19 February 2013

Osteoporosis in Men

What men need to know about Osteoporosis

Men get osteoporosis too. Although women are at greater risk, osteoporosis can affect men also. As our population ages, even more men will get the disease.

Facts and statistics

• Up to one in four men over age 50 will fracture a bone due to osteoporosis.
• Men older than 50 are more likely to fracture a bone due to osteoporosis than they are to
  get prostate cancer.
• Men too can fracture their spines or hips, but this usually happens at a later age than women.
• Men are more likely than women to die within a year after a hip fracture. This is due to complications related to the fracture.

What puts men at risk?

Factors such as your family history, taking steroid medicines, not exercising, smoking, drinking too much alcohol or having low testosterone levels can put you at risk for getting osteoporosis. Evidence also suggests that low oestrogen levels in men can lead to bone loss. So does having other medical problems such as chronic kidney, lung or gastrointestinal disease, prostate cancer and certain autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). These are just some of the many reasons men can be at risk for osteoporosis and fractures.

Finding out if you have osteoporosis

If you have risk factors for osteoporosis, or aren’t sure, it’s important to speak with your healthcare provider. A bone density test can let you know if you have low bone density and if you should consider treatment for osteoporosis. If you fracture a bone from an injury that seems minor, you should be checked for osteoporosis right away. If you have osteoarthritis, you should be aware that this condition can interfere with your bone density test and prevent a proper diagnosis. If you learn that you have osteoporosis, ask whether you should have any other tests, such as lab tests to check your sex hormones or vitamin D levels.

What else can you do?

It’s important to get enough calcium, vitamin D and exercise to help protect your bones. Running and playing tennis etc. are good for your bones as is weight-lifting.