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Osteoporosis (thinning of the bones) is a common condition affecting 50 percent of women and 20 percent of men over the age of 55 years.
In Oxfordshire alone there are over 22,000 women with osteoporosis, with around 500 hip fractures each year.
You cannot see or feel your bones getting thinner, so many people are unaware of any problems until they break a bone or start to lose height.
Those at increased risk of osteoporosis include the following.
Certain diseases are also associated with reduced bone strength, such as:
If you think you are at risk, discuss it further with your GP. You may need a special scan called a Bone Densitometry (DEXA) scan, which measures bone density.
Please see Patient information leaflets library