General health

• Passport Santé: This website offers information on a wide variety of topics related to health & wellness.
• e-Connects (MedicAlert): This monthly online newsletter, produced by the Canadian Medic Alert Foundation, includes health & wellness information in their "Health & Wellness Corner", and healthy recipes under "Featured Recipes". It is not just for people with allergies - but for anyone who wants to maintain a healthy lifestyle!
• The Globe & Mail (online newspaper): The Globe Life section has information about the latest health and fitness news and trends, plus nutrition advice. 
• Jane E. Brody is the Personal Health columnist for The New York Times. She has degrees in biochemistry and science writing. Read her articles on health and nutrition.
• Santé et Services Sociaux Quebec
• Health Canada

Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue. This leads to increased bone fragility and risk of fracture (broken bones).

Osteoporosis does not develop overnight. You can lose bone mass steadily for many years without experiencing any symptoms until a bone fractures. It is therefore often referred to as the 'silent thief'.

• It affects both genders and can strike at any age.
• Fractures from osteoporosis are most likely to occur in the wrist, spine, shoulder and hip.      
• Women and men alike begin to lose bone in their mid-30s; as they approach menopause, women lose bone at a greater rate, from 2-3 per cent per year. 
• At least 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men will suffer from an osteoporotic fracture during their lifetime.
• Osteoporosis causes 70-90% of 30,000 hip fractures annually.
• Twenty-eight per cent of women and 37% of men who suffer a hip fracture will die within the following year.

Nutrition, healthy eating habits and physical activity play a very important role in maintaining strong bones.

Keep your bones healthy by:

• Getting the recommended daily intake of calcium and vitamin D.
• Exercising regularly: include weight bearing activity such as walking.
• Avoiding smoking, and excessive amounts of alcohol and caffeine.
• Visit Osteoporosis Canada and HealthandBone.Ca for the latest information on how to maintain strong and healthy bones.

• Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety: One of the many useful resources to be found on the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety's site is this list of exercises for a healthy back.
• Reduce falls and resulting fractures with muscle strengthening & balance training: Dr. Lora Giangregorio - McGill's 2015 Bloomberg Manulife Prize for the Promotion of Active Health - has developed a booklet "Too Fit to Fracture" and an exercise and osteoporosis video series.

In Canada, an estimated 62,000 strokes occur each year – that’s one every nine minutes! Unfortunately, 50% of adult Quebecers do not know any signs of stroke and only 6% recognize all three signs. Learning the signs of stroke and acting fast can mean the difference between life and death.

For more information, including a video showing what a stroke looks like - go to the Heart and Stroke Foundation's page on Stroke Signs.

Learn to recognize the signs of a heart attack so you can react quickly to save a life. Warning signs can vary from person to person and they may not always be sudden or severe.

• High blood pressure affects one in five Canadians and is the number one risk factor for stroke and a major risk factor for heart disease. The Heart & Stroke Foundation's Blood Pressure Action Plan can be accessed by reviewing their Pamphlet on Managing your Blood Pressure.  It includes an online risk assessment. (Note: Always consult your physician regarding any medical condition.)

Did you know that heart disease is the most common cause of death for women? According to Wendy Wray, nurse director of the Women's Heart Health Initiative at the Royal Victoria Hospital, women tend to put off seeking medical attention as they think it is something else.  Wendy Wray runs the Women's Heart Health Initiative - a prevention program for women to learn about their heart health and to make lifestyle changes before something goes wrong. Find out more about Wendy Wray's research (January 25, 2015 article in the Montreal Gazette) and learn more about the Women's Heart Health Program.

It is important for every woman to know about their risk factors and recognize the signs of heart disease and stroke. The Heart and Stroke Foundation strives to improve women's cardiovascular health through a number of initiatives. For more information visit their site to learn more about the risks that women face. 

• Changing the face of men's health: The Movember Foundation - a global organization spreading awareness about men's health. Check out Movember Canada.
• Knowledge Prevention - Early Detection: A few simple steps you can take to help improve your chance of living a happy and healthy life.
• Canadian Men’s Health Foundation presents "Don’t Change Much", a new social movement motivating men to live healthier with easy tips they can act on. It's just for the guys.

• The Canadian Women's Health Network's FAQ includes links to resources, organizations, and research projects on a variety of women’s health topics.
• Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation: Breast Health 101. Take the quiz and learn valuable information!

• Canadian Diabetes Association: Find out about the symptoms and signs of diabetes, take a questionnaire to find out if you are at risk, and learn some important steps that you can take to prevent diabetes on the Canadian Diabetes Association's website.
• For more information about diabetes (prevention, risks etc.), read Diabetes and You
• Take the online test and know your risk
• Learn more about diabetes (symptoms, risk factors, prevention), and healthy living resources at the Canadian Diabetes Association and also Diabetes Québec.
• Check out these free webinars from the Canadian Diabetes Association

The number of people with type 2 (late onset) diabetes is increasing dramatically due to an aging population, rising obesity rates and a sedentary lifestyle.  On March 14, registered dietician Mireille Moreau reviewed dietary habits we can change today to reduce our risk of developing this rapidly increasing chronic disease.  Check out a copy of her Type 2 diabetes risk reduction presentation.

For more information about fibre in the diet and the glycemic index, read:

• Fibre and diabetes
• Glycemic index