In the bustling city of Bangalore, where life moves at a rapid pace and stress is often a constant companion, health often takes a backseat amidst the daily grind. Bones are composed of living tissues that are constantly being degraded and replaced. Osteoporosis develops when bones lose minerals (such as calcium) quicker than they can be restored.
Osteoporotic bones lose density or mass, making them weaker and more susceptible to fracture. When the bone becomes weak and brittle, a little fall or even moving in the incorrect direction might result in a shattered bone.
Fortunately, there is a means to assess the strength of your bones to detect and cure bone loss before it becomes an issue. Taking a bone density test in Bangalore, or any location of your choice, is an excellent way to check the strength of your bones, and take corrective action at the right time.
Understanding Bone Density Tests
A bone density test, also known as a DEXA (dual-energy X-ray), absorptiometry) scan, or DXA, is a form of low radiation X-ray that analyzes bone mineral density to assist doctors in determining if a patient has or is at risk of osteoporosis.
A DXA is a rapid, easy, and non-invasive technique. Usually, no preparation is necessary, and it just takes around 10 minutes to a half hour. T-scores and Z-scores are the two categories that DXA test findings are divided into.
The Increasing Risk of Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis, which means frailness and weakening of bones, is a serious concern, mostly found among the elderly population. The danger of osteoporosis cannot be neglected in Bangalore, where this demographic accounts for a sizable proportion of the population.
Bone density examinations are a crucial tool in early identification and management, allowing people to make efforts to maintain bone health and avoid fractures.
The Lifestyle Factor
Fast urbanization has resulted in more sedentary lives, with many people spending long hours sitting at work or in front of screens. Sedentary behavior leads to poor bone health since it promotes bone loss and degeneration over time.
For people who live such lives, bone density tests serve as a wake-up call, urging them to prioritize physical exercise and use bone-strengthening methods to counterbalance the harmful consequences.
Who should get a bone density test?
Various risk factors must be considered when deciding if you are eligible for a bone density X-ray. Certain pre-existing health issues, medicines, and excessive alcohol use can all raise your chance of developing osteoporosis.
The following are the official recommendations of the International Society of Bone Densitometry (ISCD):
Indications for BMD testing include:
- Women aged 65 and older.
- A bone density test is recommended for postmenopausal women under the age of 65 who have a risk factor for low bone mass, such as:
- Low body weight
- Prior fracture
- High-risk pharmaceutical usage
- Women in the menopausal transition with clinical risk factors for fracture, such as low body weight, previous fractures, or high-risk
pharmaceutical usage - Men aged more than 70
The Role of Diagnostics in Bangalore Healthcare Ecosystem
Diagnostics play an important role in the detection and treatment of medical illnesses in a city where many people value access to great healthcare. Bone density tests are accessible at numerous centres of diagnostics in Bangalore and contribute to this ecosystem by providing an assessment of bone health.
With advancements in technology, these tests are now more accessible, affordable, and quick, allowing patients to take preventative actions to safeguard their bone health.
Conclusion
Prioritizing health is non-negotiable, in a dynamic city with ever-changing lifestyles. Bone density tests are frequently overlooked in favor of more conventional diagnostics and are an important part of preventive healthcare, particularly in bone health and osteoporosis prevention.
Individuals should take proactive steps to safeguard bone health, reduce the risk of fractures, and live a life of vigour and mobility for many years to come by undergoing regular bone density testing.