Men and Osteoporosis
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Did you know that 20% of osteoporosis sufferers are men? It’s a little known fact, but there are 2,000,000 men in the United States who have the degenerative condition. It can be dangerous , because physicians don’t typically test men for osteoporosis or suspect that it may be the cause of broken bones. Throughout a person’s life, bones undergo loss and re-growth. But around the age of 30, the rate of loss surpasses the rate of re-growth, which can lead to osteoporosis.
The Galveston branch of the University of Texas Medical Center recently produced a survey to determine a person’s risk for osteoporosis. Besides the pace of bone loss and re-growth, medical history, genetics, and lifestyle are factors that influence the development of the disease. The most significant risk factors were age, weight, and history of chronic bronchitis and emphysema. With increased awareness and more frequent screening, both men and women can learn to change their lifestyle to reduce their chances of developing osteoporosis.
