11 Jun 09 Osteoporosis in Men

The increase in porosity of our bones and the consequent loss of strength is known as osteoporosis and reduces our bones’ capacity to counteract normal functional activities. The bone’s outer layer is called Levitra Professional the cortex and is dense and strong to resist mechanical stresses. The inner bone structure is more like a structural meshwork known as cancellous bone, with bone marrow, blood vessels and collagen tissue filling the interstices. The bony interstices become larger as osteoporosis progresses and there is a reduction in bone strength with the loss of the cross connecting struts. The whole skeleton is affected by the disease but it exhibits itself mostly in the hip, spine and wrist.

The skeleton does not look dynamic but it is a tissue which is constantly changing as new bone constantly replaces the older bone, the gradual process of total replacement taking from 7 to 10 years overall. This replacement process is a normal occurrence known as bone turnover, a process Brand Viagra much faster in younger people such as children who are growing fast and replacing their bones in a period of two years. Between 16 to 18 years of age our bones stop growing in length as we have attained our adult stature, however the density of our bony skeleton does not stop increasing until we are in our middle twenties.

Bone turnover then maintains a balance between the building up and breaking down processes which remain stable for the period of our early adult lives. Reaching middle age starts a phase of bone life in which the breakdown process becomes more dominant and we begin to lose a proportion of our bone mass. The loss of bone density is more accelerated and more profound in particular patient groups, most obviously in older women after menopause. Osteoporosis does occur in men and risk factors for this include long-term steroid treatment, poor nutrient absorption from colitis, long term immobility, alcohol abuse, being too thin, low male hormone levels and smoking.

One in three women is affected by osteoporosis in their lifetime so it is often thought to be a disease affecting women. However viagra for women online online pharmacy levitra levitra online price men are affected as well, with one in twelve having this at some time, even though only 20% of spinal fractures and 30% of hip fractures online cheap Drugstore acomplia buy occur in men. Men may suffer from osteoporosis less for several reasons: they attain a higher bone mass to start with so have a higher level to start from and men suffer a much less dramatic bone loss in the middle years of life. Men in particular lose smaller amounts of the Cialis online structural cortical bone than women.

It is typical for there to be no warning signs of the development Order Generic Levitra Professional Online without Prescription of osteoporosis and for a relatively small trauma to surprise the person with the severe pain of a spinal or wrist fracture. The thoracic spine can suffer wedge fractures which are severely painful and can produce significantly disabling pain western union tennessee clarksville which can be long lasting. The process of wedging and crush fractures can occur without symptoms as the person loses height or develops a spinal curve referred to as a kyphosis. A severe kyphotic curvature can cause compression of the ribcage and abdominal structures, resulting in digestive and respiratory complications.

In men with osteoporosis there is no identified reason for the disease in forty-five percent of cases, and genetic factors are thought to play a large part in this. If a close family member has osteoporosis means that a man will be at increased risk of having lowered bone density and increased risk of suffering a fracture of the spine. Testosterone levels maintain levels of bone density and if levels are low then osteoporosis is more of a risk, as a thirty year old man produces twice the hormone levels of a man of seventy. If an endocrinology specialist thinks it appropriate then testosterone replacement can be prescribed.

Corticosteroid treatment is used to counter the inflammatory effects of ulcerative amoxicillin colitis and asthma as well as other less well known disorders. The levels of bone loss can increase with only six months treatment with a steroid such as prednisolone so they are only prescribed when essential to combat an illness. Individuals should not change their steroid doses with consulting with their medical advisers as this could produce severe side effects.