Learn more about your bones
Your individual risk calculator and tips for prevention
Press Release and Video Messages
DAIICHI SANKYO EUROPE initiative “Improvement through Movement”
We are delighted to present our brand new initiative “Improvement through Movement”. This exercise programme is designed for osteoporosis patients and most importantly the whole programme has been fully endorsed by the International Osteoporosis Foundation.
The whole programme was overseen and is introduced by Europe’s leading Professor of Bone Medicine, Professor Juliet Compston and is endorsed by International choreographer and Ex Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips. We are very happy to announce that Erin Boag a professional dancer who is appearing in the current season of the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing (to view Erin click here) beautifully choreographs the exercises.
The need for such a programme arises because millions of postmenopausal women suffer bone disease
Two hundred million women worldwide suffer from osteoporosis.1 If you live in Europe, you have a 30 to 50% chance of suffering a fracture due to osteoporosis during your life.2
Although it is among the biggest medical challenges facing postmenopausal women, few women know about the disease or the simple steps you can take to prevent it.
So what is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a disease that causes your bones to become fragile and break more easily. Around 80% of sufferers are women because their bones naturally thin after the menopause as they lose the protective effects of the hormone oestrogen.3
Oestrogen is a female sexual hormone produced in your ovaries that controls, among other things, your monthly cycle. When you stop having periods, your bones become weaker over time.
It is also a silent disease because postmenopausal women often don't suffer symptoms until they fracture a bone. They may not even notice the first spinal fracture, but additional fractures can cause pain and lasting disability.4
It's shocking to think that women over 45 spend more days in hospital due to osteoporosis than other, better-known diseases like diabetes or breast cancer.5
Luckily, there are simple, natural steps every woman can take to maintain healthy bones. Adopting a “bone-friendly” lifestyle today can help you reduce your risk of postmenopausal osteoporosis and fractures.
What are these easy steps?
Sunlight:
Getting out-and-about in the summer is one of the simplest ways you can maintain strong, healthy bones. Going outside regularly during the longer, lighter days exposes your body to sunlight, which it can turn into Vitamin D.6
Vitamin D:
Vitamin D is essential for absorbing calcium - a major building block for bones – from food.7 Around 99% of the calcium in your body is stored in the skeleton. So calcium-rich foods are also a crucial part of a “bone-friendly” diet along with plenty of fruit and vegetables.
Calcium:
Foods rich in calcium include: dairy products like milk and yoghurt; tofu; almonds; some vegetables like broccoli and spinach; and fish with edible bones like salmon and sardines – the calcium is in the bones!8 Remember to choose skimmed milk and low-fat yoghurt.
Exercise:
Walking, playing tennis or dancing in the sunshine combines the benefits of Vitamin D with those of regular exercise. Exercises like walking and dancing that place weight on your bones help strengthen them.6 Exercise also builds muscle and improves balance and flexibility. This is crucial since, as you get older, you're more likely to be susceptible to falls and breaking bones.
Do not smoke and drink less alcohol
Everyone knows that drinking too much and smoking is unhealthy. It's bad for bones too. Drinking less reduces bone loss rates and your risk of falling over. Stopping smoking can help your body absorb more calcium from food.4
Osteoporosis can have a major effect on your quality of life, but you can protect yourself by making simple lifestyle changes. It is never too early to start!
About World Osteoporosis Day
World Osteoporosis Day, which takes place on October 20th this year, provides an all-important focal point for informing and educating the general public and policy makers about the prevention of a disease which still suffers from poor general awareness. With the number of participating countries and scheduled events increasing steadily year by year, the impact of World Osteoporosis Day has grown significantly. World Osteoporosis Day 2009 will be the second year of a 'call to action' campaign.
For journalist only:
Please click on the link and register to see the launch of this educational program
For physicians only:
Please click on the link and register to see this educational program
Please contact DAIICHI SANKYO in your country if you would like to order a DVD:
The educational programme will be available to patients on DVD through their physician practices. The DVD is subtitled into several languages. Physicians can only give this educational programme to patients.
Patients are advised to consult their physician or healthcare practitioner before undertaking any form of physical exercise.
In some countries, the DVD will be available end of 2009.
Austria
DAIICHI SANKYO AUSTRIA GmbH
Effingergasse 21
1160 Vienna
Phone + 43 (0)1 / 485 86 42 – 0
www.daiichi-sankyo.at
info@daiichi-sankyo.at
www.osteoporose-krankheit.at
Belgium
DAIICHI SANKYO BELGIUM N.V.-S.A.
Parc Scientifique Fleming
Rue Fonds Jean Pâques 5
1348 Louvain-la-Neuve
Phone + 32 (0)10 / 48 95 95
www.daiichi-sankyo.be
info@daiichi-sankyo.be
France
DAIICHI SANKYO FRANCE SAS
Immeuble Le Corosa
1, rue Eugène et Armand Peugeot
92508 Rueil-Malmaison Cedex
Phone + 33 (0)1 / 55 62 14 60
www.daiichi-sankyo.fr
info@daiichi-sankyo.fr
Germany
DAIICHI SANKYO DEUTSCHLAND GmbH
Zielstattstrasse 48
81379 Munich
Phone + 49 (0) 89 / 78 08 – 0
www.daiichi-sankyo.de
info@daiichi-sankyo.de
Ireland
DAIICHI SANKYO IRELAND LTD.
3013 Lake Drive
Citywest Business Campus
Naas Road, Dublin 24
Phone + 353 (0)1 / 489 30 00
www.daiichi-sankyo.ie
info@daiichi-sankyo.ie
Italy
DAIICHI SANKYO ITALIA S.p.A.
Via Paolo di Dono, 73
00142 Rome
Phone + 39 06 / 85 25 51
www.daiichi-sankyo.it
info@daiichi-sankyo.it
Portugal
DAIICHI SANKYO PORTUGAL LDA.
Lagoas Park, Edifício 11
2740 - 270 Porto Salvo
Phone + 351 (0) 21 / 423 20 10
www.daiichi-sankyo.pt
info@daiichi-sankyo.pt
Switzerland
DAIICHI SANKYO (SCHWEIZ) AG
Gewerbestrasse 16
8800 Thalwil
Phone + 41 (0) 43 / 433 33 00
www.daiichi-sankyo.ch
info@daiichi-sankyo.ch
The Netherlands
DAIICHI SANKYO NEDERLAND B.V.
Wilgenlaan 5 • 1161 JK Zwanenburg
Postbus 30 • 1160 AA Zwanenburg
Phone + 31 (0) 20 / 407 20 72
www.daiichi-sankyo.nl
info@daiichi-sankyo.nl
Turkey
DAIICHI SANKYO İLAÇ TİCARET Ltd. Şti
Kar Plaza Kayışdağı Cad. Karaman
Çiftlik Yolu No:47 E Blok Kat:3
34752 İçerenköy / Kadıköy – İstanbul
Phone + 90 (0) 216 / 577 65 05
www.daiichi-sankyo.com.tr
info@daiichi-sankyo.com.tr
UK
DAIICHI SANKYO UK LTD.
Chiltern Place, Chalfont Park
Gerrards Cross
Buckinghamshire SL9 0BG
Phone + 44 (0) 17 53 / 89 36 00
www.daiichi-sankyo.co.uk
info@daiichi-sankyo.co.uk
