Bone density test:
Measure your risk of osteoporosis
 

Years ago, the only time osteoporosis — the disease that causes bones to become more fragile and likely to break — could be detected was after you broke a bone. By then, however, your bones might already be quite weak. Today a bone density test can determine if you have osteoporosis or are at risk of osteoporosis before you break any bones

Contours Express of Abingdon is proud to offer every member an osteoporosis screening at a reduced cost.  Together we will make a difference!

What is a bone density test?

A bone density test uses special X-rays to measure how many grams of calcium and other bone minerals — collectively known as bone mineral content — are packed into a segment of bone. The higher your mineral content, the denser your bones are. And the denser your bones, the stronger they are and the less likely they are to break. Doctors use a bone density test to determine if you have, or are at risk of, osteoporosis.

The older you get, the higher your risk of osteoporosis because your bones become weaker as you age. Your race also makes a difference. You're at greatest risk of osteoporosis if you're white or of Southeast Asian descent. Black and Hispanic men and women have a lower but still significant risk. Other risk factors for osteoporosis include low body weight, a personal history of fractures, a family history of osteoporosis and using certain medications that can cause bone loss.

The results of your bone density test are reported in two numbers: T-scores and Z-scores.

T-score
Your T-score is your bone density compared with what is normally expected in a healthy young adult of your sex. Your T-score is the number of units — standard deviations (SD) — that your bone density is above or below the standard.

Interpretations may vary if you're a woman of color or a man.

Z-score
Your Z-score is the number of standard deviations above or below what's normally expected for someone of your age, sex, weight, and ethnic or racial origin. This is helpful because it may suggest you have a secondary form of osteoporosis through which something other than aging is causing abnormal bone loss. A Z-score less than -1.5 might indicate these other factors are to blame. Your doctor would then try to determine if there's any underlying cause for the low bone mass. If he or she can identify a cause, that condition can often be treated and the bone loss slowed or stopped.

A bone density test can confirm that you have low bone density, but it can't tell you why. To answer that question, you need a complete medical evaluation, including a history and physical. This information can help your doctor better interpret the results of the bone density test.

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