What Is Folate? How Much Should I Take, And Why?
Folate has also been in the news regarding its role in osteoporosis. What is folate? How much should I take, and why? Folate , also called folic acid, is well...
Osteoporosis & Osteopenia
Can I Get Enough Through Eating The Right Foods?
I’ve also been told that I must increase my intake of vitamin D. Should I take a separate vitamin D supplement, or can I get enough through eating the right...
What Can I Do To Get The Calcium Necessary For My Bones?
There’s always a lot of emphasis on eating dairy products for calcium. I can’t drink milk or eat cheese because I have lactose intolerance. What can I do to get...
When Should I Take Calcium Supplements?
Is there any particular time of day that makes calcium more effective? Should I take it before meals, with meals, or between meals? Depending on the type of calcium supplements...
What Foods Can I Eat To Assure That I’m Getting Enough Calcium?
A diet rich in calcium will make it less likely that you will need calcium supplementation. Dairy sources of calcium include milk (all types, from skim to whole to buttermilk),...
How Do I Know I’m Taking The Right Kind And The Right Amount?
My clinician has encouraged me to take calcium supplements. There are so many kinds of calcium. How do I know I’m taking the right kind and the right amount? Calcium...
I’ve Always Been Faithful About Exercise, Why I Have Osteopenia?
I have been in postmenopause for 5 years. I’ve always been faithful about exercise, weight-training, and taking my calcium, and yet I’ve recently been told that I have osteopenia. Why...
Walking Is The Best Exercise For Osteoporosis?
I’m 60 years old and was recently diagnosed with osteoporosis. I’ve never exercised regularly, but I’ve heard that walking is the best exercise for someone like me. Is that true?...
Yoga And Tai Chi Are Helpful For Preventing Or Treating Osteoporosis?
Are there any exercises that I should avoid? Yoga and tai chi are great exercises, but are they helpful for preventing or treating osteoporosis? If you have never skied, ice...
What Types Of Exercises Should I Do, And How Often?
If you have been leading a sedentary lifestyle, start an exercise program after you have discussed it with your clinician. Then, start by changing your attitude first. Do small things...
Why Exercise Is Important For The Treatment Of Osteoporosis?
It doesn’t matter how old you are—exercise is important to your overall health. An increase in exercise can decrease your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, breast cancer,...
What If I Am Told That I Have Osteopenia But Not Osteoporosis?
If you have osteopenia, then your T-score is 1 to 2.5 standard deviations below the bone density of the aver-age healthy young adult. Given a score in that range, your...
After I’m Diagnosed With Osteoporosis Or Told That I Have Osteopenia
What Happens Next? Once you have been sent for BMD testing, it’s a good idea to investigate management options for osteopenia and osteoporosis. If your results are abnormal, you and...
Are There Blood And Urine Tests That Can Be Used To Determine If I Have Bone Loss?
In the case of osteoporosis, biochemical “markers” are chemical substances that indicate bone turnover. When osteoclasts (the cells of bone resorption; see Question 4) break down the collagen in bone,...
If My Tests Show I Have Bone Loss, Do I Need To Be Referred To A Specialist?
Or can my primary care provider or my gynecology clinician manage my case? Sometimes, BMD testing sites have their own clinicians. They are familiar with the BMD testing equipment and...
What Do My Results Say About My Future Risk For Fracturing A Bone?
Because fractures are the biggest problem associated with osteoporosis, it is important to know what your results say about your risk for fracture. It’s also important to know that there...
Does Osteoporosis Ever Affect The Skull Bone?
If my tests show osteoporosis in my hip, what is the likelihood that I have bone loss in other bones? Does osteoporosis ever affect the skull bone? If your hip...
If My BMD Test Results are Normal, When Should I be Screened Again?
If my BMD test results are normal, when should I be screened again? If my test results show either osteopenia or osteoporosis, when should my test be repeated? If your...
How Soon Are Test Results Usually Available?
Should I get a copy of the results of the testing? Your clinician may get your bone density test results immediately, but more often than not, test results are available...
How Will My Clinician Use My Test Results To Determine Whether I Have Osteoporosis?
A T-score, expressed in standard deviations, will be reported to your clinician, and your score will be evaluated using the WHO guidelines. If you are a post-menopausal woman or a...
What is a Z-score?
A Z-score matches your bone mineral density with individuals of the same age, gender, and ethnicity. The following formula is used to determine your Z-score: Patient’s BMD – BMD age-matched...
My Test Results Were Reported As A T-score To My Clinician
The results of your BMD tests will most likely be expressed as a T-score, which uses a mathematical formula and assigns your bone density results either a positive or negative...
What Should I Do To Prepare For The BMD Tests?
When my clinician orders the tests, how soon should they be done? If my provider can’t schedule my tests for 6 weeks after they’re ordered, is that OK? Although many...
X-Rays of My Teeth Can be an Indicator for Osteoporosis?
I’ve heard that x-rays of my teeth can be an indicator for osteoporosis. Is that true? It is important to keep up with your oral health check-ups throughout your entire...
If It Shows Up On The X-ray, Would I Need Further Testing?
If I’m x-rayed for a broken bone, will osteoporosis, if I have it, show up on the x-ray? If it shows up on the x-ray, would I need further testing?...