Skeletal health maintenance for men
Middle-aged men don’t experience rapid loss of bone mass like women do following menopause. But by 65 or 70, men and women are losing bone mass equally, and a fracture after age 50 – especially in the hip, spine, or wrist – is a signal that osteoporosis may have developed.
What causes osteoporosis?
A couple of big culprits can lead to osteoporosis:
- Bone is constantly remodeling and replacing old bone tissue with fresh bone tissue. As people age, the remodeling process changes and can become unbalanced. As a result, bones may become weaker and certain bone diseases may develop.
- The ability to process calcium – an essential nutrient for bone health – decreases, causing the body to pull the mineral from the skeleton and create brittle bones.
Osteoporosis risk factors
Men and women need to keep an eye on these osteoporosis risk factors.
- Chronic diseases, such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis.
- Regular use of certain medications, such as glucocorticoids.
- Parkinson’s disease and other conditions that affect neurological function.
- Low levels of the sex hormones testosterone and estrogen.
- Unhealthy habits, such as smoking and drinking too much alcohol.
- Weak muscles.
- Being 65 or older.
Delay bone loss starting today
The following actions can help delay bone loss:
- Eat calcium- and vitamin D-rich foods to help keep your bones and joints healthy. Dairy, calcium-set tofu, green leafy vegetables, and small canned fish with soft bones (e.g. sardines) provide the most readily available sources of dietary calcium.
- If you take a calcium supplement or multivitamin, choose one that contains vitamin D.
- Eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of protein, fresh fruits, and vegetables.
- Do weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening excercises, which help reduce the risk of bone fractures and other injuries and help you recover faster if injured.
Get support managing men’s health issues with Blue KC’s Care Management app
Manage your health and take care of ongoing health conditions with the Blue KC Care Management app. Use it to:
- Chat with Blue KC’s Care Management team in between doctor’s visits to ask questions and get help coordinating care.
- Find resources to help you manage health conditions, lose weight, quit smoking, and manage pain.
- Set appointment and medication reminders.
- Receive daily tasks and track progress.
- Access clinically approved articles and videos personalized to you.
- View your personal health information and care program details.
Download the Blue KC Care Management App
Visit the App Store or Google Play and search Blue KC Care Management App. When prompted, use access code kcbluewelcome.
Sources:
Men’s Health Resource Center
Osteoporosis in men, NIH
