March 2009 - Posts

• Patients feeling abandoned, AIDS committee says

  Patients with HIV/AIDS are not getting the special care they require, the Newfoundland and Labrador AIDS Committee says. Read More... Posted Mar 31 2009, 09:27 AM by CBC | Health News

• Classroom exercise doesn't keep children trim: study

  In-class exercise programs may not be helping children to shed excess pounds but the activities still carry health benefits, say researchers who weighed the evidence. Read More... Posted Mar 31 2009, 07:38 AM by CBC | Health News

• Fighting childhood obesity: Is phys-ed enough?

  The combination of a car-friendly culture and popular sedentary activities like watching TV or playing video games make it unsurprising that at least 25 per cent of Canadians between the ages of two and 17 are overweight, according to Statistics Canada... Posted Mar 31 2009, 07:30 AM by CBC | Health News

• N.B. midwives still waiting for recognition

  Midwives in New Brunswick are still waiting for the province to live up to its promise to regulate their industry. Read More... Posted Mar 30 2009, 08:47 AM by CBC | Health News

• $1M more in ambulance service needed: P.E.I. medical director

  P.E.I.'s director of medical programs is looking for another $1 million for ambulance service in next month's provincial budget. Read More... Posted Mar 30 2009, 04:58 AM by CBC | Health News

• Health Canada puts foot down on electronic cigarettes

  Health Canada is warning people not to use so-called "electronic smoking" products, and has instructed businesses not to promote or sell them until the government has evaluated their safety. Read More... Posted Mar 27 2009, 12:40 PM by CBC | Health News

• Stop smoking before 15th week of pregnancy, cut risk of premature birth: study

  Australian researchers say women who stop smoking before 15 weeks of pregnancy cut their risk of premature birth and having small babies to the same risk experienced by non-smokers. Read More... Posted Mar 27 2009, 08:29 AM by CBC | Health News

• Transit use associated with better fitness, say Canadian researchers

  People who use public transit are three times more likely to meet fitness guidelines than those who don't, say researchers at the University of British Columbia. Read More... Posted Mar 27 2009, 07:12 AM by CBC | Health News

• MD recruitment initiatives 'a start': medical association

  New measures in Newfoundland and Labrador's latest budget to recruit new doctors may not be enough to solve chronic shortages, physicians say. Read More... Posted Mar 27 2009, 07:01 AM by CBC | Health News

• Wait before pouring tea to limit throat cancer risk, doctors propose

  Drinking very hot tea may increase the risk of throat cancer, according to Iranian doctors who say knowing about the link could help prevent cases. Read More... Posted Mar 26 2009, 03:14 PM by CBC | Health News

• Watch out - your pet could send you to hospital

  Beloved Fido and Fluffy are behind an estimated 86,000 falls that send people to emergency, according to a new U.S. government study. Read More... Posted Mar 26 2009, 02:11 PM by CBC | Health News

• Government of Canada Supports Teaching Canadian Physicians More About First Nations, Inuit and Métis Health

  Medical Educational Modules in First Nations, Inuit and Métis Health were launched today by the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Federal Minister of Health, together with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) and The Indigenous Physicians... Posted Mar 26 2009, 10:00 AM by Canada News Centre - Health Canada Filed under: Society and Culture, Persons

• Indigenous health care lessons unveiled for doctors

  Medical residents and practising doctors will be offered educational programs on First Nations, Inuit and Métis health topics under a pilot project announced Wednesday. Read More... Posted Mar 26 2009, 08:06 AM by CBC | Health News

• Circumcision protects against 2 common sexually transmitted diseases: studies

  Circumcision protects heterosexual men against genital herpes and a virus that causes genital warts and cancer but had no effect on the bacteria that causes syphilis, two trials in Uganda show. Read More... Posted Mar 25 2009, 01:01 PM by CBC | Health News

• U.S. abortion, vasectomy rates rise as economy falters

  Doctors in the U.S. are reporting an increased demand for abortions or vasectomies during the recession. Read More... Posted Mar 25 2009, 09:38 AM by CBC | Health News

• Drinking water rules 'schizophrenic,' advocacy group says

  There is a policy failure in the way the federal government regulates - or doesn't - the water Canadians drink, the head of the Polaris Institute advocacy group says. Read More... Posted Mar 25 2009, 08:25 AM by CBC | Health News

• CFIA delays implementation of key food-testing requirement

  The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has delayed an important element of its new listeria-testing policy in meat processing plants. Read More... Posted Mar 25 2009, 05:55 AM by CBC | Health News

