Friendlies Osteoporosis Month

October is Osteoporosis Month, a joint initiative of Friendlies Chemists and Osteoporosis Screening Australia, raising awareness of the degenerative bone condition.

Throughout the month, local Friendlies chemists will proactively promote the heel ultrasound test which effectively diagnoses Osteoporosis, a silent disease with no initial symptoms.The heel ultrasound is a simple affordable test used to pre-screen women and men to determine if a more thorough DXA (dual-energy xray absorptiometry) is required.All people tested in October will receive in-store giveaways, with a lead-up to World Osteoporosis Day on October 20.One in two women and one in three men suffer some type of osteoporosis related fracture in their life, all women over 45 years of age should obtain a Heel Ultrasound.Those most susceptible to the condition include people with rheumatoid arthritis, low dietary calcium intake and those who smoke or have an increased alcohol intake.Hip fractures in women are more common than cancer of the breast, cervix and uterus combined and more than 50% of patients with a hip fracture are severely disabled 6 months after the fracture.Australians should incorporate the key elements of good nutrition, healthy lifestyle, exercise and hormones in order to prevent the onset of this terrible condition. Contact your local Friendlies Pharmacy to find out when the next testing date is scheduled. (Source: Osteoporosis Screening Australia: October 2005.)