Osteoporosis is a silent killer mainly because it progresses without warning. By the time a bone gets a fracture, damage has already been done. Men have bigger skeletons so their risk is not as bigger as women’s. Bone loss in men occurs later in life because they don’t endure rapid hormonal changes. Since Can men get osteoporosis in their senior years, the complication gets serious with the wrist bones, spine, and hips breaking more often. So if you are wondering, “Can men get osteoporosis?” Yes it is very possible.
Facts and Stats
• The risk of getting osteoporosis in men is higher than that of contracting prostate cancer
• About 80,000 men break a hip every year
• One out of four men aged 50 and above breaks a bone as a result of osteoporosis
• After breaking hip bones, men are more likely to die within the next one year than women
• About 2 million American men suffer osteoporosis and 12 million are at great risk
Diagnosis of Osteoporosis In Men
If detected in the early stages, osteoporosis can be treated successfully. Diagnosis entails medical checkup through x-rays, blood and urine tests, and examining family history. A rheumatologist can also conduct a mineral density test to analyze the risk of bone fracture. They also have to calculate the potential response to the available treatment. A popular BMD test for osteoporosis is the central dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The painless procedure is synonymous with an X-ray but has less radiation exposure. It is used to determine the bone density of the spine and hips.
Risk Factors
Most of the factors putting women at the risk of getting osteoporosis are the same to men. Lack of exercising, family history, alcoholism, use of steroids, and smoking are just to mention a few. A low level of estrogen hormone is another cause of bone loss in addition to other medical issues like rheumatoid arthritis, gastrointestinal disease, chronic kidney, and prostate cancer.
The main risk factors in men are as follows:
I. Age
II. Low testosterone levels
III. Race (white genes)
IV. Chronic diseases affecting the stomach, kidneys, and lungs
V. Hormonal imbalance
VI. Small physique
VII. Consistent use of corticosteroids (a drug for treating inflammations)
VIII. Insufficient calcium and vitamin D in the body
If you think you have the above risk factors, there are actions you can take to minimize the possibility of acquiring osteoporosis. Osteoporosis doesn’t have to be an inevitable aging disease. You can learn to live a healthier life and consult your doctor.
