If you're a male or female in your 50s, speak to a doctor about osteoporosis and how it affects your body. Although men and women lose bone mass at different stages in their lives, osteoporosis has the potential to affect both sexes over time. Learn more about the effects of osteoporosis on men and women and why you should have your bones tested today.
What Should Men and Women Know About Osteoporosis?
Although men and women lose bone thickness and strength at different rates and ages, both sexes can still develop osteoporosis at some point in their lives. Osteoporosis develops in people who lose mass in their bones. Without sufficient bone mass, your bones become weak and brittle.
Brittle bones can fracture very easily. Fractures generally occur in the hip and spine but can affect any bone in the body. Some fractures can be so small that you don't notice them. Other fractures can be traumatic and painful, particularly hip fractures. The older you are, the more at risk you are for hip-related bone fractures.
Osteoporosis occurs silently in men and women. It's not until most people experience a bone fracture or injury that they become aware of the disease. However, there are some symptoms men and women may notice or experience over time, including back pain and a loss of height. The disease can place great wear and tear on the spinal bones.
If you're unsure about your bone health and would like to learn more about osteoporosis, seek a doctor's advice today.
How Can Men and Women Test for Osteoporosis?
In order for a doctor to determine the state and health of your bones, they must test you. The tests may:
As you age, the cellular growth in your bones may slow down. If the cells in your bones slow down too much, it may become dangerous for you. You may need to take medications that reduce the damaging effects of osteoporosis. Some medications may also encourage new bone cells to develop and grow in your body. However, these medications may not be available yet. If you're interested in adding bone-regenerating medications to your osteoporosis treatment plan, speak to a doctor.
You can learn about osteoporosis and how it affects men and women by scheduling your doctor's appointment today.
Share18 September 2019
My name is Katie Langer. For a long time, I was bed ridden and I felt like I had no control over my life. I simply went along with what was instructed by my doctor and I didn't ask questions. It wasn't that my doctor wasn't willing to work with me, but I preferred to simply not think about the illness I was suffering from. I didn't realize that some of the symptoms I was suffering from were side effects of my medication and were not normal. After communicating more with my doctor, I was able to alleviate my symptoms. Since then, I've taken an interest in patient-doctor relationships and how to improve them.
