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Diagnosing Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis can severely affect your quality of life.
Sherrie Hertz, BScPhm, is a Drug Information Pharmacist
at the Drug and Research Information Centre, Toronto.
As we age, our bones become weaker. Osteoporosis
is a disease where the bones are "porous" and more likely to
break, unlike the denser, stronger bones of youth. In Canada,
one out
of every four women, and one in eight men, will develop osteoporosis.
Often the first time you are aware that you have the condition
is when you experience a broken bone. Osteoporosis can severely
affect your quality of life and keep you from doing simple things
like walking and climbing stairs. that is why early detection
and prevention are so important.
The best way to test the strength of your bones is through bone
mineral density (BMD) testing. The dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry
(DXA) test is the most accurate way to measure BMD, so it is
the preferred method. The DXA test is similar to an x-ray, but
uses less radiation. It is painless, easy, and takes only a few
minutes. Measurements are taken at the hip, spine, and forearm.
Where DXA testing is not available, other methods (e.g., heel
ultrasound) may be used for an initial screening, but they are
not as reliable.
Results of BMD testing are described as the difference between
your BMD compared to the usual results for a young, healthy person
of the same gender and race. A number is given, called a "T-score."
A T-score between +2.5 and -1.0 is normal. Results from -1.0
to -2.5 indicate a low BMD, a condition called osteopenia. Osteoporosis
is diagnosed with a T-score below -2.5. The lower the T-score,
the greater the risk of broken bones (fractures). DXA testing
is also used to watch for progress of the disease and the expected
benefits of prescribed medications. Additional blood and urine
tests may also be used to confirm a diagnosis of osteoporosis.
Because there are no warning signs of osteoporosis, people at
high risk of fractures should have their BMD tested. This includes
people over the age of 65, and those over the age of 50 with
additional risk factors, such as:
- Family history of osteoporosis
- Early menopause
- Previous fracture due to weak bones after the age of 40
- Long-term corticosteroid medication use.
Rheumatoid arthritis, poor nutrition, smoking, excessive alcohol
and caffeine intake, and the use of anticonvulsant medications
are also risk factors.
By knowing your BMD, you can take action to prevent fractures,
and their serious consequences, as soon as possible. Osteoporosis
prevention includes weight-bearing exercise (such as walking),
stopping smoking, good nutrition (with enough calcium and vitamin
D), and limited alcohol and caffeine intake.
For more information, visit The Osteoporosis Society of Canada
at www.osteoporosis.ca or The Arthritis Society at www.arthritis.ca.
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The information in this newsletter was prepared and reviewed
by pharmacists for the Canadian Pharmaceutical Journal.
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Ask Your Pharmacist newsletter is produced through
an unconditional educational grant from APOTEX/PACE. |
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