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Osteoporosis, a Major Problem for Men & Women

A woman's risk for hip fracture alone is equal to the combined risk of developing breast, uterine and ovarian cancer. Osteoporosis is a painful disabling disease which causes bones to become brittle. Like high blood pressure, it is called the silent killer. Often we're not aware of it until we fall and break a bone(s) or there are signs of curvature of the spine, back pain and loss of height. Unfortunately, when this occurs it may be too late and could become debilitating and disfiguring.

The educated men and women of today need not suffer from osteoporosis. They know that they can make an informed and healthy choice about its prevention and treatment by lifestyle, diet, and drug therapy.

Women have an increased chance of having osteoporosis if she has one of the following risk factors:

• Menopause (single most important cause)
• Long-term use of steroids and thyroid hormone
• Prolonged calcium-deficient diet
• Family history of osteoporosis
• Caucasian or Asian race
• Lack of exercise
• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Thin or small build

Men have a 6% lifetime risk of osteoporotic hip fracture compared to a 17.5% risk for women, however, osteoporosis related deaths, within the first six months, after a hip fracture is greater at 30% compared to 15% for women.

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, one or every eight men over the age of 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture. Each year 80,000 men sustain a hip fracture and tens of thousands of men fracture bones in their spine, wrists or ribs as a result of osteoporosis.

Risk factors for men:

• Old age (the older you are the greater the risk)
• All men (Caucasian men appear to be at greater risk)
• Family history of osteoporosis
• Low testosterone level
• Prolonged use of steroids to treat asthma, arthritis or other diseases, anti-convulsants, and certain cancer treatments
• Smoking
• Excessive use of alcohol
• Sedentary life-style
• Low calcium diet

The first step in managing osteoporosis is early detection using a bone density test, DUAL X-RAY ABSORPTIOMETRY (DEXA). According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, DEXA remains the gold standard and is the method of choice for evaluation of osteoporosis of the hip and spine. This test is simple and painless and takes approximately five to ten minutes to perform. The test delivers less than one-fifth the radiation of a chest x-ray. This test will measure your bone mineral density or bone mass. Then the computer will compare your results with a reference population whose age, sex, and racial background are similar to yours.

This information will help your doctor determine if you need to take any specific steps to protect your bone health.

Osteoporosis afflicts both men and women. Stop any complications of this silent yet serious disease and ask your doctor or healthcare provider if you need a bone density (DEXA) test soon. Please remember early diagnosis of osteoporosis is critical if it is to be prevented or effectively treated.

A. Seyed Baghery, M.D.
Radiologist
Drs. Hill & Thomas Co.
  

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