Arthritis Research Canada has launched a campaign to create awareness about the most costly chronic disease in this country: arthritis.
There are over 100 different forms of arthritis. It impacts six million Canadians of ALL ages, including children. It costs the economy an estimated 33 billion per year and leads to more deaths than HIV/Aids, melanoma and asthma combined.
CHML's Ted Michaels spoke Olympic snow boarder Spencer O'Brien, who was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis – a serious autoimmune disease whereby the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the joints – at age 25 and just months before the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. At the time, she was world champion and considered a medal favourite.
