommend changes to your diet and exercise routine, and even prescribe medications, to help you avoid significant bone loss.
References
- National Osteoporosis Foundation: A Debilitating Disease That Can Be Prevented and Treated
- NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center: Osteoporosis--The Diagnosis
- MedlinePlus: Bone Mineral Density Test
- "Value in Health": Cost-Effectiveness of Osteoporosis Screening Followed by Treatment
