Recent medical studies suggest osteoporosis is
not exclusively a woman’s health concern. In fact, almost a third
of osteoporosis-related hip fractures occur in men about 80,000 a
year. Currently, the bone-weakening disease is a threat to an
estimated two million men in the United States.
According to the Washington, D.C.-based National Osteoporosis
Foundation (www.nof.org), a healthy lifestyle is the key to
prevention. Suggestions include cutting back on drinking and
smoking, performing weight-bearing exercise (such as climbing
stairs or weightlifting) and getting an adequate intake of calcium
1,000 mg per day for most men, and 1,200 mg or more for those age
50 and older.
A bone-mineral density test can detect osteoporosis, and
medication is available to increase bone density.
For additional information, order the NOF’s 45-cent pamphlet,
“The Male Frame: A Practical Guide to Men’s Bone Health,” or visit
the National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone
DiseasesNational Resource Center (www.osteo.org).