Bone Density Scan: Why Women Over 50 Need to Schedule One

I had my bone density scan, which is recommended for women 50+. It’s a quick and easy low-radiation test that takes no more than 10 minutes to complete but it’s so important for our age. My scan indicated that I have Osteopenia. That sounds ominous, but it’s just a scary-sounding name for some bone loss, which not uncommon for a woman over 65 like me.

A visit to Amgen Labs

I attended an Osteoporosis Summit at Amgen in Thousand Oaks, California. Amgen invited a group of over-50 bloggers/influencers to spread awareness about bone health. Some of the ladies flew in from all over the country but I was local. We spent an evening and an entire day together meeting with experts in the field and touring the facilities.

Amgen is a biopharmaceutical company that develops treatments and medicines for serious diseases like cancer. They work with living cells rather than just chemicals to make biologic medicines. However, the purpose of our visit was purely educational and was eye-opening, to say the least. World Osteoporosis Day is in October.

Why older women need to be concerned about bone density

Here are some facts:

• 1 in 2 women over 50 in the U.S. will break a bone due to osteoporosis in their remaining lifetime.
• Breaking a bone is often the first sign of osteoporosis.
• Some women lose up to 20% of their bone density in the 5-7 years following menopause.
• Breaking one bone due to osteoporosis puts you at a higher risk of breaking another.
• Every year in the U.S., osteoporosis is responsible for 2 million broken bones and $19 billion in related costs.
• A healthy diet and exercise are important, but for women with osteoporosis, they are often not enough on their own.
• About 80% of people at high risk, who have already had at least one osteoporosis-related fracture, go undiagnosed and untreated for osteoporosis.
• Women over 50 should ask their doctor to order a DXA scan (bone density test)

If that isn’t enough to get you to call your doctor to schedule a bone density scan, I don’t know what is. Here’s something I didn’t know. If you are over 65 in the U.S., your bone density scan is covered under Medicare.

How to take care of your bones

The first thing in the morning, we started with a yoga session outside of the Westlake Valley Inn most of our group was staying in. Yoga is an excellent exercise to prevent bone loss because it’s a weight-bearing exercise. Other weight-bearing exercises include:

• Walking, running, hiking
• Pilates
• Dancing
• Zumba
• Weight training

An exercise like spinning is excellent for your heart but isn’t weight-bearing. Make sure to include some type of weight-bearing exercise into your exercise routine. Even gardening and cleaning your house will count.

Practicing balance exercises is also crucial as you age. One fall can have devastating results. If you are looking for an exercise program, make sure it includes balance exercise.

Targeted nutrition can help reduce bone loss

My doctor recommended that I take a calcium and Vitamin D supplement since my bone loss isn’t severe enough to require medication.  You can easily get enough calcium by eating calcium-rich foods, but the recommended amount is 1000 – 1200 mg. You also need at least 400 IU of vitamin D because it helps to aid in calcium absorption.

Tip: If you are choosing a calcium supplement calcium citrate, like Citracal, is less dependent on stomach acid for absorption like calcium carbonate and also contains Vitamin D.

According to the Harvard Medical School, a 4 oz serving of plain Greek yogurt equals 300 mg of calcium. 1 oz of cheddar cheese is 205. A 3 oz piece of salmon is 180.

Some plant-based foods also contain calcium. But while collard greens equal 360 mg, most vegetables are low in that nutrient. If you’re vegetarian or vegan, you may want to consider consuming foods that are calcium-fortified such as almond milk and oatmeal or take supplements.

If you can get enough calcium with food alone, that’s always best. Taking too much calcium via supplements can cause kidney stones or even increase your risk of a heart attack.

Vitamin D comes from sunshine exposure but you can’t depend on spending time outside to get what you need. Even in Los Angeles, sun exposure isn’t strong enough to give us the required amount. You will probably need a supplement.

We also need protein to keep our bones healthy because it contributes to bone mineral density. You don’t necessarily need a high protein diet, but you still need to consume an adequate amount. The current protein recommendation (RDA) for a 150 lb woman is 0.8 protein per kilogram or 55 grams. However, it may be too low for those over 50 to prevent fractures.  According to a recent study, healthy older adults should consume at least 1.0 to 1.2 g protein/kg body weight/day. (a 150 lb woman over 50 needs 69-81 grams and a 180 lb. man over 50 needs 81-98 grams)

Again, vegetarians and vegans will need to be careful and work harder to get enough protein in their diets. Animal protein contains all nine essential amino acids that our body needs but plant protein does not.  I always recommend a the Mediterranean or Pescatarian-style diet (only fish as protein) for that reason, (my opinion) because both include small amounts of protein and are balanced.

See my Food Pyramid for Baby Boomer Foodies.

