How do you explain osteopenia to a patient?

Osteopenia is a condition that begins as you lose bone mass and your bones get weaker. This happens when the inside of your bones become brittle from a loss of calcium. It’s very common as you age. Total bone mass peaks around age 35.

What can you do about osteopenia?

For people who have osteopenia, there are ways to manage this condition and lessen the symptoms.

1. Increase calcium and vitamin D intake.
2. Do not smoke.
3. Limit alcohol intake.
4. Limit caffeine intake.
5. Take measures to prevent falling (with low bone density, falls can result in fractured or broken bones fairly easily)

Can osteopenia cause pain?

Osteopenia doesn’t usually cause symptoms. Losing bone density doesn’t cause pain.

Is osteopenia the same as osteoporosis?

Osteopenia is considered a midway point to osteoporosis; the bone density is lower than normal but not as severe and treating it may slow the progression bone loss that leads to osteoporosis. Bone mineral density (BMD) measures the level of calcium in the bones.

What is diffuse osteopenia?

Sometimes a routine X-ray reveals diffuse osteopenia (osteopenia in all bones visualized by the X-ray) or osteopenia of a particular location, such as spinal osteopenia. Periarticular osteopenia is an indication of past inflammation around a certain joint.

Where is osteoporosis found in the body?

Osteoporosis causes bones to become weak and brittle — so brittle that a fall or even mild stresses such as bending over or coughing can cause a fracture. Osteoporosis-related fractures most commonly occur in the hip, wrist or spine. Bone is living tissue that is constantly being broken down and replaced.

What does osteoporosis mean in medical terms?

(OS-tee-oh-puh-ROH-sis) A condition in which there is a decrease in the amount and thickness of bone tissue. This causes the bones to become weak and break more easily. Osteoporosis may be caused by older age, hormone changes, taking certain medicines, and not eating enough foods with calcium and vitamin D.

Does osteopenia go away?

There’s no cure for osteopenia, but it’s important to preserve bone density as much as possible. Treatment involves simple strategies to keep your bones as healthy and strong as possible and prevent progression to osteoporosis: Calcium treatment.

What is normal bone density by age?

Your bone density is then compared to the average BMD of an adult of your sex and race at the age of peak bone mass (approximately age 25 to 30). The result is your T score. A T score of -1 to +1 is considered normal bone density. A T score of -1 to -2.5 indicates osteopenia (low bone density).