Author | Speaker | Advocate

Christine Thomas

Author   Speaker   Advocate

"I am passionate about stopping fractures and saving lives."

Welcome to ChristineThomas.com

Where author Christine Thomas blogs to build better bones

About the Author
Christine is a nationally recognized author and speaker in Canada. She uses her valuable communication skills as a passionate advocate for better bone health around the world. She is relentless at educating others on the prevention and management of this potentially debilitating disease. She is on the Osteoporosis Canada Board of Directors, has won numerous awards and is often seen in the Canadian media delivering her message with the kind of conviction learned only through hard experience.

What the Heck is a BMD test?

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A bone mineral density test (BMD) is a safe, painless and reliable test that uses special X-rays to measure how many grams of calcium and other bone minerals are packed into a segment of bone. Dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the most accurate way to measure BMD. It uses two different X-ray beams to estimate bone density or thickness of your bones. The BMD at the hip and spine has been shown to be the best way of predicting the risk of breaking a bone. The basic idea is that heavier bones will be stronger bones. The information is used to measure the strength of your bones.

Think of light shining through curtains. The denser the fabric the less amount of light will penetrate through the curtains. Similarly, a bone densitometer uses a detector to measure the transmission of small amounts of x-rays (light) through your bones. The amount of light that passes through the bone is measured providing a radiologist with a picture that indicates how dense (thick or thin) your bones are. The denser the bones, the stronger they are and the less likely they are to break. Strong, dense bones allow less of the X-ray beam to pass through them.

When information about bone mineral density is combined with personal and family medical history as well as a physical examination, doctors can get a more complete picture of your bone health!

Are You At Risk
for
Osteoporosis?

Crack! in 2001 Christine Thomas bent over to pick up her newborn daugher in her crib and fractured her spine in several places.

Months later, she would be diagnosed with osteoporosis.
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