The University of Texas Medical Branch reports that hypercalcemia is the most common disorder associated with lung, neck, head and breast cancers. Doctors use the term hypercalcemia to describe high levels of calcium in the blood. Although the...
Healthy, strong bones are more resistant to breakage than their less-dense counterparts. As you age, you begin to lose bone density and experience a greater risk of broken bones. Be aware of your bone-density numbers, so you can take steps to stay...
Osteoporosis is a degenerative skeletal condition that derives from the Greek words "osteon," or bone, and "poros," or small holes, according to "Osteoporosis" by Pierre Meunier. Doctors identify osteoporosis by measuring bone mineral density,...
Your bones are made of calcium and other minerals important for bone strength. Osteoporosis is a condition that weakens bones, causing them to break more easily. Osteoporosis typically progresses as you get older and catching it early allows for...
An advanced form of X-ray technology called bone densitometry---also known as bone density testing or dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DMX)---is used to measure the mineral density in bones. DMX is a noninvasive radiology test most often used to...
Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that affects the joints. There is no cure. While this is a lifelong condition, patients do experience periods of remission, when there aren't any symptoms, as well as flare-ups, in which symptoms return....
According to Radiology Info, DEXA stands for dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and it is sometimes called bone densitometry. DEXA scans have become the most common way of determining the density of the bones, which allows doctors to measure bone...
Normal bone density is an important measurement for overall bone health as you age. Spinal bone density can be measured by a variety of methods, but a DEXA/DXA scan has become the gold standard of bone density measurements, as reported by the...
Doctors use bone mineral density, or BMD, tests to determine your level of bone mineral density. While BMD can be affected by a variety of factors, the World Health Organization has created a standard score with which to measure bone density with....
When your bones are healthy, you have bone mass that ensures your bones will not easily break, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. In order to determine how dense your bones are and if you are at a normal bone mass for your age and...
Your adrenal gland does more than give you a shot of adrenalin to speed your feet when someone yells "Fire!" It produces many powerful, steroid hormones, including DHEA, or dehydroepiandrosterone. Many health effects are attributed to DHEA,...
Vitamin D is often included in multivitamins, one that you need on a daily basis. Vitamin D is known as the "sunshine vitamin" because it is created by the body in response to sun exposure. It is a fat-soluble vitamin created in your body when you...
Measuring bone mass index is commonly referred to as measuring bone mineral density. A measurement of bone mineral density is a measurement of how densely packed the strengthening and load bearing minerals are in your bones. "A bone density...
When a doctor recommends a bone density scan or a densitometry (DXA or DEXA) scan, it is to rule out serious conditions like osteopenia ( the beginning of bone loss) or osteoporosis (thinning bones). These diseases if untreated can lead to the...
Bone density risk means you have an increased risk to experience broken bones throughout your life. This condition is often referred to as osteoporosis -- a disease in which your bones become extremely fragile and can break easily. Women are often...
Caffeine consumption has long been held as a culprit for the loss of calcium within the body. Researchers have studied whether or not this loss of calcium is detrimental to bone status and can eventually lead to osteoporosis. Although calcium can...
Osteopenia is the term used for bones that have become less dense than normal, but have not lost enough density to be considered osteoporosis. Being diagnosed with osteopenia may be a warning sign that the bones are beginning to become frail. At...
Approximately 10 million Americans have osteoporosis, a condition causing weak bones that break easily, and another 34 million are at risk, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. A medical evaluation and bone strength tests can help...
Vitamin D helps you absorb calcium for strong bones, supports your immune system in fighting off harmful bacteria and viruses, aids communication within your nervous system and keeps your muscles working smoothly. According to the Office of...
Skeletal mass becomes something of a double-edged sword for cyclists -- fortunately, one side of the sword has a much sharper edge. An increase in skeletal mass, or bone mineral density, results in more weight that you must propel over a long...
With osteoporosis, bones become less dense, which weakens them and makes them brittle and more prone to fracture. During childhood and early adulthood, bone density increases steadily, peaking around age 35. From middle age on, everyone...
