Osteoporosis screenings are recommended for women age 65 and older, but could be appropriate for younger people who are at risk. A common screening method is known as the bone densitometry, or DEXA, scan.

"It is important to know your bone density to calculate your risk of developing a major osteoporotic fracture -- hip, spine, proximal humerus, forearm -- in the next 10 years, if untreated," said Alison Lynch, M.D., a family medicine physician with Renown Medical Group. "This also helps guide our prevention and treatment strategies."  

A screening like the DEXA scan can measure bone strength and the ability of the bones to bear weight. Low scores can result in a diagnosis of osteopenia or a diagnosis of osteoporosis, according to Sepideh Arya-Sande, a physician assistant with Renown Medical Group.

"Osteopenia is when your bone mineral density has decreased and is less than optimal, but is not as low as osteoporosis," she said. "Osteoporosis is when bones have lost more calcium and, therefore, are weak and fragile. Many times, osteoporosis is found after a bone fracture and osteopenia is found with a DEXA scan."

The difference between the two is the T-score on a bone mineral density test. When a T-score ranges between -1 to -2.5, a person is said to have osteopenia. However, a T-score that is lower than -2.5 is indicative of osteoporosis, according to Arya-Sande.

"Osteoporosis and osteopenia are silent and asymptomatic until you get a bone fracture," she said. "Fortunately, there are things you can do to improve your bone density. That’s why it is so important to detect possible problems with a bone scan."

Statistics clearly indicate that older people are at increased risk for these issues. In fact, nearly 40 percent of postmenopausal women have osteopenia, according to Dr. Randall Pierce, with Northern Nevada Medical Center, while 7 percent of postmenopausal women have osteoporosis. Risk factors for developing osteoporosis can include older age, family history, an inactive lifestyle, smoking, alcohol and taking certain medications, according to Pierce.

"The literature suggests that one in three women and one in five men over the age of 50 will have a fracture related to osteoporosis," he said.

There are many ways that women – and all adults – can work to improve their bone density. This includes doing weight-bearing exercises, and consuming food or taking supplements that contain calcium, Vitamin D, Vitamin C and magnesium, according to Arya-Sande.

"For postmenopausal women, hormone replacement therapy may also help improve bone density," she said. "The most common mistake I see is patients taking a calcium supplement thinking it can strengthen their bones by itself. Calcium alone will not help if other problems aren’t corrected such as vitamin D deficiency, low body weight, inactivity/not exercising and low hormone levels, in postmenopausal women."

Along with a healthy diet, Lynch recommends women have a Vitamin D intake that reaches 800-2,000 IU daily and that they take 1,200 milligrams of calcium (from the diet and supplementation), exercise, quit smoking and avoid heavy use of alcohol.

"Talk with your primary care provider to treat any medical issues that can lead to osteopenia and osteoporosis such as diabetes, low body mass index, thyroid disease, celiac disease, parathyroid disease, and long-term use of systemic steroids," she said.

Studies also show that exercising for 30 minutes a day, three times per week can help to improve bone mineral density and to decrease the risk of fracture.

"I tell my patients to make a goal to briskly walk or jog at least six miles per week and use exercise bands – doing three sets of exercises at least three times per week," she said. "As for medicines, patients at high risk for osteoporotic fracture should receive pharmacologic therapy. Recommendations by the National Osteoporosis Foundation personalize risk based on a patient’s medical history, lifestyle and T-score."

When it comes down to it, actual improvements to bone density will vary based on the underlying causes and the amount of bone loss that a person has, according to Arya-Sande.

"The best thing I can recommend is to make changes at an early age when you can still improve your bone strength," she said. "Don’t wait until you have osteoporosis or osteopenia to start making a change."