Is pre-osteoporosis a real condition?

Pre-osteoporosis is a term doctors use to describe people with low bone mineral density (BMD) or osteopenia, which means weak bones. If you have pre-osteoporosis, your bones are weaker than normal but not quite as fragile as someone with full-blown osteoporosis.

The term “pre-osteoporosis” isn’t used just for older women either! Men can get it too! And so can children and teens whose bones haven’t fully formed yet—they’re called “prematurely born” because they were born before 38 weeks gestation. Preemies are more likely than full-term babies to experience bone fractures later in life due to their weakened skeletons during childhood.”

Why do doctors have a word for something that’s not real?

If you’ve been diagnosed with pre-osteoporosis, you might be pretty confused. Why do doctors have a word for something that’s not real?

Pre-osteoporosis is the term used to describe low bone density lower than normal but not as low as osteoporosis (the more familiar “true” form of osteoporosis).

Pre-osteopenia is lower bone density than normal but higher than osteopenia (the more familiar “false” form of osteopenia). Doctors use both terms to help them analyze patient data when determining how best to treat conditions like osteoporosis and other types of bone loss.

Conditions that could result in pre-osteoporosis.

Both osteopenia and osteoporosis are diagnosed using a DXA scan. Even though you can’t have pre-osteoporosis without having some degree of osteopenia, the term “pre-osteoporosis” refers to someone with low bone mass but doesn’t yet meet the criteria for an official diagnosis of osteopenia or osteoporosis.

If you’re worried about any changes in your bones—for example, if you feel like they’re more fragile than usual—your healthcare provider may want to look into using this method for diagnosing your condition. If you have pre-osteoporosis, there are several things you can do to help prevent the condition from progressing. Your healthcare provider will probably recommend limiting your alcohol consumption and increasing your calcium intake by eating more low-fat dairy products or taking supplements. If you smoke, quitting is another important step in preventing further bone loss. You should also exercise regularly—even just walking 30 minutes each day can help keep your bones strong. Your healthcare provider may recommend hormone replacement therapy if you have low bone mass. This medication is made from estrogen or testosterone and can be taken by mouth or applied directly to the skin as a cream.

How it’s diagnosed?

The DXA scan is a type of X-ray that measures bone density, the number of minerals in your bones. The scan uses two types of X-rays to create an image: low-dose and high-dose beams. The low-dose beam penetrates more deeply into the body and gives a more detailed picture of your bones than the higher-dose beam because it’s not as strong as the high-dose beam.

• How does it work?

The technician will first take measurements from several areas on your body with both beams before taking pictures that combine those measurements for each bone being measured. This allows them to see subtle differences between different parts of your skeleton—for example, if one part has more mineral content than another or if there are signs of osteoporosis (such as porous bones). When you get your test results back, there are several possible outcomes. The most common is that they’re normal. But if you have low bone mineral density or osteopenia, then you’ll be diagnosed with pre-osteoporosis

Conclusion

You’ll be diagnosed with pre-osteoporosis if you have low bone mineral density or osteopenia. It’s important to note that this isn’t the same as osteoporosis; it’s simply a step before that diagnosis. If you have pre-osteoporosis, your doctor will recommend lifestyle changes (such as exercise and diet) to help build up your bones. You may also need medication if your condition doesn’t improve within a year.