Can you have both osteopenia and osteoporosis

To detect any bone loss early, the National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends people contact a doctor for a bone density test if they:. Osteopenia is the initial stage of bone loss, which can progress to osteoporosis, a more severe condition, without treatment. Regular weight-bearing exercise, a balanced diet rich in calcium, adequate vitamin D intake, and bone strengthening medications can help treat both osteopenia and osteoporosis. Various types of osteoporosis medications are available.

Learn about the different options, including the benefits of each and any potential side…. Osteoporosis occurs when bone density decreases. This affects the structure and strength of bones and makes fractures more likely. Osteoporosis is….

Calcium is an essential mineral, and having too little can cause wide-ranging health issues over time. Learn more about this deficiency, hypocalcemia…. Vitamin D is a vital nutrient for bone health. Learn the normal vitamin D levels in the blood for children, adults, and older adults. Osteomalacia is a disease that leads to softening of the bones. Learn about what causes it and the differences between osteomalacia, osteoporosis, and….

What is the difference between osteopenia and osteoporosis? Definitions Difference Symptoms Causes and risk factors Measuring bone density Treatment Prevention Contacting a doctor Summary Bone mass and bone mineral density both decrease as people age. What are they? How do they differ? What are the causes and risk factors? Measuring bone mineral density. Contacting a doctor. Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Costs associated with obesity may account for 3.

Related Coverage. What osteoporosis medications are there, and what side effects do they have? Medically reviewed by Alan Carter, PharmD. Osteopenia and osteoporosis are diagnoses that are used to label bones that have weakened over time. Bone strength can be measured with bone mineral density BMD scores. Osteopenia can be considered the first step toward osteoporosis.

Bone density peaks around age 35, and as your bone density decreases, you may be diagnosed with osteopenia. Typically, this begins to occur with no symptoms at all, but if you begin to break or fracture bones easily, your doctor may decide to measure your bone density. If you have a lower than normal bone density score — between -1 and If you score is lower than Osteoporosis is the more serious progression of osteopenia.

As bone density decreases, the honeycomb-like structure inside your bones becomes even more porous. The more open spaces there are inside your bones, the more density and strength they lose.

The light, fragile bones that develop with osteoporosis can place you at a higher risk for fractures and breaks, even when you are doing simple daily activities. The best way to diagnose osteopenia versus osteoporosis is with BMD testing.

Your T scores will indicate the level of damage in your bones. After 35, bone strength begins to decline, but there are certain risk factors that can accelerate this process. People in the following categories are at an increased risk for developing osteopenia and, perhaps eventually, osteoporosis:. Since osteopenia usually develops without symptoms, you may not know that your bones are becoming weaker until you begin to have serious problems or the condition progresses to osteoporosis.

A primary care physician may screen you for your risk of osteopenia and osteoporosis. If you have an elevated risk for osteopenia or osteoporosis, your doctor may suggest bone density testing. The best treatment for osteopenia is preventing further bone loss and progression of your condition to osteoporosis.

Some strategies to reduce your risks of bone density loss include:. Bone mineral density BMD tests are used to diagnose both osteopenia and osteoporosis by measuring the calcium levels in bone.

This type of test can also provide an estimate of how much at risk a person is for bone fractures. This test is painless and non-invasive. It is usually performed on the heel, shin bone, wrist, spine, finger, or hip. A DEXA scan is essentially a low energy x-ray so patients are not exposed to as much radiation as they would be if they had a regular x-ray. The results are attained by comparing the score measurements taken to scans of individuals who do not have the condition.

Once the score is measured and compared, it is assessed using a chart that identifies the level or risk:. As with most conditions, prevention is the most effective treatment. If you have a family history or fall under any of the risk factors, there are things you can do to minimize the effects or prevent the conditions completely. Your chiropractor can talk to you about lifestyle changes, exercise, and diet as well as supplements that you can take. Chiropractic adjustments can also be effective for many patients with osteopenia and osteoporosis as long as the choose technique is a low force technique like Activator.

Many patients find these natural treatments preferable to any medications that may be prescribed.