Osteomalacia is a condition in which the bones become soft. The cause of osteomalacia is not getting enough calcium or vitamin D (vitamin D deficiency). A deficiency in vitamin D leads to the loss of calcium and phosphorus, both of which are necessary for making bones hard and strong. A vitamin D deficiency leading to…
What is low bone density? Low bone density (sometimes called osteopenia) refers to bone density that is lower than the normal peak density but not low enough to be classified as osteoporosis. Bone density is a measurement of how dense and strong the bones are. If your bone density is low compared to normal peak density…
Weight-bearing exercises, started in your youth and continued throughout your life, can help prevent osteoporosis. These exercises, such as walking, jogging, climbing, dancing, or lifting weights, help you build strong bones as a young person. And they help you maintain your bone thickness (density) as an adult. But if…
Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty are surgeries that are done to try to relieve pain from compression fractures of the spine by stabilizing the broken bone with a substance that works like cement. These surgeries are not done very often, because most fractures heal on their own. Fractures can happen because of…
A bone density test is a kind of X-ray test. It measures the density of minerals (such as calcium ) in your bones. This information helps your doctor estimate the strength of your bones. We all lose some bone mass as we age. Bones naturally become thinner as you grow older. This is because existing bone tissue is broken…