6 Reasons You May Need a Bone Density Test
Adopting healthy habits like prepping healthy meals and working out throughout the week can provide visible benefits like weight loss, clearer skin, and peace of mind. While drinking milk and consuming other sources of calcium can make bones stronger, there’s no way to see the benefits of the effort you put into your bones. The only way to stay up to date on your bone health is to get a bone mass density (BMD) test, which analyzes the fragility of your bones. We’ve pooled some information to determine if you could be at risk for osteoporosis so you can stay ahead of the bone game.
Age: Risk increases with age, particularly because bone mass peaks in your twenties.
Sex: Women are four times more likely to get osteoporosis than men.
Race: Caucasian and Asian individuals are at higher risk of developing osteoporosis than people of African-American of Hispanic decent.
Family History: Strong bones run in families. So do weak ones. If your parent or sibling has osteopenia or osteoporosis, this is a strong indicator that you need to get checked out asap.
Body Structure: Both men and women who have small body frames are at higher risk because they have less bone mass to draw from as they age.
Hormones: Lower sex hormone levels tend to weaken bone. This is why women become particularly susceptible after menopause, when their estrogen levels plummet. Men also experience gradual reduction in testosterone levels as they age. Some cancer treatments can cause sex hormones to drop in both men and women.
If these common indicators are making you think twice about your bone density, come see us for a quick, simple bone density test. We’re always here to keep you covered.