Osteoporosis, silent killer has put men at risk too

Earlier Osteoporosis was only known as ‘woman’s disease’ but now it has put men at risk too. October 20 is observed as the World Osteoporosis Day and the city doctor give their advise to men to follow a healthy lifestyle to improve peak bone mass. Regular exercise, brisk walk, a good balanced diet which also includes Vitamin D and calcium could help men in preventing this disease.

People lifestyles have changed today. This disease doesn’t have any symptoms or sign; it is a silent killer because when a person suffers a fracture of the bone then only this disease is diagnosed, it has put men at great risk.

Dr Mahesh Bijjawara who is a consultant spine surgeon at Sri Bhagawan Mahaveer Jain Hospital says that now doctors have started to recognise this disease because in the past few years the prevalence of men suffering from osteoporosis has increased.

Ratio of Men and woman affected with osteoporosis in India is different from western countries. In India the ratio of osteoporosis hip fractures is one woman and one man on the other side 3 women and one man ratio is found in western countries.

The disease has one more worse side of it in India is that it is affecting men at early age of 50 and 60 and in other western countries mostly the disease affect people between the age of 70 – 80. Due to this disease, large numbers of men are recorded to be dying because of fracture. Mostly women are found suffering from fragility fractures.

Dr Mahesh Bijjawara added, “Though there is no specific research on the cause of the disease in men, it is known that about 20 to 24 per cent of hip fracture are suffered by men and it is estimated that the lifetime risk of experiencing an osteoporosis fracture in men over the age of 50 is 30 per cent.”

When men get older then there is a higher risk of hip fracture and women generally suffer spinal fracture. Doctors have found that most of the osteoporosis patients are not diagnosed on time and not treated effectively in India.
A consultant spine surgeon, Dr. Upendra says that if osteoporosis disease is discovered on time then treatment can help in reducing the risk involve with it and it will help in improving the condition of people suffering from this disease.

Know about Osteoporosis:
Osteoporosis is a disorder and in this disease density of bone and bone mass decreases which results fragile and weak bones. Due to this disease bones becomes very weak and one can get multiple fractures even on a little fall.