If you are a premenopausal woman or a man younger than age 50, your bone mineral density test result will be a Z-score. Z-scores are also used for children. The Z-score is the difference between your bone mineral density and the average bone mineral density for healthy people of your age, ethnicity, and sex. Who should get a bone mineral ...

Medications can cause side effects. If you have questions about your medications, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Bisphosphonates. Several bisphosphonates are approved to help preserve bone density and strength and to treat osteoporosis. This type of drug works by slowing down bone loss, which can lower the chance of fractures. Calcitonin.

Medications can cause side effects. If you have questions about your medications, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Bisphosphonates. Several bisphosphonates are approved to help preserve bone density and strength and to treat osteoporosis. This type of drug works by slowing down bone loss, which can lower the chance of fractures. Calcitonin.

Broken bones can cause other medical problems and take away your independence. Falls increase your chances of breaking a bone in the hip, wrist, spine, or other bone. Taking steps to prevent falls both inside and outside of the house can help prevent broken bones. It is important to tell your doctor if you have had problems with falling.

Bone density measurement by DXA at the hip and spine is generally considered the most reliable way to diagnose osteoporosis and predict fracture risk. Some people have a peripheral DXA, which measures bone density in the wrist and heel. This type of DXA is portable and may make it easier for screening.

After you break a bone, recovery is your first priority. But you might want to find out whether this broken bone is a sign of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis and Broken Bones. If you’re 65 years old or older and you broke a hip or a vertebra in your spine, there’s a good chance that your fracture (broken bone) is related to osteoporosis.

Why does bone health matter? How can you improve bone health and prevent osteoporosis? You can start by reading about the important role of bones in your body. Learn more below about what you can do to keep your bones strong and healthy, what the risk factors are for osteoporosis, and how to live well if you have osteoporosis:

Vitamin D promotes bone health in these ways: Helps absorb the calcium we get from food. Along with calcium, helps protects older adults from osteoporosis. Promotes healthy functioning of our muscles and immune system. We need strong muscles to help us balance and reduce the risk of falling and breaking bones.

Medications. Long-term use of certain medications may make you more likely to develop bone loss and osteoporosis. Lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle can be important for keeping bones strong. Lifestyle changes that may cause bone loss include: Not getting enough exercise and being inactive for long periods of time. Long-term heavy drinking of alcohol.

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that develops when bone mineral density and bone mass decreases, or when the quality or structure of bone changes. This can lead to a decrease in bone strength that can increase the risk of broken bones (fractures). Osteoporosis is a major cause of fractures in women in postmenopause and in older men.