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When talking about men’s health, one of the most commonly
brought up concerns is prostate cancer. But prostate cancer is not
the only threat to men. Men are also at risk of osteoporosis, and
men over the age of 50 actually have a greater risk of developing
osteoporosis than they do prostate cancer.
If you’re surprised by this you are certainly not alone. Osteoporosis,
which is characterized by compromised bone strength that puts a
person at an increased risk of fracture, is often associated with
women, and although four times as many women get osteoporosis as
men, men can develop an extreme form of the condition, which can
lead to a height loss of several inches. More than 2 million men
in the United States have osteoporosis, and it’s estimated
that another 3 million are at high risk.
Women often develop thin bones from hormonal changes that occur
after menopause. Men, on the other hand, may develop the disease
because of a hormonal condition called hypogonadism. Other risk
factors for osteoporosis in men include:
- Aging
- Alcoholism
- Gastrointestinal disorders
- Kidneys stones
- Smoking
- Lack of physical activity
- Low exposure to sunlight
- Treatment with glucocorticoids (cortisone or prednisone)
Body weight, nutrition and existing diseases also play a role in
the risk of fracture in men.
Osteoporosis is often under-diagnosed in men because it is not
typically seen as a problem for males. If you are a man and have
unexplainable back pain or have had a fracture as an adult, it may
be a good idea to get a bone density test.
If you are diagnosed with osteoporosis, many physicians will recommend
that you take drugs such as Fosamax, but this is fraught with potential
side effects. Fosamax, which is made from the same type of chemicals
that are used to remove soap scum from your bathtub, works by killing
the osteoclast cells in your bone, which are important for the dynamic
balance of remodeling your bone. The osteoclasts actually remove
bone, but they work in conjunction with the osteoblasts to increase
bone density.
Fosamax kills the osteoclasts so only the osteoblasts are left
and supposedly the bone strength increases. However, it just doesn’t
work this way. Even though the bones become denser they are actually
weaker because they have not been allowed to remold themselves and
readjust to the constantly changing forces that are applied to bones.
This will actually increase the risk of fracture over time.
Fortunately, you don’t have to expose yourself to these poisonous
drugs. One of the best things you can do if you have low bone density
is increase your consumption of vegetables. Vegetable
juicing is a great way to do this that will also normalize high
levels of acid in the body. Vegetable juice is also high in vitamin
K (phylloquinone), which serves as the biological "glue"
that helps plug calcium into your bone matrix.
Vitamin K is a crucial part of bone health, but most people do
not get enough of it from diet alone unless they juice vegetables
or eat large amounts of dark green leafy vegetables. If you are
at risk of osteoporosis (or heart disease, as vitamin K is also
important for a healthy heart), vitamin K is one of the few supplements
that you should seriously consider taking, so I now offer a five-month
supply of vitamin K at a very
reasonable price.
Healthy calcium, such as the type found in raw
dairy, and vitamin
D from cod liver oil are also
important additions that can keep your bones strong.
Related Articles:
Osteoporosis
Linked to Alzheimer's
Eating Meat
Does Not Cause Osteoporosis
Vitamin K May Help Build
Strong Bones
Breakthrough Updates You
Need to Know on Vitamin D
Fosamax Type Osteoporosis Drugs
Noted to Cause Serious Eye Problems
Stroke Increases Your
Risk of Osteoporosis and Death
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