What is osteopenia?
Osteopenia refers to low bone mass characterized by a bone mineral density that is 1.0 to 2.5 standard deviations below the optimal bone density for a 30 year old healthy adult (T-score of -1.0 to -2.5). Individuals with osteopenia are at risk of developing osteoporosis in the future. Approximately 34 million Americans have osteopenia.
Osteopenia refers to a condition where a person’s bone density, or bone mineral density (BMD) is measured as below average. This is not osteoporosis, and some people naturally have a lower BMD than others. It can be an indication that BMD is decreasing, and that osteoporosis will be the result. Generally, when a person is 30, they have the highest possible measurement of bone mineral density. If at that age, BMD is already lower than average, the person is said to have osteopenia. As people age, and particularly as women reach menopause, they tend to lose some bone mass. Even if you have a good diet, exercise regularly and don’t smoke, osteopenia may occur. Both it, and osteoporosis are partly determined by genetics; bone mass density appears to be higher in certain populations. Women who are thin, Caucasian or Asian, are most at risk for both conditions. There are usually no symptoms caused by osteopenia, since lower BMD doesn’t mean your bones are fragile enough to break. What is imp
Osteopenia refers to bone mineral density (BMD) that is lower than normal peak BMD but not low enough to be classified as osteoporosis. Bone mineral density is a measurement of the level of minerals in the bones, which indicates how dense and strong they are. If your BMD is low compared to normal peak BMD, you are said to have osteopenia. Having osteopenia means there is a greater risk that, as time passes, you may develop BMD that is very low compared to normal, known as osteoporosis. What causes osteopenia? Bones naturally become thinner as people grow older because, beginning in middle age, existing bone cells are reabsorbed by the body faster than new bone is made. As this occurs, the bones lose minerals, heaviness (mass), and structure, making them weaker and increasing their risk of breaking. All people begin losing bone mass after they reach peak BMD at about 30 years of age. The thicker your bones are at about age 30, the longer it takes to develop osteopenia or osteoporosis. S
Osteoporosis is a problem in which bones are less dense and more fragile and thus at greater risk for fracture, even with a small amount of trauma. This disease often affects bones in the hip, spine, and wrist. Osteopenia is the term used for bones that have become somewhat less dense than normal, but not as severe as in osteoporosis. A person with osteopenia is at risk for getting osteoporosis. My joints ache – what is the difference between osteoporosis and osteoarthritis? Osteoporosis causes bones to be more fragile but rarely causes pain – unless you actually break a bone. Osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints and commonly causes pain and stiffness. Osteoarthritis can cause deformities of joints, but is not associated with an increase in risk of fracture. What are the risk factors for osteoporosis? In young healthy adults, bones continue to grow, reaching their greatest strength around ages 20 to 35. After that, bones slowly become weaker as you get older. The risk of osteoporo
Osteopenia is a condition that means your bones are weak and you are getting close to osteoporosis. Once you have osteoporosis you’re more likely to break a bone. Since there are no symptoms, you might not know your bones are getting weaker until you break a bone! A broken bone can really affect your life. It can cause disability, pain, or loss of independence. It can make it harder to do daily activities without help, such as walking. This can make it hard to participate in social activities. It can also cause severe back pain and deformity.
