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Osteoporosis in Men

Dec 11, 2014
  • Medical Information
Older man on a running track outside

Osteoporosis: Not Just a Women's Disease

Although it’s often connected to post-menopausal women, men are not exempt from the bone damage and weakness of osteoporosis. Women do develop osteoporosis more often than men, as men tend to have larger skeletons, and they do not go through the hormonal changes that cause bone loss in women. However, bone density can suffer due to genetics, lifestyle, nutrition and fitness routine regardless of your gender.

Statistics show that more men are affected by osteoporosis than you may imagine: up to 25% of men over the age of 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis – more than will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Additionally, breaks from osteoporosis can be more dangerous for men than they are for women, as men are more likely to die within a year of breaking a hip than female patients.

However, there are specific steps men can take to better bone health with certain lifestyle changes and some help from their doctor.

Risk Factors

Many of the risk factors for osteoporosis are the same for women and men, but there a few that apply uniquely to men. Some of the more common contributors to osteoporosis in men include:

  • Smoking
  • Excessive drinking
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Calcium and vitamin D deficiency
  • Low testosterone levels
  • Low estrogen levels
  • Drugs for prostate cancer
  • Corticosteroids (often used to treat autoimmune disorders)

In many cases, the root of the problem can be traced to hormonal changes. Male bodies naturally convert some testosterone to estrogen, and estrogen plays an important role in building bone mass in both women and men. When there’s a testosterone deficiency, or a lack of the naturally-occurring enzyme that creates estrogen, men can suffer from bone loss.

A number of chronic health conditions also increase a man's likelihood of developing osteoporosis, including:

  • COPD
  • Asthma
  • Systemic mastocytosis
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Osteogenesis imperfecta
  • Homocystinuria
  • Ankylosing spondylitis
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Occasionally the medications used to treat these illnesses increase the risk of osteoporosis, and other times it is the condition itself that increases the risk.

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Angela Finlay
Angela is a freelance writer and blogger committed to learning, understanding and communicating about the matters that affect daily life. From fitness and lifestyle, pregnancy and medical ailments, she has covered a range of health topics throughout her web writing career, contributing to major websites for over three years. See all of Angela's articles
More Articles by Angela
Brenda Vanta
Dr. Brindusa (Brenda) Vanta received her MD from Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine, Romania, and her HD diploma from Ontario College of Homeopathic Medicine. Her main focuses are nutrition and homeopathy. See all of Brenda's articles
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Yvonne Banks
Yvonne is a licensed practical nurse who has a passion for helping people to improve their health conditions. Practicing since 2001, she has worked with both geriatric and pediatric patients during the course of her career.
Resources
  • NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center (Osteoporosis in Men)
  • Osteoporosis (Men and Osteoporosis)
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