Bone health is important for overall health and quality of life, and poor bone mass levels can predispose you to developing osteoporosis, which makes bones weak or brittle. Women are more likely to develop osteoporosis than men, making it important for them to take care of their bone health.
Osteoporosis causes bones to become so weak and brittle that they can break from falling or from even mild stress such as bending over or coughing. Women’s bones tend to be smaller, thinner than men’s, and many women don’t get the nutrients they need to build bones.
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Sunita Kapoor, Director and Consultant Pathologist, City X-ray and Scan Clinic, said, “As women age, their estrogen levels also decrease, the essential hormone that protects bones in women. Estrogen drops sharply when women reach menopause, which causes bone loss. All these factors make them vulnerable to osteoporosis. This makes appropriate and effective bone health screening or testing mandatory for women.”
Talking about who might be at risk of low bone density, she said, “Those with very low body weight, who have had one or more fractures after age 50, who have lost half an inch or more of height within a year, and who have a family history of osteoporosis have low bone density. More at risk. In addition, lack of physical activity, smoking, heavy drinking and not getting enough calcium and vitamin D in the diet can all lead to low bone density in women.
He suggested some tests or screening procedures that women should undergo to check their bone health:
- Bone density scan or DEXA scan
A bone density scan or DEXA scan uses low-dose X-rays to see how thick or strong your bones are. Other names for this test are the bone mineral density test or BMD test, DXA, and dual-energy X-ray. Depending on the risk factors for osteoporosis, a woman should start this test at least once at age 58 or earlier.
This test is also used to determine body fat and lean body mass and often plays an integral role in identifying and preventing osteoporosis. Diagnostic procedures such as measuring body fat percentage or bone mineral density can help diagnose how susceptible your bones are to fracture and injury. If you are at high risk of developing bone problems, such as osteoporosis, your doctor may recommend a scan or test.
A bone density scan is mainly used to diagnose osteopenia (low bone mass), and osteoporosis, to predict the risk of future fractures and to see if treatment for osteoporosis is working. Women age 65 and older are at higher risk of losing bone density, which can lead to fractures, so they should have a bone density scan.
- Orthopedic Health Examination
An orthopedic health examination is recommended for women with a family history of joint problems, arthritis or osteoporosis. Typically, this screening involves checking the bones and joints for any abnormalities or signs of wear and tear. Bone density, discography, skeletal scintigraphy, myelography, and electromyography are some common orthopedic tests. Most of these tests rely on proven technology, such as X-rays, Dexa MRI, ultrasound, and computed tomography.
Dr. Sunita Kapoor concludes, “The most common and effective way to measure bone density in women is a DEXA scan. However, your healthcare provider may also order additional tests to confirm the diagnosis or to see if bone loss treatment is working. Ideally, 50 All women over the age of 18 should have a bone density scan to check for osteoporosis. Since prevention is better than cure, the best way to prevent bone loss is to build strong bones. Therefore, building strong bones during childhood and adolescence is important to prevent osteoporosis later in life.