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The Mystery of Bone Density Testing: How to Know Your Bone Health?
As we age, bone health issues have gradually become the focus of attention for many people. A bone density test, or bone mineral density test, is an important tool in assessing an individual's bone strength and risk of future fractures. This test can help people understand their bone health and take preventive or treatment measures if necessary.
The data provided by bone density testing is an important basis for doctors to diagnose osteoporosis and predict the risk of fractures.
Bone density tests are usually non-invasive, have very low doses of radiation, and are painless. This test is usually performed on the lumbar spine and hips, but can also be measured on the forearm if necessary. Data show a statistical association between low bone density and an increased risk of fractures, which are more common especially in older women, resulting in a significant public health concern.
Why do bone density tests?
Bone density tests are often used to screen for risk of osteoporosis and to identify people who may benefit from bone-strengthening measures. Here are some indications for testing:
- Female age 65 or above
- Male age 70 or above
- People over 50 years old with a history of minor trauma and fractures
- People suffering from rheumatoid arthritis
- Those who are underweight
- People with a family history of hip fracture
- People on long-term steroid therapy
The results of a bone density test are typically reported in three forms: measured area density, Z-score, and T-score.
Types of bone density tests
Although there are many ways to test bone density, all are non-invasive. The most common method is dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), which measures the density of specific bones such as the spine, hips and wrists and compares it to the average for people of the same age and gender.
Quantitative ultrasonic testing (QUS) is considered a more cost-effective method compared to DXA. These tests help identify changes in bone density and thus assess fracture risk. The doctor will interpret the bone density based on the T-score and Z-score of the test results:
- T-score: Bone density relative to a healthy 30-year-old adult
- Z-score: Bone density relative to people of the same age and gender
How to interpret test results
A T-score of a bone density test above -1.0 is considered normal, between -1.0 and -2.5 is osteopenia, and below -2.5 is diagnosed as osteoporosis. This indicator is especially important for older women and middle-aged and older men, because they are at the greatest risk of fractures.
According to the World Health Organization, osteoporosis is defined as a T-score below -2.5.
Preventative measures for healthy bone density
To protect bone health, your diet should have enough calcium and vitamin D. The recommended daily calcium intake is 1,000 mg. Women over 50 years old and men over 70 years old need to increase it to 1,200 mg. At the same time, the recommended daily intake of vitamin D for adults is 600 IU, which increases to 800 IU for those over 71 years of age.
In addition to nutritional intake, appropriate exercise, especially weight-bearing and resistance exercise, is the most effective. For example, walking, jogging, dancing, etc. are all good choices for strengthening bones. At the same time, smoking and excessive drinking should be avoided as these habits have a negative impact on bone density.
Genetic factors and bone density
The changes in bone density are significantly affected by genetic factors. Research shows that 60 to 80 percent of the variation in bone density can be attributed to genes, meaning a family history of fractures is a risk factor for osteoporosis.
With a deeper understanding of these genetic mechanisms, the scientific community has gradually realized that a variety of genetic diseases may lead to abnormal changes in bone density. Therefore, regular bone density testing can not only help understand the current bone health status, but also is an important means to prevent osteoporosis in the future.
In addition to learning about bone density testing, have you also begun to think about how to maintain a healthy skeleton?
