What is it?
Osteoporosis means ‘porous bones’. Inside the thick outer shell, bones are like a honeycomb. Osteoporosis occurs when the holes in the honeycomb get too big and bones can break.
A broken bone after a minor bump or fall is the most obvious sign of osteoporosis. Other warning signs include height loss and curvature of the spine.
It can effect people of all ages but although it’s not an inevitable result of ageing, it does become more common as you get older and affects 1 in 5 men over 50.
Genetic factors are very important – some 80% of the risk is hereditary.
It may be a side-effect of another disease such as hyperthyroidism (an over-active thyroid gland), hyperparathyroidism (too much of the parathyroid hormone) or coeliac disease or Crohn’s disease or other medical conditions which affect the absorption of nutrients from food.
Other factors include low levels of testosterone, drug side-effects (particularly from corticosteroids) and alcohol.
- Keeping up calcium intake in the diet (best done through a balanced diet that includes low-fat milk, cheese and yoghurt, leafy green veg, fish bones and dried fruit which are all good sources of calcium rather than supplements)
- Keeping up vitamin D levels – vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and is most easily found in the natural sunlight (but don’t get sun-burned),
- Avoiding smoking
- Taking plenty of exercise – bone is living tissue and needs weight-bearing exercise to maintain its strength. This doesn’t mean you need to lift weights – your own body weight will do so walk. jog, dance etc. Check out our online gym.
If you have any of the symptoms, risk conditions or a family history, it is worth seeing your GP.
The main treatment are drugs called bisphosphonates, one of which (alendronate) is licensed for men. Calcitonin, which comes as a nasal spray or an injection, may also be prescribed for pain relief.
Testosterone replacement therapy is possible for men in which low testosterone levels are the cause of their osteoporosis.
Supplements of calcium and vitamin D might also be recommended if you have diagnosis of osteoporosis
National Osteoporosis Society
Camerton,
tel: 01761 471771
fax: 01761 471104
helpline: 0845 450 0230 (Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm)
website: www.nos.org.uk
e-mail: info@nos.org.uk
