Bone density is a measurement of the amount of minerals present in a specific area of bone. These minerals, primarily calcium and phosphorous, make up 65% of bone tissue and are what give bone its hardness and rigidity. Other terms used for bone density are bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mass.

Bones are made up of living cells and tissue, and they’re always growing and changing. Our bodies have a natural mechanism for removing old bone and rebuilding new bone. After age 50, we start losing bone faster than we can build it, causing them to become weaker and more susceptible to fracture.

Bone density is an important indicator of how likely bones are to break and also assessing the effectiveness of treatments that aim to prevent bone loss. The most common way to measure bone density is with a Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scan which is a quick, painless test that uses a low amount of x-ray to assess the mineral content of your bones.

Health care providers recommend bone density testing for people who have been through menopause and are at least 65 years old who have higher risk of fracture. The risk factors include breaking of bone in minor accident, Rheumatoid Arthritis, smoking, drinking or having low Vitamin D levels.