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Osteoporosis and men
by Jeanne Siegel
Osteoporosis, often thought of as an old woman’s disease, strikes at any age and crosses gender lines! A major public health threat to 28 million Americans, 8 million women and 2 million men currently have the disease. One of the reasons it is so important for older men in the Berkshires to be concerned is that osteoporosis is also a silent disease - one will not know until a fall and there is serious bone damage. As a rule, doctors do not schedule bone density tests ( BMD -bone mass measurement) on men. Yet, each year men suffer one third of all the hip fractures that occur, and one third of these men will not survive more than a year. Men also experience painful fractures of the spine, wrist, and other bones due to osteoporosis. Despite this, osteoporosis remains underdiagnosed and underreported in men.
Risk factors for osteoporosis associated with men are:
prolonged exposure to certain medications such as steroids
undiagnosed low levels of sex hormone testosterone
lifestyle habits: smoking, excessive alcohol use, low calcium intake, inadequate exercise
age: bone loss increases with age
heredity
race: white men at greatest risk
northern climate: lack of Vitamin D
The best advise for osteoporosis prevention is the same for men as for women: improved diet and exercise. Remember, it is never too late to improve bone density. If you notice a loss of height, change in posture, or sudden back pain, do not ignore these symptoms. Go to see your doctor. For more information on osteoporosis call 1-800-95-BONES (1-800-952-6637) or contact Massachusetts Department of Public Health 617-624-5444.