Osteoporosis, the disease that affect men
Bone loss is silent and progressive. Most times there was no appearance of symptoms until the first fracture. Women are "prepared" to add this disease to the list, knowing affection installation coincidence with menopause, but what is too little known is that men can also suffer from this disease.
What are the risk factors for men?
- Androgen insufficiency
- Calcium and vitamin D deficiency
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Prostate cancer
Worldwide, one in three women and one man in five, suffer from osteoporosis. Is a higher percentage than that of breast cancer or prostate cancer. Osteoporosis begins with complications. Disease is installed "stealthily" early in life and only occurs after the age of 50 years. May suspect a diagnosis of osteoporosis if you:
- Height loss occurring, chronic back pain with irradiation side
- Person affected following a medication that can cause osteoporosis, such as corticosteroids, diuretics, anticoagulants, or high aluminum content
- There was a fracture after a fall
- The person is consuming alcohol in large quantities and / or smoked over a pack of cigarettes per day
- There were episodes of amenorrhea for more than 12 months, outside of pregnancy
- Gone through menopause before women have attained 45 years
- Affected person suffering from thyroid disorders, Crohn's disease, Cushing's disease, anorexia nervosa
- Affected person underwent surgery on the stomach or depressed
The diagnosis is based the most on physical examination and the determination on bone density. Importance of early diagnosis is that early treatment can prevent fractures, complications of the disease most feared by their consequences: immobilization and surgery. Whether you do a dual energy absorptiometry with X-ray - DEXA, ultrasound, X-ray or CT scan, it is important that the disease is diagnosed in its early stages.
What are the treatment options?
There are no medicines to cure this disease, but may slow the progression. Treatment can halt bone loss and increase bone density, thus preventing fractures. Medical treatment is with drugs that stop bone loss and increase bone strength, but also with calcium and vitamin D. Non-medication treatment is related to lifestyle changes: quitting smoking, alcohol and consumption of foods high in calcium and vitamin D. Foods should be chosen carefully, considering both the harmful effects of food additives. We recommend eating dairy products, fish, fruits and vegetables.
And last but not least, exercise regularly performed, which increase bone strength. However, if elderly, movements must be made with caution and possibly medical supervision to avoid bone trauma.