Osteoporosis found in more men

Men’s health seems to focus on the prostate, blood pressure and cholesterol - issues other than bones. But a lot of men don’t realize they are likely to develop a hip fracture than to suffer prostate cancer. Osteoporosis research all but ignored men.

According to National Osteoporosis Foundation in Washington, D.C. an estimated 2 million men already have osteoporosis, making up 20 percent of all cases. But many experts believe the true number is probably much higher, simply because most men are never screened for the disease, and few make the effort to discuss symptoms with their doctor.

Scientists aren’t sure just why osteoporosis rates are now so high in men. Women tend to experience rapid bone loss after menopause, when hormone levels drop quickly,  making bones brittle, and they fracture more easily. But men don’t experience such a quick decline in hormone levels. That would explain why some men have osteoporosis and others don’t, but the risk for osteoporosis among men clearly rises with advancing age.

The disease needs to be taken more seriously by men because they can suffer more serious side effects. Men have a higher mortality rate following hip fractures than women, even though women suffer more fractures.