RSS
Home
Osteoporosis risk for men
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Osteoporosis risk for men
Men at risk of osteoporosis, who even knew men, could be diagnosed with osteoporosis: The media has promoted it as a woman’s disease when that is clearly not the case. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation 2 million American men have osteoporosis and 12 million are at high risk for the disease. Here is some more alarming information about men and osteoporosis. In 2010 they estimate 17 million more men will have it, and in 2020 they estimate more than 20 million men will be living with osteoporosis.
When a man goes to his Doctor for a yearly physical, bone density is not checked until he is well over 60 years old. Woman’s bone density is checked starting at 50, usually because of menopause onset. This is when men need to become their own health advocate, and start asking for a bone density test to be done sooner on them.
At the age of 30 the bone density peaks. After 30 is when the bones begin to lose strength and density. The factors that will increase a man’s risk for osteoporosis are having a poor diet, lack of physical activity, decreased sex hormone testosterone, smoking, not taking calcium on a regular basis, excessive alcohol intake, and having a chronic disease.
There are steps individuals can take no matter what age you are, or if you have already been diagnosed with osteoporosis. It does not even matter if you are male or female. Taking simple, but beneficial steps now could make all the difference in the future.
• Start an exercise routine: This exercise must be weight bearing such as brisk walking, jogging, and weight lifting.
• Stop smoking: Take whatever measure needs to be taken to quit smoking.
• Start taking supplements: Take calcium and vitamin D supplements, along with the other supplements. Men under 50 years of age need to get about 1,000 mg of calcium daily, while a man over 50 should get 1,200 mg of calcium daily. Men under age 50 should get 400-800 IU of vitamin D, while men over 50 should get around 800-1,000 IU of vitamin D daily.
• Get Vitamin K: Eat the green leafy vegetables, which contain high levels of vitamin K.
Related Articles:
Comments
.jpg)
