Test to prevent risk

AUSTRALIAN Bone Density Testing Centre is joining with the Emerald Village and Monbulk pharmacies to promote bone health awareness.
Bone density testing will be available at Monbulk Pharmacy on Monday 29 March and on Tuesday 30 March in Emerald.
“This is a unique program of bone density testing incorporating easy to understand information for people to make their own informed bone health choices to prevent or delay progression toward age related osteoporosis,” the centre’s medical adviser and doctor Max Holsman said.
Osteoporosis is a silent, progressive condition of decreased bone density, increased bone fragility and greater risk of fracture.
Someone in Australia is hospitalised every five to six minutes with an osteoporotic fracture.
“The amazing fact is that it’s largely preventable,” Dr Holsman said.
Because you can’t see it or feel it, people don’t know bone loss has occurred till they break a bone.
“The aim is to identify early those potentially at increased risk of excessive bone loss, and provide information for lifestyle modification or therapeutic intervention to minimise the likelihood of future fragility fractures,” Dr Holsman said.
“And more studies published in 2008 and 2009 reinforce that ultrasound (QUS) testing at the heel can identify people at low or high risk of fracture due to osteoporosis, and is effective to predict hip and vertebral fractures.”
By having a safe, reliable inexpensive ultrasound bone density you can assess your risk before a fracture occurs. Consultations cost just $45 including the test, written result, plus information about the relevance of calcium, vitamin D, exercise, good nutrition and more for lifelong healthy bones.
A healthy skeletal system with strong bones is essential to overall health and quality of life. Healthy bones are the body frame that allows for mobility and protection against injury.
Bones are a storehouse for calcium and phosphorus essential for functioning of other body systems particularly for the nerves and muscle. Calcium is needed for your heart and for blood to clot properly.
“You are never too young to begin prevention of osteoporosis and never too old to commence treatment to arrest further bone loss,” Dr Holsman said.
Readers can call Emerald Village Pharmacy on 5968 3023 or Monbulk Pharmacy on 9756 6273 to book their bone density test now.
More information is available from www.bonedensitytesting.com.au or by calling 1800 640 544.