Osteoporosis Doesn’t Discriminate By Gender
As women grow older, their bones lose calcium and bone mass, and they can develop osteoporosis. However, men are not immune from this bone-thinning condition; 6 out of 100 men develop osteoporosis by age 65.
“I think men need to recognize that they are not immune to the problem; they can get it just as easily as women,” says Angelo Licata, MD, a Cleveland Clinic endocrinologist and expert on osteoporosis.
The silent disease
Called the "silent disease," osteoporosis often has no symptoms. Men may break or fracture bones before they realize that they are affected. Yet one in eight White males over age 50 will experience an osteoporosis-related fracture.
“Interestingly, men who break their hip have a higher degree of mortality than women,” notes Dr. Licata.
Fortunately, measures can be taken to avoid developing osteoporosis. “First, men have to think about the problem. Second, they need to get checked with bone density testing. Third, they should make sure to get adequate exercise, calcium, vitamin D and, possibly, medication,” says Dr. Licata.
New recommendations for screening
The American College of Physicians recently published new guidelines recommending that men get screened for osteoporosis by age 65.
Dr. Licata suggests that a man could even be screened in his 50s if he has had bone problems or other major risk factors, including:
- A family history of osteoporosis
- Smoking
- Excessive alcohol use
- A sedentary lifestyle
- Use of corticosteroids or certain other medications
- Treatment for prostate cancer
Painless testing
Painless medical tests are used to screen for osteoporosis by measuring an individual’s bone mineral density (BMD). BMD determines bone strength and its ability to bear weight. Using X-ray beams and an open machine, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA, previously called DEXA) is one of the most accurate tests for osteoporosis, says Dr. Licata.
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Learn more about osteoporosis and bone density testing.
