Most of us think of osteoporosis, a condition characterized by weakening of the bones, as a disease of postmenopausal women. But men comprise 2 million of the estimated 10 million people with osteoporosis in the United States, even though it begins later in men than in women.

As more men survive into their 80s and 90s, however, we'll be seeing a corresponding rise in the number of men living with osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis causes low bone mass and poor bone quality that leads to increased fragility and fractures. The best way to diagnose osteoporosis is with tests of bone mineral density using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) measurements. Severe loss of bone mineral density is defined as osteoporosis; the term osteopenia is used for lesser degrees of reduced bone mineral density.

The major dangers of osteoporosis are fractures of the spine and hip. Though the reasons are not clear, hip fractures take a greater toll on men than on women. About one-third of men who fracture a hip die within the next year.

Having one or more of the following factors increases your risk of developing osteoporosis, whether you are a man or a woman:

• Inadequate intake of calcium and vitamin D
• Lack of weight-bearing exercise
• Excessive alcohol intake - that's more than two drinks a day in men, more than one drink a day in women.
• Cigarette smoking
• Treatment with prednisone or other corticosteroids for asthma, rheumatic disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, or other diseases