Truro, N.S., group homes to be probed after reports of violence: minister

HALIFAX - Nova Scotia's minister of community services has ordered her staff to investigate a group of homes for the developmentally disabled in Truro after unionized workers reported violence between residents and towards staff....More

Students give Alberta premier air ticket to visit community affected by oilsands

EDMONTON - Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach has one more reason to fly north to see firsthand the health impacts of the oilsands....More

Maker of GlucaGen Hypokit recalls one lot of product used by diabetics

TORONTO - The maker of an injection kit for insulin-dependent diabetics is voluntarily recalling one lot of the kit, which is used in emergencies to treat severe low blood sugar reactions. Health Canada says Novo Nordisk Canada Inc....More

Higher levels of bisphenol A in urine associated with lower semen quality: study

TORONTO - A researcher who studied factory workers in China is reporting an association between higher levels of bisphenol A in urine and decreased semen quality....More

B.C. health advocates seek federal review of private medical clinic

VANCOUVER - Medicare advocates in Western Canada are demanding a federal review of Copeman Health Care, a private health clinic with offices in Vancouver and Calgary. B.C....More

Alberta tables new Health Act;critics call it PR fluff that avoids real problems

EDMONTON - The Alberta government has tabled its proposed revamped Health Act, and the minister responsible says it heralds a new era of public participation in the system....More

Experts call for malaria to be eliminated, but say without a vaccine, it may be impossible

LONDON - Eliminating malaria, the mosquito-borne scourge that kills more than 860,000 people a year, would be a dream come true for millions — but medical experts say right now that goal remains completely unrealistic....More

Canada's health spending in 2010 predicted to reach $192 billion: report

TORONTO - Total health-care spending in Canada this year is predicted to reach almost $192 billion, up almost five per cent over 2009, says a report by the Canadian Institute for Health Information....More

Report says diabetes to explode in B.C. in next decade, rising by 62 per cent

VANCOUVER - The Canadian Diabetes Association says a diabetes time bomb is ticking in British Columbia, with the rate of the disease expected to explode by 62 per cent over the next decade....More

More US adults aware they have high blood pressure, treating with medication: CDC

ATLANTA - More American adults are aware they have high blood pressure, and more are taking medicine to try to control it, according to a new government report released Wednesday. Yet the proportion of U.S....More

Fertility study says odds of pregnancy don't improve much after second in vitro treatment

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - More tries aren't necessarily better when it comes to in vitro fertilization. New research found that about 1 in 3 women had a baby the first time they tried a test tube embryo, and that improved to nearly 1 in 2 with a second try....More

Alberta orders shorter wait times for patients in ER, but doc says no cure

EDMONTON - Alberta Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky is ordering shorter wait times in hospital emergency rooms after a doctor warned of a potential collapse of the system....More

Abolishing anonymous sperm donation could kill donations: fertility experts

VANCOUVER - For Shawn Abrahim, donating sperm is a lot like giving blood — there's people out there who need it, but there's not enough to go around....More

3 provinces receive failing grade on special education for ADHD students: report

TORONTO - Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who live in Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia are at a dramatic educational disadvantage compared to their counterparts across the country, a national report card released Wednesday found....More

'Fit First' on APTN tackles fitness challenge from aboriginal perspective

WINNIPEG - Sugar is no friend to aboriginals, Kent Brown notes wryly. The lean former champion boxer doesn't show personal signs of the carnage it has inflicted on his people, who suffer from significantly higher rates of obesity and diabetes than...More

Higher levels of bisphenol A in urine associated with lower semen quality: study

TORONTO - A researcher who studied factory workers in China is reporting an association between higher levels of bisphenol A in urine and decreased semen quality....More

Bedbugs scare off New York tourists, threaten city's $30B industry

NEW YORK, N.Y. - New York City's bedbugs have climbed out of bed and marched into landmarks like the Empire State Building, Bloomingdale's and Lincoln Center, causing fresh anxiety among tourists who are cancelling vacations planned for the height of the holiday season....More

Alberta's opposition NDP calls for emergency debate on hospital overcrowding

EDMONTON - Alberta's health minister lashed back Monday as opposition critics presented letters showing doctors have warned the government for years of severe overcrowding in emergency wards....More

UN agency announces mass polio vaccination campaign in Africa

KAMPALA, Uganda - The World Health Organization on Tuesday announced a mass polio vaccination campaign in Africa, the same day Ugandan health officials announced an outbreak of the highly infectious disease....More