• The longer you're homeless, the sicker you get: survey

  A survey of homeless people in Halifax suggests many have at least three chronic illnesses and the longer they're on the street the worse they get. Read More... Posted Mar 25 2009, 05:54 AM by CBC | Health News

• Canadian women receiving extra ultrasounds: maternity report

  Canadian mothers are satisfied with their labour and birthing experience, but they could be receiving more ultrasounds and fetal monitoring than necessary, says a federal study released Tuesday Read More... Posted Mar 24 2009, 11:55 AM by CBC | Health News

• Health Canada and Canadian Standards Association Announce New Standard for Snow Sport Helmets

  The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, together with the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), today announced the availability of a new CSA standard for recreational skiing and snowboarding helmets, as well as the establishment of an accompanying... Posted Mar 24 2009, 11:30 AM by Canada News Centre - Health Canada Filed under: Health and Safety

• Telecare Initiative Moves Forward

  Nova Scotians will have easy access to important health information from the comfort of their home with a new service that will allow people to talk to a registered nurse over the phone. Read More... Posted Mar 24 2009, 10:20 AM by Government of Nova Scotia News Releases - Health

• New standards for ski helmets introduced

  Skiers and snowboarders wondering what helmet can best protect them from head injuries will soon be able to buy ones tested and approved by the Canadian Standards Association. Read More... Posted Mar 24 2009, 06:02 AM by CBC | Health News

• Government of Canada Supports Initiative to Provide More French-Speaking Health Professionals

  The Government of Canada will provide further support for Francophone students pursuing post-secondary educational opportunities in the health care field. As a result, more Francophones across Canada will have greater access to health services in the... Posted Mar 23 2009, 01:30 PM by Canada News Centre - Health Canada Filed under: Health and Safety, Economics and Industry

• Eating quarter pound of red meat a day raises mortality risk: study

  People over 50 who eat large amounts of red and processed meats face a higher risk of death from heart disease and cancer than those who eat the lowest amounts of hamburgers and hot dogs, a study of more than 500,000 people confirms. Read More... Posted Mar 23 2009, 12:00 PM by CBC | Health News

• Anti-smoking advocates in huff over Halifax paper's cigarette ads

  Anti-smoking advocates in Halifax are concerned over what they say is the increasing frequency of cigarette advertisements that have appeared in the city's free alternative weekly paper, The Coast. Read More... Posted Mar 20 2009, 07:40 PM by CBC | Health News

• Advice on alcohol use in pregnancy to come, doctors say

  Canadian doctors are trying to reduce the number of birth defects resulting from women who drink alcohol during pregnancy. Read More... Posted Mar 19 2009, 11:44 AM by CBC | Health News

• Aggressive end-of-life care more common among faithful: study

  People who are religious are more likely to choose life-prolonging care when they are near death, a U.S. study suggests. Read More... Posted Mar 17 2009, 02:00 PM by CBC | Health News

• Head injuries

  When does a knock to the head become a cause for concern and medical attention? Read More... Posted Mar 17 2009, 12:34 PM by CBC | Health News

• Condoms won't stop spread of AIDS, says Pope

  Condoms are not the answer to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa, Pope Benedict said Tuesday while on his way to the continent for a seven-day visit. Read More... Posted Mar 17 2009, 06:41 AM by CBC | Health News

• Nova Scotia's midwifery program exclusionary, longtime midwife says

  Nova Scotia's recent move to regulate midwifery and fund services in only three areas is forcing a 21-year veteran out of the business. Read More... Posted Mar 17 2009, 06:23 AM by CBC | Health News

• Midwifery Act Effective March 18

  Mothers-to-be in Nova Scotia will have access to publicly-funded midwifery services as the province begins the integration of midwives to primary maternity care teams. Read More... Posted Mar 16 2009, 02:04 PM by Government of Nova Scotia News Releases - Health

• Denmark compensates women who developed cancer on night shift

  The Danish government has begun to compensate women who developed breast cancer after long spells of working night shifts. Read More... Posted Mar 16 2009, 01:19 PM by CBC | Health News

• Advice to eat fish hurts environment: scientists

  A team of Canadian scientists is calling dietary guidelines to eat more fish unwise and shortsighted. Read More... Posted Mar 16 2009, 12:42 PM by CBC | Health News

• Masks in smoggy cities a good idea, study says

  Wearing a face mask in smog-clouded cities is a good idea, a study published Friday says, but some masks are more effective than others. Read More... Posted Mar 13 2009, 07:23 AM by CBC | Health News

