Arthritis Research Education Series Ep. 18 – Osteoporosis & Bone Health

Credit: Arthritis Research Canada

Around 2.3 million Canadians live with osteoporosis, a medical condition that increases their risk of breaking bones. It’s often called a silent disease because people can live with it for years before receiving a diagnosis.

“Much like high blood pressure, patients often don’t know they have osteoporosis until they experience life-changing fractures,” said Dr. Raheem Kherani, a rheumatologist and clinician investigator at Arthritis Research Canada.

It’s an experience Mary Point knows well. Before learning she had osteoporosis, she broke wrists, fingers, toes, ribs and more. Then, after a serious fall, Mary broke her pelvis and ended up in the emergency room.

“The ER doctor looked at my list of breakages and felt it was time for a checkup and to see if there might be a little something more going on,” said Mary, who is a Musqueam Elder and the Director of Indigenous Relations at YVR. “Maybe there was no need for me to break that many bones before finding out I had osteoporosis.”

Dr. Kherani and other researchers at Arthritis Research Canada agree. They are conducting research to develop programs to diagnose people with osteoporosis earlier, to improve quality of care in remote and Indigenous communities in British Columbia, and to make medications accessible.