When it comes to keeping healthy bones, you probably know the importance of avoiding osteoporosis. But here’s another word that may not sound as familiar: Osteopenia. Protecting your bones from this problem will allow you to avoid worse problems down the road.

Far more people in the United States have osteopenia, which is low bone mass that puts them at risk for osteoporosis, than have osteoporosis. About 34 million have low bone mass, while 10 million have osteoporosis.

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, osteopenia isn’t a disease itself…but it’s a sign that your bones are at risk of future fractures.

Osteoporosis is more common in women (about four out of five with the condition are women) and your risk rises as you get older. If you have osteoporosis, your first symptom will usually be a broken bone or collapsing vertebrae in your spine that leads to back pain or loss of height.

Your bones are constantly changing, with cells removing old bone and creating new bone. Until young adulthood, the bone-forming process happens faster, and your bones reach their maximum strength in your 20s. In midlife, your bone mass starts declining, and this change speeds up in women in the first years after menopause.

You can have your bone mineral density tested to see if you’re at risk of osteoporosis. If you find out early that your bones aren’t as strong as they should be, you and your doctor can start taking steps to prevent osteoporosis.

Your doctor can use this information - along with other risk factors such as your age and family history - to help you take any necessary precautions against developing osteoporosis. Getting plenty of calcium and vitamin D in your diet and possibly from supplements; weight-bearing exercise; and in some cases medications can help prevent osteoporosis.

Learn more about screening for osteoporosis

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