Don’t think
because you are a man you don’t have to worry about osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a disease in which bone becomes thin and fragile and
fractures occur more easily. Normally we think that it is only for women
over 50. No so. Men tend to develop the problem about ten years later,
but they are not immune. In fact 30% of hip fractures are men. Half of
the men who suffer a hip fracture will go from the hospital to a nursing
home. This is far greater than women who have hip fractures. This is in
part due to under diagnosis and later age of onset.
Some risk factors that play a major role are other diseases, such as
malabsorption states, hypercalciuria, rheumatoid arthritis, or chronic
diseases that affect the lungs, kidneys, liver, stomach, and intestines
or alter hormone levels. Medications can play a role too, especially
chronic use of glucocorticoids like prednisone.
A family history of hip fracture without trauma is another risk factor.
There are also life style factors such as smoking, heavy alcohol use, a
sedentary life style, low calcium diet, and amazingly low body weight.
(I just knew you could be too thin!)
Prevention may be as simple as life style changes. Osteoporosis is just
one of the many reasons to stop smoking and cut back on alcohol
consumption. Moderate weight-bearing exercise like walking is great for
almost everyone.
Increasing our calcium intake, either through diet or supplemental
calcium, is cheap insurance. The rule with calcium is age 31-50 should
have 1,000mg of calcium and age 51+ need 1,500mg. It is important to
also take the calcium with vitamin D. The vitamin D works with the
calcium to strengthen bones and it aids the absorption of calcium. There
are many calcium supplements with the appropriate amount of vitamin D
included.
I recommend the combination products. It is a proven fact the more pills
you take the more likely you will miss some. Another important point is
you must separate the doses of calcium. 500-600mg of calcium is all the
body can absorb at a time even with the vitamin D.
Osteoporosis may be a good topic to bring up to your doctor if you fall
into the risk factors category. This is especially true if you have
noticed joint pain.
Osteoporosis in men is treated just as it would be in women. But
sometimes you need to bring up the subject and be smart and help your
bones stay strong.
Nancy S. Apple, RPH
Chancel Choir Member
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