Strong bones matter
Osteoporosis is a condition that makes your bones weak and easy to break. It’s sometimes called a “silent disease” because you might not know you have it until you break a bone. But there are ways to check your bone health and keep your bones strong. One helpful test is called a DEXA scan.
Who can get osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis can happen to anyone, but some people have a higher chance of getting it. You might be at risk if you:
- Are a woman, especially after menopause
- Are a man, especially 65 years of age or older
- Have family members with osteoporosis
- Don’t eat enough foods with calcium or vitamin D
- Smoke or drink a lot of alcohol
- Are very thin or have certain health problems
- Take medications that could affect bone health
While often thought of as a women’s disease, men can also develop fractures caused by fragile bones. In fact, up to one in four men over age 50 break a bone due to osteoporosis.
What is a DEXA scan?
A DEXA scan is an easy and painless test to check how strong your bones are. During the test, you lie on a table while a special machine takes pictures of your bones. The test usually checks your hips and spine and only takes about 10 to 20 minutes. The results will show if your bones are healthy, a little weak, or very weak.
How is osteoporosis treated?
If your bones are weak, your doctor can help. They might:
- Give you medicine to make your bones stronger
- Tell you to eat more foods with calcium and vitamin D, like milk and green vegetables
- Suggest exercises like walking or lifting light weights to help your bones
- Ask you to stop smoking or drink less alcohol
How can you keep your bones strong?
You can protect your bones by:
- Eating healthy foods with calcium and vitamin D
- Staying active and doing exercises that make your bones work
- Not smoking and keeping alcohol to a minimum
- Talking to your doctor about your bone health
Talk to your doctor
Your doctor can help you find out if your bones are healthy. They might suggest a DEXA scan to check your bone strength. If you catch osteoporosis early, you can take steps to keep your bones strong and avoid breaks. Take care of your bones—they help you stand tall and stay active!
FAQs
Osteoporosis is a condition that weakens bones, making them fragile, brittle, weak, and more likely to break. It occurs when bone density and quality are reduced. It is often called a “silent disease” because it typically has no symptoms until a bone fracture occurs. Fractures most commonly occur in the hip, spine, or wrist.
While bone loss cannot be fully reversed, proper treatment can improve bone density and reduce fracture risk. Early intervention is key.
DEXA scans are used to:
- Diagnose osteoporosis or low bone mass
- Predict fracture risk
- Monitor the effectiveness of osteoporosis treatments
Prep is easy!
- Wear loose, comfortable clothing without metal zippers or buttons.
- Avoid taking calcium supplements 24 hours before the scan.
- Inform the technician if you are pregnant or have had a recent contrast study (like a barium X-ray).
The scan uses two low-dose X-ray beams to measure the density of bones, usually in the spine, hip, or forearm. It compares your results to the bone density of a healthy young adult (T-score) and people of your age (Z-score).
Yes, DEXA scans use very low levels of radiation—less than a standard chest X-ray. They are considered safe for most people, though precautions are taken for pregnant women.
If you’ve already been diagnosed with osteoporosis and are receiving treatment, you’ll typically have a DEXA scan every 1-2 years. If you’re at risk, but without a diagnosis, your doctor may recommend a DEXA scan every 2-5 years. The frequency of scans is based on your risk factors and medical history. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have family members with osteoporosis.
Trabecular bones are the spongy, porous parts of the bone found inside the vertebrae, pelvis, and ends of long bones. These areas are particularly vulnerable to fractures in osteoporosis. A Trabecular Bone Scan (TBS) works together with a DEXA scan to give a bigger, more comprehensive picture of your bone health.
Yes! Just ask the 2 million American men who already have osteoporosis. Low estrogen levels in men can lead to bone loss, as well as chronic kidney or lung disease, prostate cancer, and certain autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. Talk to your provider about your risk and what you can do to protect your bones, and ask when you should have a bone density test.
