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Message from Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health
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Arthritis Awareness Month
September 2011
Arthritis is one of the most common chronic conditions in Canada. Some forms can be prevented and that's why I encourage Canadians to learn more about this condition during Arthritis Awareness Month.
This month is an opportunity to learn about arthritis, methods of prevention, symptoms, and approaches to living with it.
There are more than 100 types of arthritis that affect the joints, tissues that surround the joints, and other connective tissue. People with arthritis typically experience pain, aching, stiffness, and swelling in their joints, that can make everyday activities difficult or painful. Over four million Canadians aged 15 and older live with arthritis. Close to three in five Canadians with arthritis are of working age; under 64 years old.
As our population ages, the number of Canadians living with arthritis is expected to increase substantially. For this reason, it is important to adopt a healthy, active lifestyle to help prevent certain types of arthritis and reduce the effects of all types. For example; regular physical activity will improve joint flexibility. Maintaining a healthy weight can delay the onset and reduce the severity of symptoms. 
Canada's Physical Activity Guide and Canada's Food Guide are excellent resources looking to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
The Government of Canada is providing funding for four research teams to study the effects of exercise on the body and its role in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases including arthritis. The Government has invested close to $196 million in arthritis research through CIHR in the last ten years and $20 million in 2009-10 alone.
The Public Health Agency of Canada tracks arthritis rates to help develop programs and policies to prevent and manage the effects of arthritis. In 2010, the Agency released Life with Arthritis in Canada: A personal and public health challenge, providing an overview of arthritis in Canada and its effects on Canadians.
To learn more about arthritis, visit the websites of the Public Health Agency of Canada and The Arthritis Society.
Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of Health
Government of Canada
