Many factors influence bone health

A prescription to buy Fosamax can help a person with weakened bones increase their bone density. However, doctors say simply figuring out which patients are good candidates for these drugs can be a little more complicated than one would think.

Dr. Seth Kantor, a rheumatologist with OhioHealth, told the Columbus Dispatch that there is a test that can directly measure bone density. These readings are known as the patient's T-score. However, this measurement only provides part of the picture when it comes to osteoporosis risk. Lifestyle factors matter as well.

"If you ask, 'At what T-score should I start treatment?' the answer is: 'There is no answer,'" Kantor told the news source. "What has happened is that a lot of doctors and patients focus on the bone mass and not bone quality."

Whether or not a person smokes and how often they exercise both impact their likelihood of suffering a broken bone, according to the Osteoporosis Foundation. Doctors should take these factors into consideration along with a patient's T-score when they are deciding whether the individual requires a prescription to buy Fosamax.