Osteoporosis in Men
By: Reckless AlterTotal Views: 121, Word Count: 555,
Osteoporosis is a disease which causes the skeleton to weaken and the bones to break. It poses a major threat to millions of men in the United States. Regardless of these convincing figures, reviews suggest that most of American men view osteoporosis exclusively as a woman’s disease. Moreover, amid men whose lifestyle habits put them at an increased risk, few identify the disease as a major threat to their independence and mobility.
Osteoporosis is known as a silent disease as it progresses without symptoms until a fracture occurs. It develops less often in men than in women, as men have larger skeletons, their bone loss starts later and progresses more slowly and they have no period of quick hormonal change and bone loss. However, in the past few years the trouble of osteoporosis in men has been considered as a vital public health issue, especially in a study which shows that the number of men above the age of 70 who have osteoporosis would continue to increase as life expectancy continues to rise.
Clearly more information is required about the causes and treatment of osteoporosis in men and researchers are diverting their attention to this.
Causes of Osteoporosis
Bone keeps on changing constantly, i.e. old bone is removed and replaced by new bone. More bone is produced than removed during childhood, so the skeleton grows in both strength and size. For most people, bone mass peaks during the third decade of life. Men, by this age, usually have accumulated more bone mass than women. After this point, the quantity of bone in the skeleton characteristically begins to decline gradually as removal of old bone exceeds formation of new bone.
Men in their fifties do not experience the swift loss of bone mass than women do in the years following menopause. By age 65 or 70, men and women lose bone mass at the same rate and the incorporation of calcium, a necessary nutrient for bone health throughout life decreases in both the sexes. Too much bone loss causes bone to become delicate and is more likely to fracture.
Fractures resulting from osteoporosis most normally occur in the hip, wrist and spine and could be permanently disabling. Hip fractures are particularly dangerous as these fractures tend to occur at older ages in men than in women. Men who uphold hip fractures are more likely than women to die from complications.
Diagnosis of Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis in men could be effectively treated if it’s detected before major bone loss has occurred. A medical work to diagnose osteoporosis would include a complete medical history, x rays, blood and urine tests. This test could recognize osteoporosis, determine your risk for fractures (broken bones) and gauge your response to osteoporosis treatment.
Treatments Available
There have been less research studies on osteoporosis in men than in women. However, professionals agree that all individuals must take the following steps to protect their bone health:
· Avoid smoking, lessen alcohol intake and increase your level of physical activity.
· Ensure a regular calcium intake that is sufficient for your age
· Discuss with your doctor the use of medications which are known to cause bone loss like glucocorticoids.
Osteoporosis is often not recognized in men, thus identifying the risk factors is important as it’s more or less preventable.
About the Author
Dr. Reckless Alter is graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine as a physician in 1969 and went on to earn his medical degree in 1973. For over 25 years he has been a pioneer in the field of surgery, with a special focus on wellness medicine and hormones for men. Dr. Reckless is currently a board-certified Family Practitioner and a precautionary Medicine specialist. He has helped heal many problems of men through his treatment.
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