Osteoporosis
Bob Rees was diagnosed with osteoporosis after collapsing in pain on a family holiday.
"I was 43 when I was diagnosed with osteoporosis. I was on a family holiday in the Dominican Republic in June 2002 when I collapsed in agony. In March 2003, nine months later and after extensive tests, I was diagnosed with severe spinal osteoporosis.
"I remember my relief at being told that I didn't have bone cancer, as had been suspected, but my relief was shortlived when I was told that I had the bones of an 80-year-old.
"I turned to theNational Osteoporosis Society for support and I'm now an ambassador for the charity.I find that talking to other people with osteoporosis helps me deal with my own pain, and I advise anyone who has recently been diagnosed with osteoporosis to try to keep active. Don't sit back and give in. Small lifestyle changes, such as walking regularly, can help keep your bones healthy."
Read about osteoporosis is a condition that weakens bones, making them fragile and more likely to break. Osteopenia is also a term used for bone density loss
Osteoporosis causes bones to become less dense and more fragile. Some people are more at risk than others.
Treating osteoporosis involves treating and preventing fractures and using medication to strengthen bones.
Your genes are responsible for determining your height and the strength of your skeleton, but lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise influence how healthy your bones are.
Having osteoporosis doesn't mean you'll definitely have a fracture. There are measures you can take to reduce your risk of a fall or break.
Bob Rees was diagnosed with osteoporosis after collapsing in pain on a family holiday.
Phyllis Long, aged 60, was recently diagnosed with osteoporosis after months of experiencing upper back pain.