When it comes to health concerns, many men focus on heart disease, prostate issues, or testosterone levels. But here’s one silent threat flying under the radar: osteoporosis. Yes, men can get this bone-weakening disease too—and shockingly, millions do.
According to the National Spine Health Foundation, roughly 2 million American men suffer from osteoporosis, while another 16 million live with osteopenia—a warning sign of early bone loss that often leads to full-blown osteoporosis. Yet, a recent survey by Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center found that just 1% of men are worried about their bone density. That’s a serious blind spot that could cost lives.
Why the concern? Because osteoporosis is a “silent disease” that quietly weakens bones, making even minor falls a potential disaster. For men over 65, falls are the leading cause of injuries and death from injury. And weakened bones mean that a simple stumble could lead to a painful, debilitating fracture.
Dr. Paul Lewis, an interventional radiologist at Ohio State, warns that osteoporosis rarely shows symptoms until a fracture occurs. “There are no warning signs before it presents with a fracture,” he told The Post. That means waiting for pain or injury before paying attention is playing with fire.
But the good news? Osteoporosis isn’t inevitable—and men have plenty of ways to fight back.
First on Dr. Lewis’s list: talk to your doctor about testosterone starting in your 30s. Testosterone naturally declines with age, and low levels contribute to bone loss. Addressing this early can be a crucial step in protecting bone strength.
Second, men need to prioritize bone-building exercises that also improve balance. That means weight-bearing activities like walking, hiking, climbing stairs, and resistance training with weights or bands. Even sports like tennis or pickleball can pull double duty by strengthening bones and giving your heart a workout. Lewis also suggests practical everyday moves—walk the golf course instead of riding, take stairs over elevators, and stay active with family and pets.
Neglecting resistance training can cost men up to 3% of their bone mass each year, Lewis warns. But caution is key—overdoing it or exercising with poor form can cause injury, so consistency with proper technique wins out.
Lifestyle matters too. Smoking, drinking more than two alcoholic beverages daily, physical inactivity, poor nutrition, and unsafe home environments all increase osteoporosis risk. Men need to cut these risk factors now before their bones pay the price later.
Finally, Lewis urges men to get screened with a DEXA scan—a simple, low-dose X-ray that measures bone density and diagnoses osteoporosis before fractures happen. Catching the disease early is essential.
For men who do suffer fractures, modern treatments like kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty can help. These minimally invasive procedures stabilize broken vertebrae using bone cement, reducing pain and restoring mobility—without the long recovery times of traditional surgery.
The takeaway? Men can no longer afford to ignore their bone health. This “silent disease” is a real threat, but with early awareness, lifestyle changes, and medical intervention, men can strengthen their bones and protect themselves from painful injuries down the road.
So gentlemen: don’t wait for a fracture to sound the alarm. Start taking your bone health seriously today. Your future self will thank you.
