Why Should I Worry About Osteoporosis?

Low bone density puts one at risk of frequent fractures, associated pain, and in many cases, loss of independence. Wrists, hips, spine and ribs are most commonly affected. The consequences of osteoporosis are often seen as a slow but progressive rounding of the shoulders and loss of height. Particularly devastating seem to be hip fractures – up to one third of patients never seem to regain full mobility.

In a healthy individual, bone tissue is constantly being broken down and rebuilt. In an individual with osteoporosis, more bone tissue is lost than is regenerated.

We’ve all heard of women suffering from weaker bones, or osteoporosis, after menopause. In men, testosterone is thought to play a role in helping to maintain this balance.

Between the ages of 40 and 70 years, male bone density falls by up to 15 percent.

Unfortunately, with advancing age and declining testosterone levels, men seem to demonstrate a similar pattern of risk for osteoporosis as women. What’s more, approximately one in eight men over age 50 actually has osteoporosis.

The incidence of hip fractures rises exponentially in aging men, as it does in women, starting about 5 to 10 years later than in women.

In Canada, 20-30% of osteoporotic fractures occur in men. The incidence in fractures has been increasing in men, whereas it seems to be stabilizing in women Ñ likely due to the lifestyle changes, calcium supplements and hormone replacement therapies that women are embracing.

What can you do about Andropause?

Understand your own risks for osteoporosis.

It is impossible to predict who will get osteoporosis. However, there are several factors that can put certain men at increased risk. These include:

• Age
• Low testosterone levels
• Family history of osteoporosis
• Thin and/or small frame
• Use of certain medications such as corticosteroids, anticonvulsants and anti-rejection drugs
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Smoking
• Lack of weight-bearing exercise

If you have any of these risk factors you may want to find out more about osteoporosis prevention from your physician or from other providers of information on osteoporosis.