When does osteopenia occur in the human body?
When does osteopenia occur in the human body?
Osteopenia has two causes. The first is a failure to reach one’s peak bone mass, which is the maximum amount of bone a person is genetically programmed to build in her lifetime. Peak bone mass is typically reached by age 20 in men and age 30 in women. The second cause is a loss of bone once a person has reached peak bone mass.
How much height do you lose with osteopenia?
This makes it challenging to know if someone has either condition. A common symptom is height loss. Most people lose an average of one inch of height as they age (from peak adult height), but losing more than this may be the first clue that there is an underlying bone quality issue.
What should you do if you have osteopenia?
Treatment for osteopenia depends on the person. The first step is to determine if the individual is at a high risk for fracture, in which case certain bone health medications are used to prevent bone breakdown and build the skeleton back up as much as possible.
What’s the lowest osteopenia score you can get?
A 52-year-old woman who just started menopause and has no other risk factors for osteoporosis. Her primary care physician recommended a DXA study “to be on top of things.” The diagnosis was osteopenia, lowest. T score –1.3.
What is the lowest DXA score for osteopenia?
The diagnosis was osteopenia, lowest T score –1.8. A 76-year-old woman who went through natural menopause in her early 50s. She has lost 3.5 inches in height. Her primary care physician recommended a DXA study. The diagnosis was osteopenia, lowest T score –2.3.
What is the best way to treat osteopenia?
There are various treatment methods (medications, hormone replacement therapy, healthy lifestyle changes) that are commonly used to protect bone mass, slow the progression of osteopenia, alleviate related symptoms, and prevent the development of osteoporosis. Bisphosphonates are the most common medications prescribed to prevent osteopenia.
Is the diagnosis of osteopenia the same as the diagnosis?
Although the diagnosis is the same in all five, their risk of fracture and need for pharmacological intervention differ considerably. Because the term “osteopenia” is not useful as a diagnosis and can actually be harmful, I am on a personal crusade to eliminate it from the bone density lexicon.