The typical American with osteoporosis is over 65, often small-framed and, almost always, female.
Considering that being a woman is the top risk factor for osteoporosis, followed by being post-menopausal, it’s no wonder that 80% of Americans diagnosed with osteoporosis are women.
Still, that means 20% of osteoporosis diagnoses come in men.
Men who’d rather go shoe-shopping at the mall for 6 hours than admit they have an “old ladies’ disease.” Men who may be in such complete denial that they fail to take even simple measures to help themselves.
According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, over 2 million American men have been diagnosed with full-blown osteoporosis, with another 12 million at significant risk.
The NOF also reports, however, that these figures probably under-represent the true numbers, as osteoporosis in men often goes undiagnosed until a hip or other severe fracture lands your dad (or husband) in the hospital.
Do you have a man in your life who has osteoporosis – or may be headed that way? If so, how can you help get past that roadblock of “I’m fine and I don’t want to talk about it?”
First, you need to be aware of the top osteoporosis risk factors for men:
•Smoking;
•Excessive drinking;
•An inactive lifestyle (read: couch potato);
•Not enough calcium in the diet;
•Steroid drugs (e.g., Prednisone; when taken regularly, to treat conditions such as asthma or arthritis);
•Low testosterone levels.
Notice that five of those six factors are easily assessed, and can be dealt with. Not easily dealt with, for sure… but they ARE actionable. Only a low testosterone level is a “hidden” risk factor.
Now that you know what factors put males at risk, add ’em up. If your guy smokes; has more than two drinks a day (two beers, two shots, or two glasses of wine); spends most weekends watching sports on TV, and won’t touch milk, cheese, or yogurt with a 10’ pole – beware. He’s probably at significant risk.
Add in steroid drugs; or a lesser risk – a chronic digestive condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome, or kidney disease – and his risk is even greater.
So, now comes the daunting task of trying to change his lifestyle. We all know how difficult it can be to move a significant other from an unhealthy to healthy way of living. SO many things get in the way: habit, lack of time for exercise, fear of change, and a simple and natural bent towards self-indulgence… all significant obstacles. Let’s take them one by one.
1) Habit. “Leave me alone, I’m happy the way I am.”
Tough one, eh? Why do you want to make your partner unhappy?
Obviously, you don’t. The secret is to move him from one level of happiness, to another; one that’s different, but equal.
Is he REALLY happy being overweight; waking up with smokers’ cough; overindulging in alcohol and battling hangovers; and dulling his senses by spending hours in front of the TV?
