New Year, New Beginnings - brought to you by APL Media • Wednesday 7 January 2026


Health, Fitness & Beauty • 15 ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE Is personalised prescribing the future?


Why some medicines might not work as expected


Millions of people in the UK take prescription medications every day, yet many are unaware that their genes might influence how well these medicines work. While most assume a prescribed treatment will be effective, research shows this isn’t always the case. In fact, 99.5% of individuals carry at least one genetic variant that could affect how their body responds to certain medications.


THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF PERSONALISED PRESCRIBING As more people are prescribed treatments for heart health, mental health, pain and long-term conditions, many experience side


effects or limited benefit. People often report cholesterol-lowering treatments not working as expected, muscle pain with new therapies, heartburn medication offering incomplete relief or mental health treatments requiring trial and error. Often this is because individuals metabolise medicines differently.


WHAT PHARMACOGENOMIC (PGx) TESTING CAN REVEAL Pharmacogenomics (PGx) examines how a person’s genetic makeup influences their response to specific medications. A PGx test analyses key genes involved in drug metabolism and effectiveness, offering insights that could guide more personalised prescribing. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence


(NICE) recently recommended genetic testing for patients prescribed Clopidogrel, as around one in three people have a variant that means it doesn’t work as intended.


HOW MANTARA HEALTH SUPPORTS PATIENTS AND CLINICIANS Mantara Health is an award-winning UK specialist in PGx testing, working with individuals and clinicians nationwide. Patients can order a test directly through Mantara’s website, provide a saliva sample at home and simply return it in a prepaid envelope. They then receive a personalised report, which they can share with their GP or specialist. Clinicians can partner with Mantara to use these insights to support more confident prescribing across more than 70 commonly used medications, including everything from statins and antidepressants to pain medications, and blood thinners.


WHY PEOPLE CHOOSE TO TAKE A PGX TEST Individuals often turn to PGx testing when starting a new medication, after side effects or when they want reassurance that a treatment will work for them. As most people will take multiple prescription medications over their


New Year offer: £30 off Mantara’s PGx test.


Use code NEWYEAR30. Valid until 31 March 2026.


lifetime, PGx testing can also be valuable proactively. For healthcare professionals, it provides an additional safeguard, helping reduce trial-and-error prescribing and supporting more personalised care.


A PRACTICAL STEP TOWARDS SAFER MEDICATION USE For anyone seeking clearer insight into how their body may respond to medication, PGx testing offers an evidence-based tool to support more effective treatment. More information is available at mantara.co for both patients and clinicians.


For further information


Visit: mantara.co E: info@mantara.co T: 020 3818 5875


ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE Take control of your health in 2026


Hampden Sports Clinic is one of Scotland’s leading health and rehabilitation clinics


The clinic first opened in February 2002 and welcomes everyone from elite athletes to weekend warriors. The main clinic at Barclay’s


Hampden offers access to a multi-disciplinary team of health professionals ready to kick-start your journey to a better you in 2026. Whether you have an injury, want


to smash your PB or simply want to get off the sofa pain-free, the team at Hampden are here to help.


SERVICES INCLUDE: • Physiotherapy including pre- and post-joint replacement


• Physiotherapy for women • Focused shockwave therapy for tendinopathy


• Podiatry & biomechanics including use of 3D computer technology for gait analysis


• Sports massage • Nutritional assessments and body composition analysis


• MSK (Musculoskeletal ) diagnostic ultrasound


• Injection therapy including Ostenil (hyaluronic acid) and Arthrosamid


• Health & fitness testing including VO2max and exercise ECG with doctor on site and all tests reported by a consultant cardiologist


• Blood tests for a variety of health concerns


• Executive/occupational health medicals


Whether you have an injury, want to smash your PB or simply want to get off the sofa pain-free, the team at Hampden are here to help


Tere are satellite clinics in both the West End of Glasgow and the city centre


In addition to the main clinic at


Barclays Hampden, the organisation also has satellite clinics in both the West End of Glasgow and the city centre offering physiotherapy and sports massage. Hampden’s tailored Health and


Cardiac Plus packages are ideal for those who wish to begin a fitness journey or are concerned about any health-related issues. Both packages feature a 45-minute appointment with a sport and exercise medicine doctor followed by the gold standard laboratory measure of aerobic fitness on the treadmill or bike (VO2max) while an ECG records your heart’s activity. The Health package features an advanced bloods panel examining overall health while the Cardiac Plus package also includes blood tests for specific cardiac risk markers as well as a virtual consultation with the clinic’s consultant cardiologist to review your results and discuss any required lifestyle modifications. The team look forward to helping you achieve your goals in 2026.


For further information


For prices or to book any of the services, phone 0141 616 6161 or visit hampdensportsclcinic.com To contact the team, email info@hampdensportsclinic.com


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