Are you due for a bone density test? The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force announced updated osteoporosis screening guidelines on January 14, 2025. Women 65 years or older, or postmenopausal women ...

Question: I am 62-year-old woman who has been fairly healthy most of my life. I try to walk daily and eat right. I’ve never had a fracture or bone health issues. But after my annual physical this year ...

Dear Doctors: I just turned 65, and my doctor wants me to have a bone density test. What is it, and how does it work? Dear Reader: A bone mineral density test, or BMD, measures the strength of one’s ...

BACKGROUND: The National Cancer Institute estimates that one in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Next to skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common type ...

If you’re someone who’s at risk for developing osteoporosis, you’re probably well-accustomed to receiving regular bone density tests. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA or DXA) is a radiologic ...

Having a quick spine check as part of a routine bone scan could uncover hidden fractures that affect millions of people. This ...

When we think about health check-ups before 50, heart health, blood sugar, and cholesterol often top the list. Bone health, ...

Beth Skwarecki is Lifehacker’s Senior Health Editor and has been writing about health, fitness, and science here since 2015. Beth was the recipient of the 2017 Carnegie Science Award in science ...

For a sidebar on how this story came together, click here. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) has long been the gold standard for osteoporosis screening. But now, thousands of patients may be ...

For many seniors, it may not be worthwhile to undergo frequent imaging tests to see if they're at risk for broken bones, a new study suggests. Repeating a bone-mineral-density test four years after ...

Preparing for a medical test often triggers health anxiety, making it easy to worry about hidden conditions and care needs.