More Males Suffering From Osteoporosis

DANBURY — More than 10 million Americans suffer from osteoporosis and an additional 34 million have decreased bone mass, according to Dr Michael Craig, medical director of orthopedics at the Danbury Hospital Center for Advanced Orthopedic Care. That includes a steadily increasing number of male patients.

He defined osteoporosis as a condition that robs the bone of its strength and affects both men and women.

Osteoporosis is a progressive disease that causes irreversible weakening of bone. It is so pervasive that one in two women and one in five men over the age of 50 will sustain an osteoporotic-related fracture. One out of every four people who sustain a hip fracture require outpatient rehabilitation for more than a year.

“In 2005, the United State spent $52 million per day treating osteoporosis,” Dr Craig said.

Some signs of osteoporosis are persistent unexplained back pain, shorting of height and increased difficulty standing up straight. Some risk factors include having a small or thin frame, old age, female in gender, Hispanic in ethnicity, smoking, and a family history.

Women are hit particularly hard by osteoporosis. So much so that women can loose 20 percent of their bone mass within a five- to seven-year span. But men are also affected. More than two million men currently have osteoporosis.

Patients are diagnosed based on medical history, physical exams, X-rays, lab testing, and bone density scans. One of the best ways to inform a doctor with accurate information is to write down a list of symptoms and descriptions.

Prevention is really the key to defeating osteoporosis. Calcium, vitamin D, and weight-bearing exercise are essential to resisting the condition. However, a doctor should be consulted for proper doses and parameters.

Dr Craig said, “As a patient, you need to ask, what can I expect from treatment, how will my daily activities be affected, and how can I prevent further disabilities?”

Dr Alla Rudinskaya, a rheumatologist at Danbury Hospital, spoke of the bone building and degradation process. “Osteoporosis is a silent disease, similar to high cholesterol,” Dr Rudinskaya said.

Managing osteoporosis treatment can be very tricky for physicians because many medications used to treat other ailments, such as steroids, thyroid hormones, and some antiseizure medications, have bone loss as side effects. Over time, a patient taking similar medications can develop osteopenia, a state in-between normal bone density and osteoporosis.

“Fortunately, osteoporosis can be prevented, diagnosed, and treated,” Dr Rudinskaya said.