Osteoporosis, a disease that causes the skeleton to weaken and bones to break, is a significant threat to more than two million men in the U.S. today.
Experts estimate that:
one-fifth to one-third of all hip fractures occur in men. symptomatic vertebral (spine) fractures occur about half as often in men as in women. after age 50, six percent of all men will suffer a hip fracture as a result of osteoporosis. in 1994, osteoporotic fractures in men accounted for annual costs of $2.7 billion, or one-fifth of the total cost of osteoporotic fractures in the U.S.
Despite these compelling figures, a majority of American men view osteoporosis solely as a "woman's disease," according to a 1996 Gallup Poll. Moreover, among men whose lifestyle habits put them at increased risk, few recognize the disease as a significant threat to their mobility and independence.
Osteoporosis develops less often in men than in women because men have larger skeletons, bone loss starts later and progresses more slowly, and there is no period of rapid hormonal change and accompanying rapid bone loss. However, in the last few years the problem of osteoporosis in men has been recognized as an important public health issue, particularly in light of estimates that the number of men above the age of 70 will double between 1993 and 2050.
Clearly, more information is needed about the causes and treatment of osteoporosis in men, and researchers are beginning to turn their attention to this long-neglected group. For example, in 1999, the NIH launched a major research effort that will attempt to answer some of the many questions that remain. The seven-year, multi-site study will follow more than 5,000 men ages 65 and older to determine how much the risk of fracture in men is related to:
In their fifties, men do not experience the rapid loss of bone mass that women have in the years following menopause. By age 65 or 70, however, men and women lose bone mass at the same rate, and the absorption of calcium, an essential nutrient for bone health throughout life, decreases in both sexes.
Once bone is lost, it cannot be replaced. Excessive bone loss causes bone to become fragile and more likely to fracture. This condition, known as osteoporosis, is called a "silent disease" because it progresses without symptoms until a fracture occurs.
Fractures resulting from osteoporosis can be permanently disabling and most commonly occur in the:
Chronic diseases that affect the kidneys, lungs, stomach, and intestines or alter hormone levels. Undiagnosed low levels of the sex hormone testosterone. Unhealthy lifestyle habits (e.g., smoking, excessive alcohol use, low calcium intake, inadequate physical exercise). Age: The older you are, the greater your risk. Heredity: A son is almost four times as likely to have low bone mineral density (BMD) if his father has low BMD, and nearly 8 times as likely if both parents have low BMD. Race: Caucasian men appear to be at particularly high risk, but all men can develop this disease.
Experts estimate that:
Despite these compelling figures, a majority of American men view osteoporosis solely as a "woman's disease," according to a 1996 Gallup Poll. Moreover, among men whose lifestyle habits put them at increased risk, few recognize the disease as a significant threat to their mobility and independence.
Osteoporosis develops less often in men than in women because men have larger skeletons, bone loss starts later and progresses more slowly, and there is no period of rapid hormonal change and accompanying rapid bone loss. However, in the last few years the problem of osteoporosis in men has been recognized as an important public health issue, particularly in light of estimates that the number of men above the age of 70 will double between 1993 and 2050.
Clearly, more information is needed about the causes and treatment of osteoporosis in men, and researchers are beginning to turn their attention to this long-neglected group. For example, in 1999, the NIH launched a major research effort that will attempt to answer some of the many questions that remain. The seven-year, multi-site study will follow more than 5,000 men ages 65 and older to determine how much the risk of fracture in men is related to:
- bone mass and structure
- biochemistry
- lifestyle
- tendency to fall
- other factors
What Causes Osteoporosis In Men?
Bone is constantly changing - that is, old bone is removed and replaced by new bone. During childhood, more bone is produced than removed, so the skeleton grows in both size and strength. The amount of tissue or bone mass in the skeleton reaches its maximum amount by the late twenties. By this age, men typically have accumulated more bone mass than women. After this point, the amount of bone in the skeleton typically begins to decline slowly as removal of old bone exceeds formation of new bone.In their fifties, men do not experience the rapid loss of bone mass that women have in the years following menopause. By age 65 or 70, however, men and women lose bone mass at the same rate, and the absorption of calcium, an essential nutrient for bone health throughout life, decreases in both sexes.
Once bone is lost, it cannot be replaced. Excessive bone loss causes bone to become fragile and more likely to fracture. This condition, known as osteoporosis, is called a "silent disease" because it progresses without symptoms until a fracture occurs.
Fractures resulting from osteoporosis can be permanently disabling and most commonly occur in the:
- hips
- spine
- wrists
