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Osteoporosis health centre

Osteoporosis overview

It’s estimated three million people in the UK have osteoporosis and there are over 230,000 fractures every year as a result. Osteoporosis, or thinning bones, is a serious condition that can result in tremendous pain from fractures. Risk factors for osteoporosis include ageing, being female, low body weight, reduced sex hormones such as during menopause, smoking, and some medications. You may experience no symptoms of this bone disease until you fracture a bone. Prevention and treatment of osteoporosis include calcium and vitamin D, regular exercise, and osteoporosis medications, if needed.

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Medications

Understanding osteoporosis - diagnosis and treatment

Understanding osteoporosis treatment is vital for everyone, particularly if you have risk factors for osteoporosis. Osteoporosis treatment includes a multi-faceted programme of diet, lifestyle habits and osteoporosis medication in order to prevent further bone loss and fractures.

Is loss of height a sign of osteoporosis?

If your doctor suspects that you have osteoporosis, he or she may measure you to check for loss of height. Because the vertebrae in the spine are often the first bones affected by osteoporosis or bone loss, you could lose one centimetre or more in height.

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