News

OSTEOPOROSIS SPECIALIST TO SPEAK AT WEXFORD HEALTH & WELLBEING EVENT

Michele O’Brien, National Health Promotion Officer with the Irish Osteoporosis Society, will be one of the speakers at the Health and Wellbeing event to take place in Wexford on Thursday 14th May, 2009. Organised by the National Dairy Council in partnership with Wexford Creamery, the event will be held at the Ferrycarrig Hotel, Wexford – doors open 7.30pm, with presentations starting at 8.00pm sharp – and with proceeds from the evening going to raise funds for the charity, Wexford Hospice Home Care.

The Health and Wellbeing evening also features leading independent nutritionist Paula Mee who will discuss the Nutrient Richness of Dairy (New Research Updates), and a make up demonstration by Abbey Taylor, Senior Beauty Therapist & Advisor with Sam MacCauleys.

Osteoporosis is Preventable

Osteoporosis is the world’s leading bone disease and affects people of all age groups, including children. In Ireland, it affects one in two women and one in five men over fifty. It is known as the ‘silent disease’ as the majority of people have no pain until they fracture, however it is estimated that only 15% of those affected are diagnosed.

Osteoporosis is a disease which is preventable and treatable in the majority of people. At the Health & Wellbeing event in The Ferrycarrig Hotel, Michele O’Brien will give a presentation on what is osteoporosis, what is osteopenia and what the risk factors are. Dispelling the myths about osteoporosis, Michele will look at the importance of nutrition, weight bearing exercises and fall prevention in leading a “bone healthy” lifestyle.

Michele O'Brien

From Dublin, Michele holds a degree in Physiotherapy from Harcum College in Pennsylvania, USA. She lived in the USA for 14 years and set up a Fall Prevention Clinic when she first returned to Ireland. This was a service to help senior citizens prevent falls in their homes and to help them maintain their independence by reducing the risk of a fracture. Michele joined the Irish Osteoporosis Society charity in 2002 where she organises lectures and health promotions, liaises with public and health care professionals, organises workshops for specialists groups such as home economics teachers and helps with fundraising and communications.

A booklet about Osteoporosis is also available free of charge. For information about where to download the guide, visit www.3aday.ie or click here; or for a printed copy, call the Irish Osteoporosis Society on 1890-252 751 or the NDC on 01-616 9726.

Tickets

Tickets for the Wexford Creamery & National Dairy Council Health and Wellbeing event on 14th May can be purchased in advance from Wexford Creamery on 053-914 2088, email info@wexford-creamery.com or the Wexford Branch of Hospice Home Care, contact John Browne on 053-915 9274.

For further information contact:

NDC: Antonina Ni Dhuinn, Progress Communications - 01-276 6117 - nina@progresspr.ie
Wexford Creamery: Paula or Louie, Angel Marketing - 051-421 370 - paula@angelireland.com or louie@angelireland.com
Irish Osteoporosis Society: Niall McLoughlin, IOS Chief Executive - 01-667 4267 - www.irishosteoporosis.ie