Understanding the importance of bone mineral densitometry is crucial. This test, also known as a bone density test, can be the key to addressing your health concerns. It’s a reliable method to detect osteoporosis, which can lead to weak bones.
Your bones become highly vulnerable to breaking. Furthermore, the worst part is that it’s a silent condition, meaning you feel no symptoms. Without a bone density test, you may never notice you have osteoporosis until you break a bone.
So, how does bone mineral densitometrywork? It’s a simple and painless test that uses X-rays to measure the density of your bones. This measurement helps determine if your bones are strong and healthy or if you’re at risk of osteoporosis.
The X-rays measure how much calcium and minerals are in a part of your bone. The more minerals you have, the better. This implies that your bones are more robust, denser, and more averse to breaking. The lower your mineral content, the greater your chance of breaking a bone in a fall.
The good thing about bone mineral densitometry is that anybody can be tested. Remember that osteoporosis is more common among older women; however, men can also have it. Your chances increase as you age. It would help if you spoke with your doctor to determine whether you want the test.
As a rule, they might recommend it if you’re a woman 65 or older, you’re a postmenopausal woman 50 or older, or you’re a woman at the age of menopause and have a high chance of breaking bones. Things are the same if you’re a man 50 or older with other risk factors.
Typically, the test examines the bones in your spine, hip, and forearm. These will probably break while you battle osteoporosis. The two types of bone density tests take under 15 minutes: the Central DXA and Peripheral test. Understanding what these tests involve will help ensure you’re leveraging the ideal one for your needs.
Luckily, there is little risk associated with the test. During a chest X-beam or an airplane flight, you are exposed to exceptionally minimal levels of radiation.
