How to Track Osteoporosis with Bone Mineral Densitometer (BMD)

When you begin any diet, you should be careful not to decrease your intake of calcium rich food. This is because a decrease in essential vitamins and minerals, such as calcium can have a nagative impact on your overall health. You may not observe the effects immediately, but the continued lack of essential minerals and vitamins will take its toll eventually.

One problem affecting millions around the world is osteoporosis. It is called the silent disease because it sneaks up on people and strikes without any observable symptoms. It is hard to detect until one day when you break a bone. That is why it is important that people take good care of their bones by not depriving themselves of proper essential minerals and vitamins. Food sources that are rich in calcium include dairy products, green leafy vegetables, and salmon and sardines. Also to get tested regularly for osteoporosis. Do not wait till it is too late.

Some crucial parts of the body that can suffer a loss of bone density are the forearms, spine and hips. These are the places where broken bones often occur. Such areas are crucial and the effects of osteoporosis, which leaves the bones weak and sponge-like, can be devastating. The main problem is that because people cannot see their bones, they often do not think of taking care of their bones. Women are most at risk of osteoporosis.

However, there are technologies available today that can help you check your bones on a regular basis, so you know what condition they are in, and what, if any, action you need to do to improve your bone health.

For example, the bone mineral densitometer can read a person's bone density using very light radiation (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry technology). The other ways to determine bone density include: radiology, radioisotope, quantitative computerized tomography (QCT), quantitative ultrasound (QUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Of all the above methods, the bone mineral densitometer is the most frequently used because it provides the most accurate results. It also has several benefits - by using x-ray technology, the examination itself is a simple process; the radiation used is very light, so it is safe; it accurately determines whether patients have sponge-like bones, are developing sponge-like bones, or are at risk of broken bones; it is painless and non-invasive.