If you think you’re not at risk for osteoporosis because you’re a male, think again. Although the prevalence of osteoporosis is higher in women than in men, many men are also at risk. As the population ages, more men are susceptible to the disease. Now is the best time to learn all you can about the risk factors for osteoporosis and to start working on protecting your bones. What exactly is osteoporosis? Osteoporosis is a disease that makes your bones less hard and more prone to fractures. When you have osteoporosis, sometimes it doesn’t destroy the bones quickly. The destruction of bone is also called a fracture. A minor fall, or a sneeze or even bumping into furniture can cause a fracture. Fractures can be serious and painful, and men are more likely to suffer fractures from osteoporosis in old age, and they can be difficult to heal. In fact, men have a higher one-year mortality rate from hip fractures than women. In summary, here are five steps to enhance bone health and prevent osteoporosis: (1) get your daily calcium and vitamin D needs; (2) get regular weight control and muscle toning exercise; (3) don’t smoke and don’t drink alcohol; (4) discuss your risk of osteoporosis with your health counselor and ask about the timing of your bone density screening; and (5) take osteoporosis medication if necessary. medications if necessary.