Q: I’ve never had a fracture or bone health issues. Should I still get a bone density test? A: It depends. A bone density test uses a low dose of X-rays in a quick, noninvasive way to measure the ...

Are you due for a bone density test? The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force announced updated osteoporosis screening guidelines on January 14, 2025. Women 65 years or older, or postmenopausal women ...

An ultrasound exam of the heel combined with an assessment of specific risk factors for bone loss and falling can help predict fracture risk due to osteoporosis, a new study suggests. Researchers say ...

Older women with thin bones should be screened every year and those with denser bones can safely wait up to 17 years to have their next bone mineral density test, according to new research. Current ...

Bone density testing most often is done to help diagnose osteoporosis or to see if you are at increased risk of this condition. Osteoporosis is a disease that thins your bones, causing them to become ...

A recent study shows that recommended bone mineral testing is rarely performed in men with prostate cancer receiving androgen deprivation therapy. Although these patients are at increased risk of ...

Older people at risk for osteoporosis are sometimes recommended to get a bone mineral density (BMD) screening test every two years to see if fractures may occur in the near future. But, a new study ...

Our bones often become less dense as we age, which can lead to osteoporosis and potentially to fractures, should bone loss continue. Women who are past menopause are at greatest risk for osteoporosis, ...

Q: I have just become menopausal and my doctor says that according to current recommendations I should wait until I’m 65 to get my first bone density test. Isn’t that too late? A: It might be. A bone ...

Stacey Colino is a Maryland-based writer and author who specializes in health and psychological issues. Her work has appeared in the Washington Post and in dozens of national magazines, including ...