N.S. report says access to primary care key to unclogging emergency rooms

HALIFAX - A doctor asked to examine Nova Scotia's troubled emergency rooms says improved access to primary care is key to relieving pressure on the overall health system. In releasing his final report today Dr....More

Hundreds of new cholera cases reported in Haiti as death toll passes 280

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Hundreds of new cholera cases are appearing in Haiti as aid workers move to contain the outbreak. UN officials say 3,769 cases of the deadly diarrhea have been counted as of Tuesday....More

Doctor tasked with examining N.S. emergency room system to release report

HALIFAX - A doctor tasked with examining Nova Scotia's troubled emergency room system will release his final report today. Dr....More

Doctor offers prescription for Nova Scotia's stressed health system

HALIFAX - A doctor asked to examine Nova Scotia's troubled emergency rooms says the province needs to develop more collaborative practices to relieve the pressure on overcrowded and overworked emergency departments. Dr....More

Be still my beating heart: Speedy pulse rate linked to heart disease risk: study

TORONTO - Many things can speed up a person's heartbeat, including a sudden fright or drinking too much caffeine. But having a fast heart rate all the time could be a predictor of premature death in people with underlying cardiovascular disease, researchers suggest....More

Don't be tricked by unsafe treats: Tips for a safe Halloween from Health Canada

OTTAWA - An adult should always inspect the treats that children collect when they go door-to-door on Halloween night, says a reminder posted Monday by Health Canada....More

Councillors in Prince Albert dismiss idea of safe injection sites for drug users

PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. - A controversial proposal for a safe injection site in Prince Albert has been dismissed by city council....More

Canadian rugby team shows off skin, moustaches in calendar to aid good causes

TORONTO - The Canadian men's rugby team is showing some skin for a good cause. Rugby Canada is putting the finishing touches to an 18-month calendar that will help raise funds for the team's 2011 World Cup campaign, the non-profit Canadian Rugby Foundation...More

California voting on marijuana legalization amid reports that laws target blacks

WASHINGTON - The state of California could vote next week to legalize, regulate and tax marijuana, a move that some suggest could not only blaze a trail for more liberal weed laws across the country but also obliterate a longtime racial injustice....More

Blood vessel stiffness in obese kids a red flag for future heart disease: doctors

TORONTO - Obese children appear to have a blood vessel abnormality similar to what doctors see in much older adults with cardiovascular disease, a study has found. Lead author Dr. Kevin Harris, a cardiology fellow at B.C....More

Bedbugs scare off New York tourists, threaten city's $30B industry

NEW YORK, N.Y. - New York City's bedbugs have climbed out of bed and marched into landmarks like the Empire State Building, Bloomingdale's and Lincoln Center, causing fresh anxiety among tourists who are cancelling vacations planned for the height of the holiday season....More

Alberta's opposition NDP calls for emergency debate on hospital overcrowding

EDMONTON - Alberta's health minister lashed back Monday as opposition critics presented letters showing doctors have warned the government for years of severe overcrowding in emergency wards....More

Doctor tasked with examining N.S. emergency room system to release report

HALIFAX - A doctor tasked with examining Nova Scotia's troubled emergency room system will release his final report today. Dr....More

Canada to provide up to $1 million to help Haiti fight cholera outbreak

MONTREUX, Switzerland - Prime Minister Stephen Harper says Canada will help Haiti fight a cholera outbreak that's threatening to cripple the country....More

Baby dies 2 weeks after given wrong medication at Saskatoon hospital

SASKATOON - One of the four premature babies at Saskatoon's Royal University Hospital who was given insulin instead of heparin has died. But Dr. Laurentiu Givelichian says the cause wasn't from the insulin....More

Haiti's cholera outbreak spreads toward quake-ravaged Port-au-Prince

ST. MARC, Haiti - An outbreak of cholera has spread outside a rural valley in central Haiti, intensifying worries the disease could reach squalid tarp camps that house hundreds of thousands of earthquake survivors in the capital....More

Health reform expected to top agenda as Alberta legislature starts fall session

EDMONTON - Alberta's opposition politicians say it's time to give up on Premier Ed Stelmach's government ever solving health-care problems, adding they plan to use the fall legislature session to put forward solutions of their own....More

