A bone to pick about guys and osteoporosis
Hardly anyone realizes that around 2 million men in the U.S. have osteoporosis and another 16 million are at an increased risk for "brittle bone" disease because of low bone mass. The risk factors that men have include low testosterone levels, alcohol misuse, taking steroids (either for medical reasons or off the books) and/or smoking. And guys who have a fracture because of fragile bones face a greater risk of disability and death -- in fact, they are 25% to 40% more likely to die after a hip fracture than a woman is.
Unfortunately, at-risk and older men are rarely screened and they're not often educated about how to prevent a fracture. One survey found that 90% of doctors say they always or frequently screen postmenopausal women for osteoporosis, but only about 22% of them would screen a 74-year-old man.
Current guidelines say most guys should be initially screened by age 70 -- and anyone age 50 to 69 with delayed puberty, low testosterone, a hyper-parathyroid, hyper-thyroid, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (as well as smokers, heavy drinkers, and those taking glucocorticoids or gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists) should be screened.
So, guys, discuss your need for a bone scan with your doctor. There's no reason not to take advantage of the effective treatments for osteoporosis that are available. And adopt lifestyle choices that help prevent life-threatening fractures, including weight-bearing exercise, a diet packed with bone-loving minerals and vitamins, and maintaining a healthy weight. For help adopting these new habits, sign up for the free newsletter at LongevityPlaybook.com.
Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Check out his latest, "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow," and find out more at www.longevityplaybook.com. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Mike at questions@longevityplaybook.com.
(c)2023 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2025 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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