Bone Health Glossary: Demystifying Medical Terms

When it comes to understanding bone health, it can feel like you need a medical degree just to make sense of all the terminology. From osteoporosis to calcitonin, the world of bone health is filled with complex terms that can be overwhelming for the average person. To help demystify some of these medical terms, we’ve compiled a bone health glossary to break down the definitions and meanings behind the most common terms you may come across.

Osteoporosis, a condition that weakens bones and makes them more prone to fractures, is one of the most well-known terms in bone health. This condition affects millions of people each year, especially women and older adults. The loss of bone density that comes with osteoporosis can lead to fractures, especially in the hip, spine, and wrist. To diagnose osteoporosis, doctors will often use a DEXA scan, which measures bone density and can help determine your risk for fractures.

Calcitonin is a hormone that plays a crucial role in regulating calcium levels in the blood. Produced by the thyroid gland, calcitonin helps to prevent the removal of calcium from bones, which can lead to weakening and bone loss. Medications containing synthetic calcitonin are sometimes prescribed to treat osteoporosis by helping to slow down bone resorption. While calcitonin therapy is not as commonly used as other treatments for osteoporosis, it can be effective for some patients.