NEWS COPY
Millions of Brits are now able to check their risk of developing a fragility fracture, a common sign of osteoporosis – with a simple test of their FINGERNAIL or TOENAIL.
Until now it has been known as the 'silent disease' because it has no symptoms and can remain undiagnosed until a bone is fractured.
This is set to change with the new at-home Osentia screening test which assesses your risk of fragility fractures –by analysing a fingernail or toenail clipping and providing results in just a week.
The handy test is also set to save health chiefs a fortune, as one in two women and one in five men over the age of 50 will suffer a fracture due to weakened bones which will cost the NHS £2.2billion by 2025.
Osteoporosis affects over three million people in the UK and is one of the main health concerns with 300,000 people attending hospital in the UK every year because of a fragility fracture.
Women are particularly at risk of osteoporosis, especially after the menopause due to hormonal changes, but the research conducted by Osentia found that almost half (46 per cent) of women don’t know what it is, which could be why a worrying third of women with the condition remain undiagnosed.
It is also one of the main causes of hospital stays for women over the age of 45, more so than diabetes, heart attack and breast cancer.
Dr Mark Towler, Inventor of Osentia Osteoporosis screening test and Strategic Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada said: “This is the first screening test which gives people the opportunity to test their risk of suffering a fragility fracture, which is often an early indication of osteoporosis.
"By using Raman Spectroscopy, a laser-based technology to analyse an individual’s nail clipping we can assess their risk as there are similarities between the proteins in nail structure and the proteins that constitute much of bone.”
The launch addresses the urgent need for earlier screening and intervention in the UK, as there is currently no national screening programme for osteoporosis or fracture risk. Research reveals that this concerns three quarters (74 per cent) of women.
Dr Dawn Harper, GP and expert in women’s health, said: “Osteoporosis is a condition often associated with older people, but our bone health starts to decline from our mid-30s, so early identification and intervention is critical to minimise risk and help manage osteoporosis later down the line.
“Knowing your risk from early on will allow you to make necessary diet and lifestyle changes.
“By combining a nutrient-rich diet, inclusive of calcium and vitamin D, with weight bearing and muscle strengthening exercises such as walking, jogging and Pilates, you can help slow down bone loss, strengthen bones and reduce the risk of a breakage.
“This is especially relevant for those at increased risk of developing osteoporosis.”
Osentia is a clinically proven, simple and non-invasive test that only requires a fingernail or toenail clipping and a health questionnaire to be sent to a laboratory for analysis using Raman Spectroscopy laser technology.
Each individual will receive their personal risk of suffering from fragility fractures within seven days highlighting if they are at low, moderate or high risk, along with advice on how to reduce their risk, with an action to speak to their pharmacist or GP for those at moderate or high risk, respectively.
Osentia is £39.99 RRP and available exclusively online at www.Superdrug.com and www.osentia.co.uk.
For more information and support about osteoporosis, visit the National Osteoporosis Society at www.NOS.org.uk or speak with your pharmacist or GP for further advice.
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Dr Dawn Harper’s Top Tips to Reduce Risk of Osteoporosis
- Love your bones - It's never too early to start thinking about your bone health - the more you can invest in healthy bones before your thirties, the stronger they will be for life. It's also never too late to start looking after your bones, so whatever your age, keep reading and do all you can to protect your bones
- Go for dairy - Bones need calcium, dairy products are a good source of dietary calcium but so are green leafy vegetables. If you are concerned about your calcium intake, talk to a pharmacist, GP or dietician about ways to increase intake which may include taking calcium supplements
- Catch some rays - vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium and will also keep muscles strong and help prevent falls in older people. If you’re not getting enough sunlight in the winter months, eat foods rich in vitamin D which include dairy products, oily fish, fruit, vegetables and cereals or consider taking a supplement
- Watch your weight - if your body mass index (BMI) is too high (above 24.9) or too low (below 18.5) it can put you at increased risk of osteoporosis
- Stress your bones - Bones need to be used to stay strong - do something everyday to stress your bones – walking, running or dancing are excellent ways to keep your bones healthy
- Count those steps - Invest in a pedometer. We should all be doing 10,000 paces a day and if you have a sedentary job you may be horrified by how short you fall. Making sure you manage those 10,000 steps will mean you walk 7.5Kms a day and this will go a long way to protecting your bones for the future
- Ditch the cigs – smoking increases your risk of thin bones, so speak to your pharmacist or GP about smoking cessation services and make it a priority now
- Curb your drinking - Stick to recommended alcohol limits which is less than you may think – just 14 units a week. Drinking more will increase the risk of osteoporosis
- Watch your fizz – fizzy drinks can leach minerals from your bones making you more prone to osteoporosis
- Assess your risk - if you think you are at risk, speak to your GP about whether you would be eligible for a DXA scan or you could consider the Osentia at home testing kit (available online atwww.osentia.co.uk or www.superdrug.com)
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