Male Osteoporosis

One of the biggest health scares in recent times is osteoporosis. This bone disease is known as ‘the silent thief’ because bones start losing mass without symptoms. Earlier, male osteoporosis was the leading cause among older people; today, it is indeed prevalent among men and women over the age of 50 or 60.

Since men have a higher bone density than women, osteoporosis tends to develop less often in men than women. This is one possible reason men often ignore their health problems related to bones. Losing bone mass with aging is a natural occurrence among humans, but men suffer a higher risk of fractures, thus losing mobility after a certain age. Statistics reveal that men older than 50 years of age are more likely to crack a bone due to osteoporosis than to suffer from prostate cancer.

There are several reasons for the occurrence of male osteoporosis. Lack of exercise, frequent smoking, excess consumption of alcohol, certain medicines like corticosteroids, and even having low testosterone levels can put men at a high risk. Genetic factors like family heredity also affect men’s bone health. As a result of this, they usually have to face heavy medication and male osteoporosis treatment at an early age. It has also been observed that low estrogen levels in men lead to a quicker loss of bone weight. Though bone loss begins between the ages of 35 and 50, it gradually carries on into old age, thus proving detrimental to one’s health. The moment a man is diagnosed with osteoporosis, bone fragility and broken bones are at high stake. Major fractures of the hip, spine, and legs are a key reason for the increase in mortality rate among men. This must be prevented, and steps must be taken towards sustaining a man’s bone mass.

Male osteoporosis treatment begins with a drastic lifestyle change. A healthy diet enriched with vitamin D and calcium can do wonders to keep bones fit and strong. To lower the risk of the dreadful illness, one needs to cut down on alcohol consumption and stop smoking tobacco. Regular exercise and jogging ensure your bones and muscles stay rigid. No doubt, the illness causes serious physical damage. It consequentially leads to a loss of self-esteem and decreases independence, which is even worse.

The treatment of male osteoporosis involves drugs called bisphosphonates that help prevent fractures. Several other medical drugs have been prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Sometimes, osteoporosis isn’t easily recognized among men. People do not often undergo regular health check-ups as they are under the impression that they are perfectly healthy and ignore the major male osteoporosis symptoms. This should certainly not be the approach towards healthcare. Identifying the risk factors and immediately diagnosing this bone disease is vital in male osteoporosis. The widely recognized Bone Mineral Density (BMD) test, which uses X-ray, measures mineral density at the hip and spine for easy disease detection.

Visit the doctor regularly to monitor bone mass. Even minor injuries need medical help and should not be ignored. They say prevention is better than cure. Do not wait for the condition to worsen and delay treatment.

Quick tip: Men, women, or any human being must maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly. They should not hesitate or avoid visiting a doctor for signs of disease they may be experiencing.