Osteoporosis
and Men
by Bryan Bear
At 29, I feel I am a pretty healthy guy. I watch what I eat, exercise semi-regularly, and go to the doctor for my yearly physical. So when I discovered I had osteopenia, an early form of osteoporosis, I was shocked and embarrassed.
Osteopenia is a condition in which bone density is low due to an insufficient amount of calcium or Vitamin D. If not treated early, it could eventually result in osteoporosis and severe bone loss.
When I started working at Clark Memorial Hospital, the people in my department urged me to take advantage of the free PIXI screenings given by the hospital every Tuesday and Thursday. The PIXI measures your bone density and can alert you to the possibility of osteoporosis. So I decided to have the test done.
The PIXI screening took less than five minutes and was really easy. You simply take off your shoe and put your foot into this machine. The PIXI measures the bone density of your heel and compares it to the average density for a person of a similar age.
The result of my PIXI showed that my bone density was severely low for a man of my age. Of course I went through denial. How could I have a woman’s disease? I drink three glasses of milk a day. I exercise. How could this happen?
I discussed the PIXI results with my doctor, who recommended I take another, more definitive test called the DEXA. The DEXA is a high-powered x-ray at Clark Memorial Hospital that measures the density of your spine and hip bones. The test concluded that I had osteopenia and needed a prescription to prevent osteoporosis.
According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, two million American men have osteoporosis, and another three million are at risk for this disease. However, osteoporosis remains undiagnosed, underreported, and inadequately researched. Before coming to Clark Memorial Hospital, no one had ever told me I might be at risk for this disease.
I learned through some research what may have caused my condition. The most apparent problem seemed to be my lack of calcium as a child. Growing up poor, I drank a lot of iced tea and sodas because milk was expensive. I didn’t start to drink milk regularly until I began college.
During childhood, the skeleton grows in both size and strength. Depending on the age of the child, the National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends that children receive 600-1200 mg of calcium a day. I was probably getting about 500-800 mg during my teen years, and less as a child.
Another factor that probably attributed to my condition is smoking. Most everyone in my family smoked, and I smoked for eight years. While the majority of studies have implicated smoking in relation to decreased bone density and loss, there are some studies that have failed to find an association. However, many medical experts believe that smoking prohibits the calcium and Vitamin D from penetrating the bone and thus reducing bone density.
Finally, people with smaller frames are more prone towards osteoporosis. Weight-bearing exercise, such as walking, dancing, jogging, stair-climbing, racquet sports, and hiking, can increase bone density. This is especially important during childhood and adolescence.
There are other risk factors that are associated with osteoporosis, such as:
w Prolonged exposure to certain medications like steroids, anticonvulsants, certain cancer treatments, and antacids containing aluminum;
w Chronic disease that affects the kidneys, lungs, stomach, and intestines and alters hormone levels;
w Low levels of testosterone;
w Excessive alcohol use;
w Age: Bone loss increases with age;
w Heredity;
w Race: Caucasian men tend to be at greater risk for osteoporosis, followed by Asians and Latinos.
If you believe you may be at risk, I would encourage you to talk with your physician about your chances of having osteopenia or osteoporosis. I would also encourage you to visit Clark Memorial Hospital for a free PIXI screening on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
To prevent the occurrence of osteoporosis, take the following steps to ensure the health of your bones:
w Make sure that you are getting enough calcium. Adult men ages 25 to 50 should have 1,000 mg of calcium per day, and 1,200 mg a day for men age 51 and over. (Women should have 1,200 to 1,500 mg of calcium per day depending on her age and medical condition.)
w Quit smoking and decrease your alcohol intake.
w Exercise regularly, especially weight-bearing exercise where bone and muscles work against gravity.
w Make sure that you get enough Vitamin D. Usually, exposure to sunlight for about ten minutes will give you enough Vitamin D. However, supplements of 400 to 800 IU per day can be taken if sunlight exposure is limited.
w Talk to your physician about any medical conditions that may affect your bone health.
If diagnosed early enough, bone density can be increased and bone loss can be repaired.
If you would like more information on osteoporosis, or would like to find out more about the PIXI or DEXA screenings at Clark Memorial Hospital, please call Debbie Browning at 283-2582.
About Us • Vital Stats • Services • Emergency
Staff • Calendar • Contacts • News
Births • Gift Shop • Careers • Links
HOME