Mobile screening
Healthcare Screening have offered bone scans in several locations throughout the UK so we can be better informed about our health. There are several risk factors for the condition, but many of us might not know that we have an increased chance of getting the syndrome. This is because in the early days of losing bone cells there is normally no direct effect on our wellbeing. Our bone mineral density (BMD) declines from about the age of 30 onwards, but if we eat poorly and have sedentary lifestyles we may have less BMD to begin with and could get osteoporosis quicker than those who are active and eat well. There are some medical factors that may lead to brittle bones, like drops in oestrogen or testosterone and gland issues. If our GP knows about these then our BMD may already have been tested.
Why test
None of us can be quite sure of our BMD, but risk factors can give us an indication if it’s depleted or not. Fractures occurring because of brittle bones can have serious consequences for our health, which is why health authorities encourage us to include minerals like calcium and Vitamin D in our diets, in addition to doing regular exercise. Booking our own, affordable, ultrasounds can also give us peace of mind if we’re worried we may suffer from bone thinning, with some tests taking only a matter of minutes at various locations in the UK. Our doctors are able to provide us with more tips and advice about the syndrome and can also put us forward for scans if we fall into an at-risk category.