Harper, Sarkozy offer views on Francophonie's role and relevance

MONTREUX, Switzerland - What to do with the Francophonie, a collection of failing states, severely impoverished nations and rich western benefactors loosely bound together by a common language? Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Quebec Premier Jean Charest and...More

Haiti tries to contain cholera outbreak as disease creeps toward capital

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - A spreading cholera outbreak in rural Haiti threatened to outpace aid groups as they stepped up efforts, hoping to keep the disease from reaching the squalid camps of earthquake survivors in Port-au-Prince....More

Pediatricians urged to screen new moms for depression, which can slow babies developmentally

CHICAGO - An influential medical group says pediatricians should routinely screen new mothers for depression. Depression isn't just bad for moms: It can also harm their babies....More

Blood vessel stiffness in obese kids a red flag for future heart disease: doctors

TORONTO - Obese children appear to have a blood vessel abnormality similar to what doctors see in much older adults with cardiovascular disease, a study has found. Lead author Dr. Kevin Harris, a cardiology fellow at B.C....More

Manitoba daycare group asks for guidelines on how to deal with bedbugs

WINNIPEG - The Manitoba Child Care Association says some formal guidelines would help its members deal with the problem of bedbugs....More

Low-dose Aspirin could cut colon cancer risk but docs worried about side-effects

LONDON - A new analysis suggests that taking a low dose of Aspirin may modestly reduce the risk of developing colon cancer or dying of the disease....More

Internal glitch delays direct deposit payments to N.L. fee-for-service doctors

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - There was a small delay in electronic payments this week for about 800 fee-for-service physicians in Newfoundland and Labrador. The regular, direct-deposit payment due Wednesday was missed because of what was described as an internal delay....More

Health region defends deal that lets Saskatchewan Roughriders pay for quick MRIs

REGINA - The Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region says a premium paid by the Saskatchewan Roughriders for immediate MRIs for its players helps manage public wait lists for the diagnostic test....More

Harper must punish B.C. hospital user fees, federal Liberals say

VICTORIA - The federal Opposition Liberals and B.C. Opposition New Democrats are calling on Ottawa to stop the B.C. Liberal government from charging user fees at Vancouver area hospitals. Federal Liberal Health critic Ujjal Dosanjh said Thursday the B.C....More

Funding Lucentis will add pressure to N.S. health budget next year: minister

HALIFAX - Nova Scotia's health minister says she can't say whether something will have to be cut from her department's budget as a result of a recent decision to pay for Lucentis, a drug for age-related vision loss....More

Dog owners scramble after crackdown on unlicensed pets in Saskatchewan city

NORTH BATTLEFORD, Sask. - Attacks on humans by unlicensed dogs this fall in North Battleford, Sask., have prompted a crackdown on negligent pet owners in the city....More

Bruce Power using website to allay public fears about nuclear generator shipment

TIVERTON, Ont. - Bruce Power launched a website Thursday in its effort to persuade the public that its plan to recycle 16 steam generators is safe....More

eHealth redux: Auditor general says rules on consultants still not followed

TORONTO - Apologies to Ontario taxpayers were the order of the day Wednesday after the auditor general found hospitals still aren't following the rules on hiring consultants and taxpayers are still paying for their expensive restaurant meals and luxury hotel rooms....More

eHealth redux: Auditor general says rules on consultants still not followed

TORONTO - Health Minister Deb Matthews apologized to taxpayers Wednesday after the auditor general found Ontario hospitals still aren't following the rules on hiring consultants....More

eHealth redux: Auditor general says rules on consultants still not followed

TORONTO - The "fix was in" at the Ministry of Health when it came to awarding lucrative consulting contracts to favoured vendors, auditor general Jim McCarter said Wednesday as he released a special report on the health-care sector....More

Don't leave children unattended in strollers: Health Canada advisory

OTTAWA - Health Canada issued an advisory Wednesday reminding caregivers not to leave children unattended in strollers, as it could put them at risk for entrapment, asphyxiation or falls....More

Deaths of 4 infants prompt Graco recall of 2 million strollers

WASHINGTON - Baby gear maker Graco is recalling about two million strollers after receiving reports of four infant strangulations in the strollers. The U.S....More

Alberta to bring in charter for patients, but it won't be legally binding

EDMONTON - Alberta's health minister says he's bringing in a patients charter that commits the province to ensuring everyone gets timely care as part of a sweeping overhaul of legislation. But anyone seeking redress under such a charter can't go to court....More

