This month the Senior Spotlight is being aimed squarely at the debilitating disease that is Osteoporosis. In Canada, approximately one out of four women and one out of eight men over the age of 50 have osteoporosis. It can cause painful fractures, disability or deformity. Osteoporosis is often referred to as "the silent thief" because bone loss occurs without symptoms.

What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue. This leads to increased bone fragility and risk of fracture (broken bones), particularly of the hip, spine and wrist. Osteoporosis is sometimes confused with osteoarthritis, because the names are similar.

Osteoporosis is a bone disease; osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints and surrounding tissue.When bones become weakened by osteoporosis, simple movements ñ such as bending over to pick up a heavy bag of groceries or sneezing forcefully ñ can lead to fracture. Wrist, spine and hip fractures are the most common fractures associated with osteoporosis.

Hip fractures related to osteoporosis are a serious problem in seniors, resulting in death in up to 20 percent of cases and disability in up to 50 percent of those who survive.

Following a hip fracture, many seniors can no longer live independently, and may require nursing home care.

What are the major risk factors?

No single cause for osteoporosis has been identified. However, certain factors seem to play a role in the development of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis Canada (OC) recommends that all postmenopausal women and men over 50, and all individuals over the age of 65 be assessed for the presence of risk factors for osteoporosis.

* Age 65 or older

* Vertebral compression fracture

* Fracture with minimal trauma after age 40

* Family history of osteoporotic fracture (especially if your mother had a hip fracture)

* Long-term (more than 5 months continuously) use of medications such as prednisone, cortisone and anticonvuslants

* Medical conditions such as celiac disease, Crohnís disease

* Tendency to fall

* Osteopenia (bone mineral density (BMD) that is lower than normal peak BMD but not low enough to be classified as osteoporosis) apparent on x-ray

* Hypogonadism (low testosterone in men, loss of menstrual periods in younger women)

* Early menopause (before age 45)How can I get tested?

Arisk factor assessment is an important first step in alerting you to your risk for osteoporosis. However, it is not a scientific way to predict whether your bones will become porous. This is why medical testing is so important. The tests are known as Bone Mineral Density (BMD) tests. These tests are safe, painless and accurately measure the density of your bones. A BMD test can tell you whether or not you have osteoporosis and how likely you are to develop it in the future, and can help you to make decisions that may prevent fractures or further bone loss.

Is it preventable?

Yes! It is possible to prevent, delay or reduce bone loss through healthy habits. High daily intakes of Calcium and Vitamin D and regular exercise are crucial in the fight against Osteoporosis.

Anyone for Milk, Cheese, Nuts and Tofu?

Calcium is important for building strong bones in childhood, maintaining bone density in adulthood and reducing the risk of fracture as we age. In fact, every cell in our body needs calcium to function properly. Individuals over the age of 50 need 1000 to 1500 mg of calcium each day.

As you age, your body doesn't absorb calcium as well, so it's very important to have calcium-rich foods in your diet. If you don't eat enough calcium-rich foods, you may require a calcium supplement.

Have more fun in the sun!

Calcium is not easily absorbed by the body without vitamin D. Sunlight is the main source of natural vitamin D. Most seniors don't get enough of this vitamin, and a daily supplement of 400 to 800 IU may be recommended (especially in Canada where there's little sun intensity during the winter months).

Where can I find out more?

For more information...Help, support, referral and information can be obtained from Osteoporosis Canada at 1-800-463- 6842 or (416) 696-2663 (Toronto).

To obtain your copy of The Safe Living Guide, call(613) 952-7606, or visit www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/seniorsaines/ pubs/safelive/

Valuable information on osteoporosis, nutrition and exercise can also be found on the Internet:
www.hc-sc.gc.ca
www.paguide.com
www.osteoporosis.ca
www.phac-aspc.gc.ca
www.dietitians.ca
www.infoaging.org

Residents with concerns, questions and ideas are encouraged to contact either Johanna Wilson at jwilson@ orangeville.ca, or Councillor Mary Rose on 519-941-7654.