For many people, developing a disease is just part of getting old, when in fact there are many ways to fight off age-associated diseases well before we hit retirement. This is especially true of osteoporosis, a disease that affects a huge number of Canadian women and men. “There’s a history of thinking that this is a little old ladies disease, that nothing can be done about it, and that it only affects women,” says Janet Choboter, executive director of the Manitoba Chapter of Osteoporosis Canada.
“None of that is true.”

“We refer to osteoporosis as a childhood disease manifested in older adulthood,” says Choboter. That’s easy enough to understand when you consider that peak bone mass is achieved in your early 20s.

“You want to build bones really strong when you’re young, so that when you’re older and life changes happen, your bones are better able to deal with any challenges that might come along,” she advises.

One way to build strong bones from a young age is by consuming enough calcium. If
calcium stores are low, and there’s not enough being taken into your system, your body will take it from your bones, explains Choboter. This can lead to an over-withdrawal from our bone bank, leading to a bankruptcy in health, and disease.

Osteoporosis does not develop overnight. Loss of bone mass occurs steadily over many years. It’s for that reason that the disease is often referred to as “the silent thief.” We all have a deficiency in our bone mass, to one degree or another. For some, the deficiency becomes so critical that osteoporosis develops.

Often developing without symptoms, the disease is characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue, which leads to bone fragility and risk of fractures (broken bones). But while low-stores of calcium may put us at risk, Choboter says that no one knows precisely what causes the disease.

What is clear is that it continues to affect Canadians. By the age of 50, one in four women and one in eight men will have developed osteoporosis.

Health Links
According to wellness consultant Ami Bakerman, research shows a clear link between the body’s pH level and bone health, noting that a diet high in acid-forming foods increases the risk of developing osteoporosis and other diseases.

“When we eat or drink anything acidic (such as meat, dairy, or starch), our bodies need to neutralize it in order to digest it,” she explains. “The body does this by using what nutrients are availableto it, like calcium from our tissues and bones.”

A good way to bring about better diet balance is to increase the intake of alkalizing foods, like fresh fruits and vegetables. Bakerman also recommends a few specific products, including OsteoDenx by Nikken, Boron by Life Line, and Artho-Bone Vegan by AOR.

Vitamins may also help boost bone health. Primary Osteoporosis is what people get from lack of calcium, vitamin D, and exercise, explains Choboter. In response, Osteoporosis Canada recommends taking 800 international units (IU) of vitamin D every day. For people aged 50 and older, 1500 mg of calcium per day is recommended, and for 18 to 50 year olds, 1000 mg.

Strengthening the bones can be done through weight-bearing exercises (like walking, running and court sports), resistance training and impact sports. These activities are effective because of the pressure they put on your bones.

Secondary osteoporosis tends to pertain to people who get the disease because of a medication or another medical condition. “We believe that Secondary Osteoporosis is the more common of the two,” says Choboter.

Accidents Happen
“If a person has weak bones, it is more likely she can have bone fractures, most commonly of the wrist, hip, and vertebrae,” says Choboter.

There are approximately 4,000 hip fractures every year in Manitoba. Twenty per cent of women and 34 per cent of men die within the first year of a hip fracture and 50 per cent of the remainder will lose their independence.

“The incidents of people having a hip fracture and getting back into their normal life routines is quite low,” said Choboter. “That’s the result of osteoporosis – broken bones. Spinal and vertebral fractures are often undiagnosed, because they’re believed to be simple back pain.”

According to Osteoporosis Canada, the disease affects 1.4 million Canadians, including 78,000 Manitobans. The cost of treating osteoporosis in Canada each year is estimated to be $1.9 billion, mainly for long term, hospital and chronic care.

Diagnosing the Disease
Osteoporosis is diagnosed with a bone mineral density (BMD) test, which is similar to an ultrasound. Through waves, it tests how much mineralization is in your bones. In Manitoba, this test is available in Winnipeg and Brandon.

To get a BMD, you have to get a request from a doctor, as it is a provincial program. Although there used to be a nine-month waiting period for the test, most now wait about a month.

To help the public understand the risks, prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, the Manitoba Chapter of Osteoporosis Canada offers a speaker service to present to groups, called “Speaking of Bones.” Groups can have a speaker explain what osteoporosis is, how to know if you are at risk, how it is diagnosed, how to maintain healthy bones, the role of exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle, treatments, and how to live well with the disease.

For more information about osteoporosis or to book a speaker, contact the Manitoba Chapter of Osteoporosis Canada, at 4-353 Provencher Blvd. by calling 772-3498 or visit www.osteoporosis.ca.