Your Risk Factors Are Evaluated
Osteoporosis can exist for years without any symptoms. Knowing if you are at risk is often the first step in helping to diagnose this condition. If you have certain risk factors, then your physician can order the right tests to see if you have lost bone mass. Your risk for osteoporosis increases with age (starting with natural or medically induced menopause) and it is more common in women than men. Other risk factors include having a family history of osteoporosis; having a small, thin frame; being physically inactive; smoking; eating a diet low in calcium; and being of Caucasian, Asian or Latino descent. In addition, your risk increases if you have a history of using certain medications such as antacids and steroids or have undergone treatment for cancer or for a thyroid disorder. The National Osteoporosis Foundation also states that "People who have broken one or more bones during their adult years are at greater risk for osteoporosis."
X-Rays Show Compression Fractures
If you have lost height or have unexplained back pain, you may have one or more compression fractures. A compression fracture occurs when the vertebrae collapse on themselves, decreasing the space between them. The American Academy of Family Physicians states that "Vertebral compression fractures are recognized as the hallmark of osteoporosis..." They signal the need for further testing. Unfortunately, this pain may be dismissed as as result of aging or arthritis. If you notice sudden back pain that is worse when standing, walking or when lying on your stomach but gets better when lying on your back, then your physician can order an X-ray. An X-ray will show compression fractures in your spine. This will distinguish whether the pain is from fractures or arthritis. It is important to note that an X-ray does not show the amount of bone density you have. It is designed to show compression fractures and it can help your physician to decide if you need further testing to confirm a diagnosis of osteoporosis.
Your Bone Density Is Measured With a Bone Mineral Density (BMD) Test
A BMD is a quick and painless test that is similar to an X-ray. It shows how much bone mineral you have in your bones. Your doctor can test your bone density in your hip, spine, forearm, wrist, finger or heel. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, "A BMD test is the only way to detect low bone density and diagnose osteoporosis." Having the risk factors outlined above can help to prompt your physician to order a bone density test. If you have the above risk factors and have not had a BMD, ask you doctor for one. The test results will tell you and your doctor if you have osteoporosis. If your BMD shows a T-score between +1 and -1, then you have normal bone density. If your T-score is between -1 and -2.5, then you have osteopenia. Osteopenia means that you are staring to lose bone mass and need to take action so you do not develop osteoporosis. When your T-score is -2.5 or lower, then you are diagnosed with osteoporosis. The National Institutes of Health claim that this test can show low bone density before a fracture occurs, confirm a diagnosis of osteoporosis if you have experienced fractures, predict your chances of fracturing in the future and provides a way to monitor your rate of bone loss while receiving treatment.
