Health issues for women

Men’s Health – Osteoporosis

osteoporosis
by Gobierno Municipal de Piñas

Men’s Health – Osteoporosis

Article by Curt Sterling

Osteoporosis is a disease that causes weakening of the bones and affects and estimated 2.1 million men in the United States. And between five and six percent of men over age 50 experience a hip fracture that can be attributed to osteoporosis. However, many men still believe that osteoporosis doesn’t affect men.

Often considered a silent disease, many men with osteoporosis do not even realize they have the illness until they have a fracture or break a bone. Since men have larger skeletons with more bone density and do not have the rapid hormonal changes as women, osteoporosis in men is slower and begins later in life. But the results are just as detrimental and dire. Bone loss leads to fragility and a propensity to fractures or bone breaks.

Causes

Throughout childhood, bone is constantly changing and maximum bone density most often is reached by approximately age 30 for both men and women. At this point in life, men usually have larger skeletons and, thus, higher bone density. During childhood, bone levels increase higher than bone loss occurs, even though the amount of bone is constantly changing. By the 30s, bone levels begin to reverse and bone loss slowly becomes higher than bone increases.

One of the primary causes of osteoporosis in men is due to medications or lifestyle habits. Examples include glucosteroid medications used to treat rheumatoid arthritis or asthma. Adequate calcium and vitamin D help counteract the effect of these medications on bone density, but glucosteroids typically result in bone loss.

Other factors affecting bone loss are loss of testosterone, which occurs with age. While female menopause receives much more recognition, men experience a less dramatic, but important slow decrease in the male hormone testosterone, usually beginning in the late 30s and slowly progressing through the 60s.

Finally, alcohol abuse, smoking, lack of exercise – particularly weight bearing exercise, gastrointestinal disorders and treatments and hypercalciuria – a condition in which bone calcium occurs through urine, all are large contributors to bone loss and osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a condition that affects both men and women. While many men believe they face no risk for the condition, risk factors include a history of alcohol abuse or smoking, lack of exercise, treatment for conditions affecting the lungs, intestinal system, kidneys or stomach, treatments for asthma or rheumatoid arthritis, and low testosterone. Caucasian men appear to be more affected than men of other ethnic backgrounds and the older a man is, the higher risk.

Curt Sterling is a health expert specializing in pharmaceutical research, men’s health and other health topics, such as href=”http://www.xlpharmacy.com/”>online pharmacy and buy viagra

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Check out these sites for more menopause information

Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis
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