The silent disease affecting millions of men, and 4 powerful ways to fight it off

Osteoporosis is called a “silent disease” because it develops slowly and shows no signs until a bone breaks, says Dr. Paul Lewis, Wexner Medical Center. It makes your bones weak and brittle, so even a small fall can cause serious injury. Around 2 million men in the U.S. have osteoporosis according to the National Spine Health Foundation.

Another 16 million men have osteopenia, which is like an early stage of bone loss. Most men don’t even care about it — only 1% are worried about low bone density as per a survey by Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. But they should care — falls are the number one cause of injuries and deaths for people over 65, as stated by The New York report.

Why it’s dangerous

There are no warning signs until a fracture happens, says Dr. Paul Lewis. Even a small fall can cause a bone to break if your bones are weak. Losing bone mass makes your whole body more fragile, especially as you age, as per the report.

4 strong ways to fight osteoporosis - Dr. Paul Lewis

1. Talk about testosterone early
Start talking to your doctor about testosterone by age 30. Testosterone levels go down with age, which weakens bones and increases your risk.

ALSO READ: The 10 healthiest superfoods to eat right now, dietitians say these are game-changers

2. Exercise to build bones & balance
Do weight-bearing workouts like, walking, hiking, climbing stairs, lifting weights or resistance bands, yoga or balance exercises. Some fun sports help too like pickleball or tennis.

Add movement to your everyday life: walk the golf course instead of riding the cart, take stairs instead of the elevator, or play actively with kids or pets, as mentioned in the report by The New York.

Warning: Not exercising with proper form or doing too much can cause injury. You can lose up to 3% of bone mass every year without resistance training

3. Fix your lifestyle
Habits such as smoking, drinking more than 2 alcoholic drinks a day, not moving enough, poor diet, ripping hazards in your home, or muscle or nerve-related issues can increase the risk of weak bones.

4. Get a bone density test
Ask your doctor about a DEXA scan — it’s a low-dose X-ray that checks your bone density. It helps doctors spot osteoporosis early.

What if you already have it?

If you already have osteoporosis and get spinal fractures, treatments exist such as Kyphoplasty: A balloon is inflated in the fractured vertebra to make space. Then bone cement is injected. Vertebroplasty: Bone cement is injected directly into the fractured vertebra, as mentioned in the report by The New York.

FAQs

Q1. What is osteoporosis in men?
Osteoporosis is a condition where men’s bones become weak and brittle, making them easy to break.

Q2. How common is osteoporosis in men?
About 2 million men in the U.S. have osteoporosis, and 16 million have early-stage bone loss.