Bone density tests are an important part of managing your overall health. They are the only way to tell if you have osteoporosis. Osteoporosis can exist with no signs or symptoms. In some cases, the only way a patient finds out that she has this disease is when she falls and breaks a bone. To avoid this, having a bone density test and understanding the results should be part of your routine care.
Step 1
Examine your bone density report and notice that each area tested will have a number assigned to it. This can include your hips, spine, wrists and heels. You can have different readings in different areas and each side of your body can be different. Your numbers show how much bone density you have compared to a health 30 year old with peak bone mass.
Step 2
Look for your T-score. Compare this number to the numbers assigned by the National Osteoporosis Foundation. A T-score between +1 and -1 is considered normal bone density. A T-score between -1 and -2.5 indicates that your bone density is starting to get low and you have osteopenia or the beginning stages of osteoporosis. If your T-score is -2.5 or lower, you have osteoporosis. If your score is -3.0 or lower, then your osteoporosis is severe.
Step 3
Use the Z-score if you are a younger man, premenopausal woman or child. The Z-score compares your bone density to what is normal in someone your age and body size. If your Z-score is above -2.0 your bone density is considered normal. However, the National Osteoporosis Foundations states that a low bone density test result should not be the only diagnostic tool when used for these groups.
Tips and Warnings
- Since osteoporosis can be reversed with medication and lifestyle changes, it is important to have and understand your bone density test. You and your doctor can find the right treatment plan to reduce your risk of breaking a bone.
- According to the National Institutes of Health, a bone density test "...cannot predict the certainty of developing a fracture. It can only predict risk." If your bones are frail, then you will need to take steps to improve your balance and reduce your risk of falls. You and your doctor will need to discuss your results based on your individual situations and then decide on the right course of treatment.
