Bone Density Testing Can Diagnose Osteoporosis Before Injury

Recent studies in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association “found that 28 percent of men and 26 percent of women between ages 35 and 50 had osteopenia, a precursor to osteoporosis.” (1) Osteoporosis is the reduction of bone density and leads to an increased risk in fractures. The National Osteoporosis Foundation says that,”one in two women and up to one in four men will break a bone in their lifetime due to osteoporosis.” (2) A bone density test can diagnose osteoporosis before fractures and broken bones occur.

The good news is there are ways to reduce your risk for developing osteopenia or osteoporosis. These include:

• Weight-bearing physical activity like jogging, walking, dancing, and resistance training. Focus on things that are putting a force on the bones to make them stronger.
• Make sure you get the recommended daily allowance of calcium every day, from dairy sources if possible.

  Supplements can help raise your calcium intake, but remember that supplements are meant to augment, not replace, the vitamins and minerals you get from food.

• If you don’t eat dairy, take supplements and consume more non dairy calcium foods, such as fortified juices and cereals, fish, soy, nuts, beans, and green leafy vegetables.
• Don’t smoke, and don’t use alcohol excessively.” (1)

For Bone Density Testing go to our services page for more information.

1. https://www.everydayhealth.com/osteoporosis/study-shows-higher-than-expected-risk-osteoporosis/
2. https://cdn.nof.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Osteoporosis-Fast-Facts.pdf