Experts warn of 'silent disease' affecting American men: Here's what it is
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Something similar seems to be happening right now with American men who according to experts are unaware of developing a 'silent disease' that makes their bones brittle and weak.
According to the National Spine Health Foundation, some 2 million US men are suffering from this slow-developing disease. Another 16 million have osteopenia, which is pre-osteoporosis or mild osteoporosis.
One may think that with such a widespread diagnosis of the disease, men would be aware of the disease and be concerned about its diagnosis.
But no, as per a survey commissioned by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, only 1% of men are concerned about low bone density.
In men 65 years and older, falls are the leading cause of injuries and injury-related deaths. If bone density and strength are low, even a minor fall could result in fractures.
'Unfortunately, there are no warning signs before it presents with a fracture,' Dr Paul Lewis, an interventional radiologist at Wexner, told The Post about osteoporosis.
What is Osteoporosis?
Image credits: Getty Images
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases defines
as a bone disease that develops when the mineral density and bone mass decrease or when the structure and strength of the bones change. This increases the risk of fractures. It is called a silent disease as it has no prominent symptoms for identification.
How to prevent Osteoporosis ?
Image credits: Getty Images
However, there are ways the expert suggests one can prevent the disease. As per Lewis, there are four ways to prevent osteoporosis.
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Firstly, men must begin discussing testosterone with their doctor from the age of 30. With age, testosterone decreases and that contributes to weaker bones and a higher risk of osteoporosis in men.
Secondly, physical exercise is a must as it improves balance. He recommends weight-bearing exercises like walking, hiking, stair climbing, resistance training with weights or bands or yoga.
'Some exercises can combine into helping your heart as well, such as pickleball, tennis or other sports,' said the associate professor at Ohio State's College of Medicine.
The third step to take is to make some lifestyle changes. The use of tobacco, consumption of more than two alcoholic drinks a day, physical inactivity, and poor nutrition pose a higher risk of osteoporosis.
Finally, he recommends getting a screening test, like a DEXA scan which is an X-ray that measures bone density to diagnose osteoporosis.
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