How can technology increase your risk of developing osteoporosis? Well it’s not the use of technology itself that increases the risk of osteoporosis, but the sedentary life style that is a by product of using technology. In an educational article on the Medical News Today website it was predicted that osteoporosis would increase because people are living longer and have a lead a more sedentary lifestyle now than ever before. This was based on a 2009 study in Europe and if anything there are more people forced into a sedentary now than 5 years ago as technology is so much (Read More)

Officially, the word osteoporosis means “porous bones”. The condition causes bones to become thin, weak, and brittle, with many holes inside of them that resemble a sponge. Osteoporosis makes bones much more prone to breakage. In many instances, people with this condition can fracture a bone doing nothing more than bending over, coughing, or suffering a mild fall. Symptoms In the early stages of osteoporosis, people usually do not experience any pain, nor do they have other symptoms that might alert them that a problem exists. The symptoms generally become noticeable once the bones have already weakened.   Stooped posture (Read More)

Most people immediately associate calcium as the most important mineral for maintaining healthy bones and take calcium supplements for healthy bones. Calcium is certainly very important for bone health. However there is another mineral that is often overlooked that is also important for healthy bones – the mineral magnesium. Magnesium is also highly ranked  in  importance for the body  to function properly.  Magnesium is needed in the body primarily for bones, muscles and the nervous system. However, it is used in more than 300 different important biochemical reactions in our bodies and is absolutely essential for health and wellness. Research (Read More)

Secondary osteoporosis is a term given when  another medical condition or other medications cause  bones to thin leading to the development of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis occurring as a result of the treatment of another disease or condition, or the condition itself is referred to as secondary osteoporosis. Some diseases that can contribute to osteoporosis are: Cushing’s syndrome Hyperthyroidism Sex hormone deficiency in both men and women Malabsorption syndrome Type 1 diabetes Turner syndrome Spinal cord injury   In addition to medical conditions, some medications can increase the risk of developing osteoporosis. In particular the class of drugs referred to as glucocorticoids (Read More)

Osteoporosis like any chronic disease may bring with it some emotional and physical barriers to your life. Emotionally it may threaten your past roles and responsibilities. Life patterns may have to change. Such as if as a wife and mother you were used to hosting the regular Sunday night family get together, you may need to make it an afternoon coffee gathering or allow your children to take over that role. Or, if you as a husband and father were ‘mister fix-it’ you may need to help find a new, reliable handyman for the family to call on but you (Read More)

On February 18th the  co-authors of The Osteoporosis Book were the guest speakers at an educational forum held by the Vancouver Central Chapter of CARP(Canadian Association of Retired Persons) which was held at Tapestry at Wesbrook Village, UBC. Vancouver.     The event, entitled Osteoporosis Love Your Bones Forum, began with a talk from  the guest speakers Gwen Ellert, RN, MEd, Alan Low, PharmD, CCD, and John Wade MD, FRCPC . After the presentation  a question and answer period was held with the co authors of The Osteoporosis Book as the panel.     The Love Your Bones forum was (Read More)

Osteoporosis is called the silent disease as often people don’t realize that they have it until they break or fracture a bone A first step in finding out whether you are  at risk of osteoporosis is to take a fracture risk assessment. This can be done by reading The Osteoporosis Book and carrying out the risk assessment, or by going on the Internet to use a risk assessment calculator. If you think you are at risk of having the disease, you can go to your doctor and ask to be assessed for a diagnosis of osteoporosis. Among other tests the (Read More)

If you have osteoporosis and need to travel, it is important to avoid stiffness and sore and aching muscles as much as possible. Here are some things you can do while traveling to keep your body limber. When not sleeping, try to move around as much as possible, about every half hour.  This not only prevents stiff and sore joints and muscles, it also prevents blood clots from developing in your legs.   Spending a few moments getting some exercise and doing stretching at regular intervals will also help to keep away stiffness. Here are some suggestions of ways you (Read More)

Trains, Planes and Automobiles The old saying “Getting there is half the fun” can be true, especially if you are properly prepared.  Consider these suggestions for your trip to and from your holiday destination. If you have osteoporosis and plan to travel make note of these preparation tips   1) Prepare well – A good night’s sleep is essential before traveling. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing and carry a light sweater to adjust for a cool aircraft, bus or train. Pack essentials, such as medications in their original containers, contact lens supplies, an extra pair of glasses, and a small flashlight (Read More)

If you have osteoporosis and are planning to travel it is important to be prepared well in advance. The best way to do this is to create a list so you can be sure that nothing will be forgotten, and that your travel experience will be as smooth as possible. It is never too early to start making a detailed list of the things you will need to make your trip as easy and enjoyable as possible. You should also maintain a file of important papers, contacts, identification and travel documents.   We become so accustomed to our daily routines (Read More)