Bone health plays a big role in your overall well-being. Bones protect your organs, support your muscles and help you move. But over time, you can experience bone loss, which increases your chances of broken bones, chronic pain and even long-term disability.
Learn how to protect your bones, reduce your risk of osteoporosis and osteopenia and get the care you need - especially if you’re over age 65 or have other risk factors.
Osteopenia and osteoporosis are common bone diseases where bones become thin, brittle and more likely to fracture. These conditions often go unnoticed until you break a bone.
Both are called a silent disease because they usually don’t cause symptoms until a fracture happens.
Osteoporosis can weaken any bone, but hip fractures, spine fractures and wrist fractures are most common. You may notice:
There are several risk factors that can increase your chances of developing osteopenia or osteoporosis. Some of these are out of your control, but knowing your risk can help you take steps to protect your bone health.
You may be at higher risk if you:
Other factors that can raise your risk include:
Even children can develop bone loss in rare cases, such as juvenile osteoporosis. If you’re concerned about your risk, talk to your health care provider about a bone health evaluation.
Because there are often no early symptoms, early detection is key. Ask your health care provider if you should get a bone density scan (DXA) - especially if you're over age 50 or have risk factors.
DXA scans use low-dose X-rays to check bone density. They are:
Results are given as a T-score:
For people under 50, a Z-score may be used to compare bone density to others of the same age and sex.
While a bone density scan (DXA) is the most common tool to measure bone strength, your provider may recommend additional tests to evaluate your overall bone health - especially if you have symptoms or other risk factors for bone loss.
Tests may include:
These tests can help your provider make an accurate diagnosis and recommend the best treatment plan for you.
If you have osteopenia or osteoporosis, there are many ways to manage the condition and avoid fractures:
Osteopenia treatment:
Osteoporosis treatment:
Talk to your provider about the right treatment plan for you. People with osteopenia may also benefit from treatment to prevent progression to osteoporosis.
You can take steps at any age to protect your bones and reduce your risk of osteoporosis:
Eating a balanced, nutrient-rich diet is one of the best ways to protect your bones. Your body needs calcium and vitamin D to build and maintain strong bones.
Your body also needs vitamin D to absorb calcium effectively, which is essential for preventing bone loss and reducing your risk of osteoporosis:
You can get calcium from dairy products, leafy greens, fortified foods or supplements. Vitamin D can come from sunlight, fortified foods, or supplements - especially if you live in an area with limited sun exposure.
Osteoporosis increases the chances you’ll break a bone from a minor fall. But you can reduce your fall risk:
Staying active can also help you stay balanced and prevent injuries.
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