Is Osteoporosis Under-diagnosed in Men?

By Marina Pink | March 18, 2019 |

Osteoporosis is a condition that causes bone loss.
Bones become brittle and thin, making them break more easily. It’s typically associated with older women because they get it far more often than men do. However, that doesn’t mean that men don’t get osteoporosis. In fact, a new study indicates that although senior men also suffer from bone loss, they don’t receive treatment as often as women do.

Home Care in La Canada CA: Osteoporosis

Men and Osteoporosis

Researchers at the University of Washington in Seattle examined information regarding osteoporosis in more than 13,700 men and women who were age 70 or older. One of the things they looked at was the risk of the participants for hip fractures. Around 50 percent of men who were 75 to 79 were at risk for hip fracture, which qualified them for receiving osteoporosis treatment. Men aged 80 and older had an even higher risk at 88 percent.

Despite the fact that a high percentage of men qualified for osteoporosis treatment, they were a lot less likely to be tested for the disease than women were. In fact, only 12 percent of men had a bone density test while 63 percent of women did.

Risk Factors and Symptoms of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis occurs when the body isn’t able to produce enough bone tissue to replace tissue that naturally dies off. Some of the risk factors for osteoporosis are:

Age: The risk of developing osteoporosis increases with age.

Race: Caucasians and Asian-Americans are more likely to develop the disease.

Family History: If a close relative, like a sibling or parent, had osteoporosis, it increases the risk.

Body Frame: People with smaller frames have less bone tissue to draw on in the first place, so they are at greater risk for osteoporosis.

If your elderly male family member hasn’t had a bone density test, recognizing the symptoms of osteoporosis might indicate it is time to have one. The symptoms of osteoporosis include:

Pain in the back, which is caused by fractures and collapsed vertebra.
Having a stooped posture.
Getting shorter.
Fractures that happen easily.

If your loved one does have osteoporosis, home care can help them to manage life with the disease. Home care providers can remind them to take medications and supplements that are part of the disease’s treatment. Home care providers can also drive an older adult to medical appointments to monitor the condition. In addition, home care providers can walk with the elderly person to ensure they don’t fall or bump into things, which could cause fractures.

If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Home Care in La Canada, CA, please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today (888) 989-7388

Sources
Webmd.com
Mayoclinic.org
Everydayhealth.com

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Marina Pink

Owner at Home Care Help

Marina Pink is the Owner at Home Care Help. Home Care Help is an innovator in providing services in a caring and professional manner. We have an exceptional history, spanning twenty-three years, of providing care to people in moments that matter most. It is our utmost priority to address every need in a timely manner; and, it is our goal, above all else, to give the level of support that enables our residents to have as much independence as possible with care and respect.