Should you have a bone density scan

Having a Dexa scan
on Thu 9 Aug

 

A couple of weeks ago I was at the annual meeting of the British Menopause Society annual meeting and listened to speakers talking about the fact that one in two women over the age of 50 has a bone fracture. 

 

The older you are the more likely you are to suffer very serious consequences of such a fracture with loss of mobility and even death in the elderly population. 

 

I decided that I would take myself off for a bone density (dexa) scan just out of curiosity.  Attending the London Imaging Centre at Wimpole Street I found the procedure quick, easy and non-invasive. You don’t even have to undress unless you are wearing any clothes that have metal fasteners such as zips, hooks, buckles or the wire in a bra.

 

Whilst lying still on an X-ray table a scanning arm passes a low dose of X –rays slowly over your body. Two images are taken – one of the hips and one of the lower spine. This takes about five minutes.

 

 

The scan then compares your bone density with the bone density of a young healthy adult and is given a T score. The World Health Authority classifies these as:

 

  • above -1 SD - normal
  • between -1 and -2.5 SD - mildly reduced bone mineral density (BMD) compared to peak bone mass (PBM)
  • at or below -2.5 SD indicates the presence of osteoporosis

 

I was a bit taken aback to see that the bone density in one of my hips was less than normal - albeit only slightly – and that I am in the range described as mild osteopenia.  In fact I have to say that I was a bit put out!  I use my HRT; I eat a healthy diet, don’t smoke and drink very little. 

 

However, it did dawn on me that I have been less than committed to doing weight bearing exercise recently.  I spend quite a number of hours at my desk which is not good for our poor old muscles. 

 

So…this has made me focus my mind on getting weight bearing exercises into my routine.  Next week I’m seeing a trainer for a few sessions to come up with some simple things that I can do.  I’ll share those in the coming weeks. But meanwhile here is a previous blog post on exercising and bone density

 

Whilst I don’t have a significant problem, this strongly reminded me to make the time to step back and reflect about lifestyle and how important it is to make space for such important things.  Weight bearing is essential the older we are and it’s all too easy to get very focussed on one particular exercise regime. They key is to make sure that you vary it to keep those muscles flexing! 

 

If you would like to talk to me about menopause do please get in touch.  We offer a 45 minute consultation and bone density scanning can also be arranged for you.  I’ve come round to the idea that perhaps we should all do it. 

 

I hope you found this helpful.

 

You may also want to read these blog posts

 The risk factors for osteoporosis

Menopause and Osteoporosis

 

We make every effort to ensure that all health advice on this website is accurate and up to date. However it is for information purposes and should not replace a visit to your doctor or health care professional. As the advice is general in nature rather than specific to individuals we cannot accept any liability for actions arising from its use nor can we be held responsible for the content of any pages referenced by an external link.

Tags

About Stephanie Acne Age-related Macular Degeneration AIDS alcohol units and effects allergies Andropause angina anorexia Anti Ageing Anxiety arrhythmia arthritis asthma atrial fibrillation back pain basic metabolic rate BHRT bio-identical hormones Biog Bloating blood pressure BMR bone density Book review bowel cancer brain fog brain tumour Bronchitis bulimia Bursitis calcium Cancer cancer signs and symptoms carpal tunnel syndromw cervical cancer Cervical smear Charles Bonnet Syndrome check your pulse cholesterol chronic fatigue syndrome coeliac disease cold virus contraception COPD coronary thrombosis coronavirus covid-19 Deep vein thrombosis dehydration signs Delaying menopause Dementia Depression dermatitis Diabetes Digestive problems digital health Donor advice DVT dyspareunia Ear infections Early menopause eating disorders eczema endometriosis exercise fertility fibroids fitness flu gallstones Gardisil Genetic testing government health policy hair loss hayfever Health Awareness Day Health Awareness Month Health Awareness week health warning healthy eating heart attack heart attacks Heart Disease Helpful supplements Hepatitis High blood pressure HIV Hives Hormone Replacement Therapy hormones hot flushes HPV HRT HRT & breast cancer HRT in the news HRT risks hydration benefits Hypertension IBS immune system itching Itchy Skin joint pain kidney function Laryngitis Leukaemia libido lichen sclerosus lifestyle liver Liver Disease Long Covid Symptoms lowered immmunity Lung cancer Lupus LUTS Macular Degeneration Magnesium# Male Menopause Managing Anxiety Managing Stress ME/CFS Men's health Meningitis Menoapuse advice for partners menopause menopause and dental health Menopause Specialist menopause symptoms Menopause Weight Gain menpause Menstrual Cycle Menstruation Menstruation and Athletes mental health Mental health support metabolism microbiome Migraine Migraines Motivation technique mouth cancer night sweats Norovirus oestrogen osteoarthritis Osteoporosis Paget's disease painful sex palpitations Pancreatic Cancer Parkinson's Parkinsons pelvic pain Perimenopause perimenopause and breast pain Pneumonia POI post menopause vocal syndrome Premature Ovarian Insufficiency Probiotics Prolapse prostate prostate cancer Pruritis Psoriasis Psychosexual medicine reflux rheumatoid arthritis Rosacea sarcoma self harming sex sex and disability sexual health Shingles Sinusitis skin cancer Skin health sleep Statins Staying positive STI's Strep A Strep throat stroke Takayasu Arteritis talks and presentations TB testosterone Tinnitus trying to lose weight tuberculosis Type 2 Diabetes underactive thyroid Urinary Infections Urinary Tract Infection Using a private GP UTI's vaginal dryness Vascular awareness month vegan diets Vitamin D Vulval itching Winter Vomiting Bug women's health World Health Day

Email enquiry form

How To Find Us

25 Harley Street, London W1G 9QW

Newsletter Signup

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. For information about our privacy practices, please visit our website.

GDPR

We use MailChimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to MailChimp for processing. Learn more about MailChimp's privacy practices here.