Internal glitch delays direct deposit payments to N.L. fee-for-service doctors

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - There was a small delay in electronic payments this week for about 800 fee-for-service physicians in Newfoundland and Labrador. The regular, direct-deposit payment due Wednesday was missed because of what was described as an internal delay....More

Health region defends deal that lets Saskatchewan Roughriders pay for quick MRIs

REGINA - The Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region says a premium paid by the Saskatchewan Roughriders for immediate MRIs for its players helps manage public wait lists for the diagnostic test....More

Health Canada asks for voluntary ban on cadmium in kids' jewelry

OTTAWA - Health Canada is asking industry to voluntarily end the production, import and sale of children's jewelry containing cadmium. The government says tests show the metal is increasingly used as a substitute for lead in cheap, costume jewelry....More

Edmonton injury doctor heads group setting medical education standards

EDMONTON - An Edmonton researcher who has become a crusader for injury prevention is the new president of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Dr....More

Baby in hospital after being found in Calgary dumpster; police worried about mom

CALGARY - Calgary police are searching for the mother of a newborn baby boy found in a dumpster in the northwest part of the city. Det. Dean Nichol says the baby, who was taken to hospital, is no more than a few days old....More

Alberta caps fee hike at long-term care homes at 3 per cent in February

EDMONTON - Long-term care facilities in Alberta are raising their accommodation fees next year. The Alberta government says the hike is being capped at three per cent, or $1.65 per day, and is needed to "reflect increasing operating costs....More

Air Canada must create buffer zones for passengers with nut allergies: agency

OTTAWA - The Canadian Transportation Agency has released a decision outlining how Air Canada should accommodate travellers with peanut or nut allergies....More

Stuffing mixes recalled due to undeclared milk on label

OTTAWA - Consumers with allergies to milk are being asked to avoid eating a brand of stuffing mix which may contain milk not declared on the label....More

Smoke 'em if you've got 'em: no ban on smoking in Ontario apartments

TORONTO - A recommendation to let landlords ban smoking in rental apartments has been quickly shot down by the Ontario government....More

Deaths of 4 infants prompt Graco recall of 2 million strollers

WASHINGTON - Baby gear maker Graco is recalling about two million strollers after receiving reports of four infant strangulations in the strollers. The U.S....More

Sales of hallucinogenic salvia no longer legal in Canada

OTTAWA - Canada is no longer a safe legal haven for salvia divinorum, the potent hallucinogenic plant that is sold openly online and in head shops across the country. Yet no one seems aware of the law and Health Canada is not enforcing it....More

Opposition suspicious of Tory plans for national conversation on health reform

OTTAWA - The federal Liberals say any national talks on health reform should begin with the Conservatives making clear whether they have a decentralizing agenda....More

New Brunswick health officer encourages all to get annual flu vaccine

FREDERICTON - New Brunswick's deputy chief medical officer of health says everyone should get the seasonal flu vaccine, especially those at a higher risk of complications from the flu. Dr. Paul Van Buynder says the vaccine is now available in the province....More

Most Canadians 50 and older lack antibodies to H1N1, study suggests

TORONTO - While a third wave of H1N1 influenza is unlikely this year, many Canadians over age 50 are still vulnerable to the virus and should get a flu shot, researchers say. Their advice is based on findings from a study of B.C....More

Former mayor to lead Alberta review service for multiple sclerosis sufferers

LACOMBE, Alta. - A former Alberta mayor has been appointed to lead a provincial government committee charged with reviewing all aspects of service for people with multiple sclerosis....More

Doctor calls Ontario's methadone program oppressive and discriminatory

TORONTO - A Toronto doctor says Ontario's methadone program for addicts is "oppressive" in the way it discriminates against patients and forces them to give up their privacy....More

CPR changes: Chest compressions most important; even bystanders can do it

TORONTO - Anyone who has taken a first-aid course will have to rethink their alphabet mantra because the ABCs of CPR are changing....More

B.C. youth suicides down, but kids in care more likely to think of suicide

VANCOUVER - A new report says fewer young people in B.C. are committing suicide, but children in government-sponsored care are much more likely to consider suicide. The report, titled Growing Up in B.C., is a joint effort by chief B.C....More

