Osteoporosis Screening

Everybody is potentially at risk of osteoporosis just through bone loss caused by age. There are also a number of other factors that increase the risk of osteoporosis including: For women: a lack of oestrogen, caused by early menopause, early hysterectomy, as a result of over-exercising or over-dieting. For men: low levels of the male hormone, testosterone. Other factors such as family history, heavy drinking and/or smoking can also increase the risk of osteoporosis.

If you think you may have one or more of these risk factors you should consider Ultrasound Bone Analysis. This is a quick, painless way of finding out the density and mass of your bones and if you are susceptible to osteoporosis. Screening will give instant results, which will be discussed, and general advice will be given. Some facts and figures to consider: (Source- The National Osteoporosis Society)

• 1 in 3 women and 1 in 12 men in the UK will have osteoporosis over the age of 50
  
  
• Every 3 minutes someone has a fracture due to osteoporosis
  
  
• An estimated 3 million people in the UK suffer from osteoporosis Each year the numbers of people with osteoporosis include over 70,000 hip fractures, 50,000 wrist fractures and 40,000 spinal fractures
  
• Osteoporosis costs the NHS and government over £1.7 billion each year, that's £5 million each day!

Further information about the McCue CUBA Clinical ultrasound system and Osteoporosis screening please contact us.

Osteoporosis profile

Total and bone alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatases are measured to assess the balance between bone formation and bone resorption. Calcium and phosphorus are measured in both urine and blood together with tests to assess the status of a range of nutrients essential to bone metabolism. The profile complements rather than replaces bone mineral density measurement but can be of great value where other tests are not conclusive.

The test includes essential nutrients of known importance in the development and maintenance of bone. Changes in the excretion of calcium and phosphorus occur in  some types of bone disease and increased urinary zinc and hydroxyproline are found in osteoporosis. Recent research demonstrates changes in bone alkaline phosphatase in osteoporotic women

From Blood Serum:

• Alkaline Phosphatase: Total and from bone.
• Tartrate resistant Acid Phosphates
• Inorganic Phosphorus
• Calcium
• Copper
• Magnesium
• Vitamin C
• Zinc (in white cells)
• Magnesium (in red cells)

From the Urine: (24 hour collection)

• Volume
• Phosphorus
• Calcium
• Zinc
• Hydroxyproline