THOUSANDS of people across the country suffer from osteoporosis. But what actually is osteoporosis - a condition commonly referred to as the 'silent epidemic.'

Osteoporosis means 'porous bones' and is a condition of the skeleton characterised by low bone mass and a change in the make up of the bone construction in the body.

Clinical adviser at Yeovil's bone density unit, Pam Whelan, said: "The condition renders the bone fragile and increases the risk of low impact fractures - especially in the wrist, spine and hip.

"Without the event of a fracture, osteoporosis often goes undiagnosed and that is why it is called the silent epidemic."

Mrs Whelan said that osteoporosis was on the increase in society and now affected one in three post-menopausal women or one in ten men.

"Fractures mean pain and disability and one fracture increases the risk of further fractures," she added. "However, there are effective treatments and preventive measures which can be taken."