The Bone Density Solution by Shelly Manning As stated earlier, it is an eBook that discusses natural ways to help your osteoporosis. Once you develop this problem, you might find it difficult to lead a normal life due to the inflammation and pain in your body. The disease makes life difficult for many.
How is bone density measured?
Bone density is typically measured using a test called Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA or DXA). This is the most common and widely accepted method for assessing bone mineral density (BMD) because it is accurate, non-invasive, and involves minimal radiation exposure.
How DEXA Scans Work:
- Procedure:
- During a DEXA scan, you lie on a padded table while a machine passes a low-dose X-ray beam through your body, typically focusing on the hip and spine, which are common sites of fractures due to osteoporosis.
- The test takes about 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the area being scanned.
- DEXA uses two X-ray beams at different energy levels. One is absorbed by the soft tissue and the other by bone. The difference between the two readings gives the bone density measurement.
- Results:
- The bone density is reported as a T-score and Z-score:
- T-score: Compares your bone density to the average peak bone density of a healthy young adult of the same sex. A T-score of:
- -1.0 or above is considered normal bone density.
- Between -1.0 and -2.5 indicates osteopenia (low bone mass, but not low enough to be osteoporosis).
- -2.5 or below is indicative of osteoporosis.
- Z-score: Compares your bone density to what is expected for someone of your age, sex, weight, and ethnic or racial origin. It’s used more often in premenopausal women, men under 50, and children.
- T-score: Compares your bone density to the average peak bone density of a healthy young adult of the same sex. A T-score of:
- The bone density is reported as a T-score and Z-score:
Other Methods of Measuring Bone Density:
- Quantitative Computed Tomography (QCT):
- This method uses a standard CT scanner with special software to measure bone density, usually at the spine. It provides three-dimensional images and can distinguish between trabecular (spongy) and cortical (hard) bone.
- QCT involves more radiation than DEXA and is less commonly used but is particularly useful in cases where DEXA results might be ambiguous.
- Peripheral DEXA (p-DEXA):
- This is a variation of the standard DEXA scan but focuses on peripheral sites like the wrist, heel, or finger. It is less expensive and more portable but less accurate for predicting fracture risk compared to hip or spine measurements.
- Ultrasound:
- Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) is sometimes used to measure bone density, typically at the heel. It doesn’t involve radiation and is portable, making it useful for initial screenings. However, it is less precise than DEXA and not as widely used for diagnostic purposes.
Why Measure Bone Density?
- Diagnosis: It helps diagnose osteoporosis and assess the risk of fractures, which is critical for early intervention.
- Monitoring: BMD testing is used to monitor the effectiveness of osteoporosis treatments over time.
Sources:
- National Institutes of Health (NIH): Bone Density Testing
- Mayo Clinic: Bone Density Test
- International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF): Understanding Bone Density Tests
This test is crucial for those at risk of osteoporosis, particularly postmenopausal women, older adults, and individuals with conditions that might affect bone density.
The Bone Density Solution by Shelly Manning As stated earlier, it is an eBook that discusses natural ways to help your osteoporosis. Once you develop this problem, you might find it difficult to lead a normal life due to the inflammation and pain in your body. The disease makes life difficult for many.
Blue Heron Health News
Back in the spring of 2008, Christian Goodman put together a group of like-minded people – natural researchers who want to help humanity gain optimum health with the help of cures that nature has provided. He gathered people who already know much about natural medicine and setup blueheronhealthnews.com.
Today, Blue Heron Health News provides a variety of remedies for different kinds of illnesses. All of their remedies are natural and safe, so they can be used by anyone regardless of their health condition. Countless articles and eBooks are available on their website from Christian himself and other natural health enthusiasts, such as Shelly Manning Jodi Knapp and Scott Davis.
About Christian Goodman
Christian Goodman is the CEO of Blue Heron Health News. He was born and raised in Iceland, and challenges have always been a part of the way he lived. Combining this passion for challenge and his obsession for natural health research, he has found a lot of solutions to different health problems that are rampant in modern society. He is also naturally into helping humanity, which drives him to educate the public on the benefits and effectiveness of his natural health methods.