Vitamin D plays a crucial role in our health and well-being. If you feel weak, tired and listless, you may have too low a vitamin D level in your blood. According to the latest scientific findings, this should ideally be between 40 and 90 nanograms/millilitre. But hardly anyone knows their vitamin D value. That’s why more than 60 pharmacies in almost all Styrian districts are offering a low-threshold test option at a particularly good price from now until December 31st.
A small drop of blood from your finger is enough and after 15 minutes a reliable and meaningful result is available. Appropriate advice will then be provided on site. The cost of a test in participating pharmacies is 9.50 euros until the end of the year (instead of up to 30 euros).
Dr. Karlheinz Kornhäusl, State Council for Health, Care and Sport: “No matter where someone lives, health care should not make a difference. In addition to the general practitioners and specialists as well as the health centers, our pharmacies are also an important pillar for ensuring health care. Pharmacists are important contact points for Styrians, especially when it comes to prevention and care.”
Dr. Michaela Wlattnig, patient and care ombudswoman for the state of Styria: “Low-threshold care for the population is of great importance in times of dwindling resources in the health sector. The pharmacies, as contact points close to home, play a central role due to their timely and local accessibility and their extensive expertise. In Austria we have to work on strengthening the health literacy of the population. That’s why such low-threshold offers such as vitamin D testing are important in order to focus on taking responsibility for your own health and to easily do something yourself to get through the cold season well. The patient advocacy group supports initiatives that make preventative care offers easy for the population and thus play an important role in preventive health care.”
Dr. Alexander Kollau, University of Graz: “Like all vitamins, vitamin D is essential for humans. Although some of it can be produced by the body itself, a reduction in this production is to be expected, especially in the autumn and winter months. It therefore makes sense to have your own vitamin D levels checked, especially during this time. This is made possible quickly and easily by the measurement campaign in pharmacies. But in addition to assessing individual needs, the data collected also provides a good overview of the overall situation in the population. This can be useful both for advice work by pharmacists and for scientific studies.”
Mag. pharm. Alexandra Fuchsbichler, President of the Styrian Chamber of Pharmacists: “With this year’s amendment to the Pharmacy Act, pharmacies will be given an even more important role than before within the domestic healthcare system. Tests and screenings, such as the vitamin D campaign, can be carried out quickly and easily in the pharmacies around the corner – with valid results. In this way, health literacy and prevention are strengthened. We are very happy and proud that our measures are supported by patient representatives and the University of Graz.”
Almost everyone is familiar with vitamin D these days – and for good reason: among other things, it ensures strong and stable bones, strengthens the immune system, reduces the risk of respiratory infections and helps with allergies. It also reduces the risk of developing certain types of cancer – such as colon cancer – and supports cancer therapy. Thanks to vitamin D, the risk of developing type 1 diabetes decreases and the metabolism in type 2 diabetes improves. Vitamin D also protects nerve cells, for example in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or multiple sclerosis.
More information:https://www.apothekerkammer.at/steiermark