Our cooking class

As part of our day, we had a fun session making wild salmon cakes with cucumber cooler dip. Find the recipe here.

Our tour of the labs

All of us suited up in lab coats, protective glasses, and closed-toed shoes to take a stroll through some of the Amgen Labs. We were greeted by super-smart scientists who explained how Amgen develops drugs and other treatments to cure diseases.

In case you aren’t familiar with the company, Amgen is known for its meticulous testing as well as outstanding quality control. Our tour was impressive, and the entire campus is amazing! They have a childcare facility for 400 kids, a soccer and basketball field, and gorgeously-designed grounds and workspaces. We were impressed.

The osteoporosis panel at Amgen

We participated in a panel discussion lead by Barbara Hannah Grufferman, who is a recognized expert on positive aging.  She’s also the author of the book, “Love Your Age: The Small Step Solution to a Better, Longer, Happier Life.”

Barbara told the story of her mother who was active and independent before experiencing a fall that broke her hip. It turned out she had osteoporosis and didn’t know it. Her fall changed her life forever and she’s now in assisted living. What’s scary is that the same thing can happen to any of us at our age. If you’re over 50, even a simple fall can be life-changing.

The other panelists included Dr. Andrea Singer, Chief Medical Officer for the National Osteoporosis Foundation, Dr. Michele McDermott, US Medical Director for Amgen, and Dr. Mary Oates, US Medical Director for Amgen.

Takeaways from the Panel

• One of the greatest financial risks for people over 50 is health.
• Osteoporosis is a systematic skeletal disease that causes a decrease in bone density. It causes bone fractures in the population every 3 minutes.
• 54 million people in the U.S. are estimated to have osteoporosis and low bone density.
• A break or a fracture means the same thing. Some people believe the two terms are different as if a fracture is less critical than a break.
• Osteoporosis is different than osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints and osteoporosis is a disease of the bone.

Know your T-score

• A T-score of -1.0 or above is normal bone density. Examples are 0.9, 0 and -0.9.
• A T-score between -1.0 and -2.5 means you have some bone loss or osteopenia.
• A T-score of -2.5 or below is a diagnosis of osteoporosis.

The lower a person’s T-score, the lower the bone density.

What causes bone loss?

• Osteoporosis doesn’t just affect little old ladies or just skinny older ladies. Anyone can be diagnosed with it.
• After the age of 30, women begin to lose estrogen that can cause bone loss. Those who are post-menopausal are at the highest risk.
• You can prevent low bone density by not drinking too much and by not smoking.
• Check to see if members of your family have been diagnosed with osteoporosis in the past. If so, you may be at higher risk.
• If you fall and fracture a bone you will, at least temporarily, lose strength and mobility which can cause complications or an increased risk of falling again.

Whatever you do – DON’T FALL!

Have you taken a tumble recently? Make sure to check your balance and do exercises to improve it.

You can improve your risk of falls by making sure your home does not have obstacles that can cause you to fall. Watch that sneaky chihuahua!

Avoid wearing high heels – I know, I know – they’re chic and fashionable. Our first lady even wears her sky highs when she gardens. The problem is, they put you at high risk for fracture. If you must wear them, don’t step in a hole and make sure the heels are sturdy and not in danger of breaking. (That’s my tip)

Opt instead for flatter and sturdier shoes. Have you ever fallen out of a sandal? I have! Sandals are as easy as high heels to fall out of if you aren’t strapped in.

Hold on to the railings when you go downstairs or escalators. (I learned this in charm school when I was 12-years old)

If you are even slightly dizzy, sit down on the floor immediately. Don’t wait until you faint, as I did on two occasions.

Simple steps to improve your fall risk

Improve your diet by eating bone-healthy foods. You may want to try my recipe for homemade bone broth.

Add weight-bearing, strength training, and balance exercises to your workout regime.

As I mentioned before, the bone density test is part of your Medicare coverage if you are 65+. But, even so, only about 9% of women get one.

Medicare reimbursements have been cut and some clinics have closed. Please, please, PLEASE, message your Senators and Congresspeople so women over 50 have access to bone density scans.

It’s never too late to improve your bone health. You may not be able to reduce bone loss that has already occurred, but you can improve your chances of it getting worse.

Have you had a bone density test yet? If not, call your health provider and schedule one TODAY. Then, talk to your doctor about a bone health plan based on your results.

Disclaimer: Amgen paid for my travel for this event, but my views are my own.

A big thank you to the team at Amgen for hosting our summit on osteoporosis and I loved meeting all the ladies who are midlife influencers who I had met online but now met in person. You all rock!

Have you had your bone density scan yet? If not, what’s stopping you. Please leave a comment below.