Med-O-Meter

7

MedHead Message:

If you are a woman under the age of 65 and don’t have any of the symptoms that would increase your chance of osteoporosis, such as very underweight, history of smoking for more than 10 years, heavy alcohol use currently, or a history of previous osteoporotic fracture (like a broken hip, or compression fracture of the spine), then you don’t need a bone density scan until age 65. If you’re paying yourself for this test, save the dough and invest in exercise weight equipment and walking shorts. By exercising with lightweights (3-5 pounds) most days per week with your upper and lower body has been shown to decrease your odds of breaking a bone should you fall. Also use the money to buy some walking shorts so you can get sun 20-30 minutes per day. The sun is the best way to get the vitamin D you need to help healthy bones, even more than by taking a supplement daily.

References:

1.https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Page/Document/RecommendationStatementFinal/osteoporosis-screening1#consider. Accessed 1/20/2020 2. https://www.choosingwisely.org/clinician-lists/american-academy-family-physicians-dexa-screening-for-osteoporosis/ 3. https://health.costhelper.com/bone-density-test.html