Cosmetic contact lenses that change eye colour can cause infections or worse

HALIFAX - Goblins and ghouls gearing up to spook people on Halloween are being warned not to use cosmetic contact lenses to change eye colour because the non-prescription devices can cause infection, allergic reactions and other complications that could lead to vision loss....More

Children of military parents suffer fallout from PTSD, study says

Some children of military members suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder are experiencing their own isolation, depression and trauma because of their parent's condition, according to a preliminary Canadian study....More

Anti-wrinkle injection Botox gets US agency approval to treat severe headaches

WASHINGTON - Federal health officials approved the wrinkle-smoothing injection Botox for migraine headaches on Friday, giving drug maker Allergan clearance to begin marketing its drug to patients with a history of the serious condition....More

Alberta teen's antifreeze death prompts call for minimum care standards

RED DEER, Alta. - A teenager's death from antifreeze poisoning has an Alberta judge urging the government to bring in minimum care standards for drug and alcohol abuse treatment centres....More

Families vow to fight transfer of dementia patients to far away hospital

NORTH BAY, Ont. - The nephew of a Second World War veteran who served in the merchant marines says his uncle deserves the best care for his dementia. And, Bob Kouris says, it should be close to home....More

Ottawa gears up for national conversation on health care funding and quality

OTTAWA - The federal government is preparing for a national conversation on how to pay for and reform health care....More

Double Down lands in Canada, raises eyebrows among nutrition experts

TORONTO - It's a meaty monster that can make even the bravest fast-food fanatic turn chicken — and health and nutrition experts have their doubts whether Canada really is down with the Double Down....More

CPR changes: Chest compressions most important; even bystanders can do it

TORONTO - Anyone who has taken a first-aid course will have to rethink their alphabet mantra because the ABCs of CPR are changing....More

McGill study hopes to develop more effective and affordable health care delivery

MONTREAL - McGill University will play a leading role in a worldwide study to examine how to rein in out-of-control health costs and get better results for patients....More

Many congregations implement policy to prevent allergic reactions at church

If you're allergic to fragrances, nuts or wheat, a church with scented flowers in the sanctuary, homemade peanut-filled baked goods at coffee hour or wheat-based bread on the communion table could be a recipe for disaster....More

Family doctors say national network will help manage chronic diseases

VANCOUVER - Family doctors across Canada hope to better manage chronic diseases by accessing information from a new national network that collects patients' electronic medical records....More

Chemicals survive waste treatment to be released into environment: study

Chemicals in household drugs and cleaning products routinely survive waste treatment and are released into the environment, where little is known about their effects on land, water and human health, according to a government-funded study....More

Calgary hospital to do hip-and-knee replacements following end to surgery spat

CALGARY - Publicly funded hip-and-knee replacement surgery planned for a private Calgary clinic will move to a city hospital after an out-of-court settlement involving Alberta Health Services....More

Bone-strengthening drugs under review; could lead to risk of thigh bone fracture

OTTAWA - Health Canada is warning doctors and patients about a possible increased risk of a rare type of thigh bone fracture in patients using a group of bone-strengthening drugs....More

Veterans suffering from Lou Gehrig's to get benefits, home-care support

OTTAWA - The federal government is boosting support for veterans suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease....More

Liberal MLA says 3,500 Yarmouth, N.S., residents don't have family doctor

YARMOUTH, N.S. - A Liberal member of the Nova Scotia legislature says at least 3,500 of his constituents are without a family doctor. Zach Churchill is asking the minister of health to help people in the Yarmouth area....More

How can parents prevent kids from tormenting those they see as different?

NEW YORK, N.Y. - With bullying, teen suicides and harassment of gay teenagers making headlines, parents may be wondering what role they can play in discouraging kids from tormenting others whom they perceive as different....More

Coping with `the change': Fitness can help ease menopausal symptoms

TORONTO - The hormonal fluctuations of menopause can be a physical and emotional roller-coaster for many women going through this inevitable transition in their lives....More

Van patrol helps Vancouver sex workers access drug treatment: study

VANCOUVER - A special van driven by former sex workers that does late-night patrols of Vancouver's grim Downtown Eastside, seven days a week, has become a meaningful route for prostitutes to get drug treatment....More

US Hispanics can expect to outlive whites, blacks by years, says first-of-its-kind US report

ATLANTA - U.S. Hispanics can expect to outlive whites by more than two years and blacks by more than seven, government researchers say in a startling report that is the first to calculate Hispanic life expectancy in the United States....More

