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Osteoporosis is thought to be a common disease in women, especially after menopause. However, over the last few years we have seen an increase in fragility fractures due to low bone density and minor injuries in our OPDs even among young men. This is a concern, as the diagnosis of osteoporosis in men is often delayed or overlooked. As a result, the risk of severe disability may increase after a fracture. Valuable advice in this regard Dr. Presented by Vaibhav Bagaria, Director, Orthopaedics and Joint Replacement at Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai.

What is silent disease?

Globally, approximately one in seven men over the age of 50 will experience a fracture due to osteoporosis at some point in their lives. The most alarming aspect of this disease is that there are no obvious symptoms in its early stages. Therefore, osteoporosis is often called the “silent disease”. Most people become aware of the disease only after breaking a bone due to a minor fall or injury. Early symptoms in young men may include persistent back pain, recurrent stress fractures, loss of height, fractures of the wrist or spine after minor trauma, or prolonged recovery from injury.

What is the reason behind this growing problem?

There are many lifestyle and health- reasons behind this growing problem. Prolonged sitting, too much screen time, lack of sunlight, low protein diet, lack of calcium and vitamin D, smoking, alcohol, very strict diets and high consumption of junk food can all adversely affect bone health. Also, young people who do not do regular weight-bearing exercise do not develop or maintain the necessary bone density.

A proper medical examination is required

There may also be certain medical reasons behind osteoporosis, especially in men at younger ages. This is called secondary osteoporosis. This may be due to vitamin D deficiency, thyroid disorders, low testosterone levels, long-term use of steroid drugs, poor absorption of nutrients from the intestines, kidney disease, inflammatory arthritis, diabetes or side effects of certain medications. In fact, more than half of men with osteoporosis may have a secondary cause. Therefore, proper medical examination is very important.

This can be a serious sign

“Osteoporosis in young men should not be dismissed simply as a sign of weakness or lack of fitness. Fractures from minor falls, recurrent injuries, or unexplained back pain can be serious indications for a bone health check-up. It is not enough to treat the fracture alone, but to find the underlying cause of bone weakness is equally important.”

To avoid this problem, it is necessary to take proper care from an early age. Regular exercise, resistance training, walking or participation in sports, adequate sunlight, calcium-rich diet, adequate protein intake, proper treatment of vitamin D deficiency, avoidance of smoking and control of alcohol consumption are very important. Those at high risk of osteoporosis should get blood tests and, if necessary, a DEXA bone density scan on doctor’s advice.