What Increases My Risk of Osteoporosis?
Some men have primary osteoporosis. In older men this is usually caused by age-related bone loss. The cause of primary osteoporosis in younger men is often unknown, but heredity may play a role. However, the most common causes of osteoporosis in men are “secondary” to other factors. Lifestyle factors that may increase the rate of bone loss include low levels of physical activity, smoking, too much alcohol, poor calcium levels and lack of vitamin D. Other possible causes include whether or not there have been previous falls or fractures, age, family history and being underweight (which can be caused by chronic diseases).
Early signs of osteoporosis can be accelerated by the use of some medications such as corticosteroids (often used for asthma, arthritis and kidney disease) and anticonvulsants, commonly used to treat epilepsy and some psychiatric disorders. Treatments designed to reduce testosterone levels, generally for persons with prostate cancer, have been found to reduce bone density.