Oakley donates sports sunglasses to help bridge Chilean miners' path to sunlight

NEW YORK, N.Y. - The sometimes tear-filled eyes of rescued miners in Chile are being shielded by a type of Oakley sunglasses designed to minimize heavy glare. The single-lens shield is a wraparound style....More

Generic version of withdrawn diet pill Meridia also pulled from Canadian market

TORONTO - A generic version of the weight-loss pill Meridia, recently pulled from pharmacy shelves because of adverse health risks, is also being withdrawn in Canada. Abbott Laboratories withdrew Meridia (sibutramine) from the Canadian and U.S. markets Oct....More

Food labels on front of packages should focus on calories, fat, sodium: report

WASHINGTON - A new report suggests U.S. manufacturers should cut the clutter on the front of food packages and focus on the nutrients that cause the most health problems: calories, saturated fat, trans fat and sodium....More

Don't toss the meds, but peek into love-struck brains shows why passion sometimes eases pain

WASHINGTON - Sometimes love does feel like it should. Falling in love can act as a potent painkiller, and now scientists have figured out why: It stimulates the brain's reward pathway, much like the rush of an addictive drug....More

Overtesting? Some late-stage cancer patients get unneeded PSAs, Paps, mammograms

CHICAGO - If you knew you had one year to live, would you have medical tests you didn't need? Turns out a surprising number of patients with late-stage cancer get useless screening tests for new cancers that couldn't possibly kill them....More

Officials boast of hiring 830 new nurses in Saskatchewan, but say more needed

REGINA - The Saskatchewan government says its bid to attract more nurses and tackle a shortage that officials said could hurt health care has been a success....More

Medicare, labour groups say Alberta Health Act could lead to more private care

EDMONTON - Medicare and labour groups want Alberta to shelve planned changes to laws that govern the province's health-care system....More

Indian consortium makes cash offer to revive rare Canadian asbestos mine

MONTREAL - An Indian consortium has made an offer to buy one of Canada's last remaining asbestos mines and extend its life. The group made a bid last Thursday to purchase the cash-strapped Jeffrey Mine in the Quebec town of Asbestos....More

Implanting medication to treat addiction reduces opioid use: study

TORONTO - An implantable form of a medication used to treat opioid addiction appears to reduce illicit drug use and avoids the issues of patients failing to take their prescription or selling pills on the street, researchers say....More

How can parents prevent kids from tormenting those they see as different?

NEW YORK, N.Y. - With bullying, teen suicides and harassment of gay teenagers making headlines, parents may be wondering what role they can play in discouraging kids from tormenting others whom they perceive as different....More

Coping with `the change': Fitness can help ease menopausal symptoms

TORONTO - The hormonal fluctuations of menopause can be a physical and emotional roller-coaster for many women going through this inevitable transition in their lives....More

Van patrol helps Vancouver sex workers access drug treatment: study

VANCOUVER - A special van driven by former sex workers that does late-night patrols of Vancouver's grim Downtown Eastside, seven days a week, has become a meaningful route for prostitutes to get drug treatment....More

Emergency bed waiting for jailed Winnipeg man with Alzheimer's disease

WINNIPEG - A Manitoba man with Alzheimer's disease could be moved out of jail and to an emergency placement bed as early as Friday instead of having to wait almost three weeks for a spot....More

Winnipeg man with Alzheimer's released from jail; will be moved to care home

WINNIPEG - A Manitoba man with Alzheimer's disease has been allowed to leave the jail where he spent more than a month and was moved to a personal care home Friday....More

Tories promise changes after "embarrassing'' privacy breach of military vet

OTTAWA - A privacy breach involving a veteran that has been "embarrassing" the Conservative government may be just the tip of the iceberg as the country's privacy watchdog says she has received other complaints from injured soldiers....More

Proponents of laughter therapy say laughing every day leads to better health

MONTREAL - What if you could laugh your problems away? It's no joke: proponents of laughter therapy believe a daily dose of hearty giggles and belly laughs can help one relax, feel better and reduce stress levels....More

Hormone pills linked with kidney stones in older women, an analysis of landmark research shows

CHICAGO - Kidney stones should be added to the list of health problems linked with hormone pill use after menopause, according to an analysis of landmark government research that first raised alarms about the products....More

Danish study shows jaundice-autism link, but no proof newborn liver condition causes autism