• Government of Canada Takes Further Steps to Improve Safety of Health Products

  The Government of Canada has launched a new social marketing campaign encouraging Canadian consumers to use MedEffect¿ Canada to report suspected side effects from health products and access the latest safety information. Read More... Posted Mar 12 2009, 05:02 PM by Canada News Centre - Health Canada Filed under: Health and Safety, Information and Communications

• 'Gelatin brain' stars in ThinkFirst safety presentations

  Consumer safety organization ThinkFirst Canada expects to nearly double the number of Grade 5 students who will see its presentation on preventing brain and spinal cord injuries this year. Read More... Posted Mar 12 2009, 10:13 AM by CBC | Health News

• Breathing smog over long-term can lead to an early grave: study

  Smoggy ozone pollution not only sickens, but long-term exposure can be deadly, say Canadian and American researchers who conducted a study of the chronic impact of ozone on human health. Read More... Posted Mar 11 2009, 01:16 PM by CBC | Health News

• Model forecasts 'substantial' health benefits from small cut in salt intake

  For every gram of salt that Americans cut from their daily diets, there would be 200,000 fewer deaths over a decade, researchers said Wednesday. Read More... Posted Mar 11 2009, 12:00 PM by CBC | Health News

• Cheaper female condom gets OK in U.S.

  A cheaper, quieter version of a female condom has gained approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, its manufacturer announced Wednesday. Read More... Posted Mar 11 2009, 07:46 AM by CBC | Health News

• Births soar in N.L. following years of decline

  The number of babies born in Newfoundland and Labrador jumped significantly in 2008, newly released data show. Read More... Posted Mar 11 2009, 01:18 AM by CBC | Health News

• Vitamin C may help ward off risk of gout in men: study

  Men who take in more vitamin C appear to be less likely to develop gout, a painful type of arthritis, 20-year study suggests. Read More... Posted Mar 10 2009, 10:07 AM by CBC | Health News

• So long to shuteye: Insomnia can be long lasting

  Getting the odd bad night's sleep is one thing, but new Quebec research suggests insomnia can be a chronic problem lasting more than a year. Read More... Posted Mar 09 2009, 01:17 PM by CBC | Health News

• Rising temperatures increase risk of severe headache, ER visits suggest

  Higher temperatures not only prompt people to seek shade, but the rising mercury might also bring on headaches, a large-scale study suggests. Read More... Posted Mar 09 2009, 10:47 AM by CBC | Health News

• B.C. government restricts trans fat

  B.C. will become the first province in Canada to restrict trans fat in foods prepared and served at restaurants, Mary Polak, the minister of Healthy Living and Sport announced Saturday. Read More... Posted Mar 08 2009, 10:55 AM by CBC | Health News

• Government of Canada Supports National Initiative to Help Recruit and Retain Nurses

  The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, today announced federal support to help recruit and retain nurses in Canada. Read More... Posted Mar 06 2009, 01:52 PM by Canada News Centre - Health Canada Filed under: Health and Safety, Economics and Industry

• Federal government wants regulation of printer pigment, solvents

  A pigment used in some printer cartridges and three other substances face potential regulatory action, the federal government said Friday. Read More... Posted Mar 06 2009, 12:01 PM by CBC | Health News

• Fighting 50: Boosting exercise can extend life of older men

  Men who start exercising regularly in their 50s may extend their lifespans by more than two years - about as much time as men who stop smoking, a new study suggests. Read More... Posted Mar 06 2009, 11:30 AM by CBC | Health News

• Pricey cancer drug too rich for Nova Scotia dad

  With money running out, a Port Hawkesbury man battling cancer says he faces the choice of either feeding his family or treating his illness, a choice a cancer group says people shouldn't be forced to make. Read More... Posted Mar 06 2009, 07:15 AM by CBC | Health News

• Catching some rays

  Heading off for a quick week in the sun? You might be thinking of prepping that sun-deprived body of yours before you head to the beach. Perhaps you're thinking of taking up the local tanning salon on one of those introductory offers that keep arriving... Posted Mar 06 2009, 05:18 AM by CBC | Health News

• Strained marriages affect women and men differently: study

  Unhappily married women are more likely than unhappily married men to suffer high blood pressure, obesity and high blood sugar, putting them at greater risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes, say U.S. researchers. Read More... Posted Mar 05 2009, 04:19 AM by CBC | Health News