Health and Wellness Blog

November is Osteoporosis month and Osteoporosis Canada recommends that everyone over the age of 50 should take a height measurement annually. Why? While it's normal to lose a little height as we get older, losing 2cm or more may be a warning sign of a possible spine fracture due to osteoporosis. 

So how can you tell the difference between normal height loss and height loss due to osteoporosis?  By keeping track of your height! For most accurate measurements, ask your healthcare provider to measure and record your height. Check out the Osteoporosis Canada website for a template to record your measurements. And if the height loss is more than 2cm or 3/4" in height, ask your healthcare provider to be checked for osteoporosis. 

By the way, osteoporosis is not just a woman's disease. While more women than men will suffer a broken bone from osteoporosis, it is also a serious health issue for men. According to Osteoporosis Canada, approximately 30,000 hip fractures occur in Canada each year. From these, over a quarter occur in men and proportionally more men than women die as a result of a hip fracture within a year and/or will require care in a long-term facility.

For more information on prevention and treatments of osteoporosis check out the wide array of books at the Toronto Public Library.