CHICAGO - Autism is more common in children who had jaundice at birth, a big Danish study found, but researchers cautioned they don't know how the two conditions might be related and that new parents shouldn't be alarmed....More

Better diagnosis, treatment needed for brittle bone disease: report

TORONTO - Only a small proportion of Canadians with fractures from brittle bones get treatment to prevent future breaks that can lead to disability and even death, says Osteoporosis Canada, which unveiled new guidelines Tuesday for managing the disease....More

Aiming to cut disparities in stroke care, work spreads 'time is brain' message

WASHINGTON - Edna Wooten somehow stopped her car when her stroke hit. Then her grown daughter ignored her slurred protests and raced her to the hospital — in time for a drug to dissolve the blood clot that had caused her stroke....More

Parliament Hill goes pink for breast cancer awareness month

OTTAWA - Parliament Hill has seen its share of Maple Leaf red; now it's turning pink. The Centre Block and Peace Tower were bathed in a pink light Thursday as part of breast cancer awareness month....More

Nova Scotia to mull eight proposals for generic version of cholesterol drug

HALIFAX - The Nova Scotia government says eight companies have submitted offers to provide a generic drug used to treat high cholesterol. The province's request for proposals for atorvastatin, the generic form of Lipitor, closed Wednesday....More

No Smoking: Some apartment, condo dwellers barred from lighting up at home

No Smoking signs are popping up at some apartment complexes and condos, barring people from lighting up even in their own homes....More

Health officials report increase in US adults hindered by arthritis; obesity may be reason

ATLANTA - A surprising jump in the number of Americans hobbled by arthritis may be due to obesity, health experts said Thursday. About 22 per cent of U.S....More

Emergency bed waiting for jailed Winnipeg man with Alzheimer's disease

WINNIPEG - A Manitoba man with Alzheimer's disease could be moved out of jail and to an emergency placement bed as early as Friday instead of having to wait almost three weeks for a spot....More

Winnipeg man with Alzheimer's released from jail; will be moved to care home

WINNIPEG - A Manitoba man with Alzheimer's disease has been allowed to leave the jail where he spent more than a month and was moved to a personal care home Friday....More

Tories promise changes after "embarrassing'' privacy breach of military vet

OTTAWA - A privacy breach involving a veteran that has been "embarrassing" the Conservative government may be just the tip of the iceberg as the country's privacy watchdog says she has received other complaints from injured soldiers....More

Danish study shows jaundice-autism link, but no proof newborn liver condition causes autism

CHICAGO - Autism is more common in children who had jaundice at birth, a big Danish study found, but researchers cautioned they don't know how the two conditions might be related and that new parents shouldn't be alarmed....More

Rollout of seasonal flu shot starts next week, second chance for H1N1 vaccine

TORONTO - Canadians who chose not to be immunized against H1N1 during the pandemic will have another shot at getting protected with this year's seasonal flu vaccination....More

QuickFacts: Experts advise high risk groups to get flu vaccine

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends that all Canadians over six months old be immunized against seasonal influenza, but stresses that the following high-risk groups should be vaccinated to prevent flu-related complications, including death: ...More

Parliament Hill goes pink for breast cancer awareness month

OTTAWA - Parliament Hill has seen its share of Maple Leaf red; now it's turning pink. The Centre Block and Peace Tower were bathed in a pink light Thursday as part of breast cancer awareness month....More

Nova Scotia to mull eight proposals for generic version of cholesterol drug

HALIFAX - The Nova Scotia government says eight companies have submitted offers to provide a generic drug used to treat high cholesterol. The province's request for proposals for atorvastatin, the generic form of Lipitor, closed Wednesday....More

No Smoking: Some apartment, condo dwellers barred from lighting up at home

No Smoking signs are popping up at some apartment complexes and condos, barring people from lighting up even in their own homes....More

Health officials report increase in US adults hindered by arthritis; obesity may be reason

ATLANTA - A surprising jump in the number of Americans hobbled by arthritis may be due to obesity, health experts said Thursday. About 22 per cent of U.S....More

Emergency bed waiting for jailed Winnipeg man with Alzheimer's disease

WINNIPEG - A Manitoba man with Alzheimer's disease could be moved out of jail and to an emergency placement bed as early as Friday instead of having to wait almost three weeks for a spot....More

Tories promise changes after "embarrassing'' privacy breach of military vet

OTTAWA - A privacy breach involving a veteran that has been "embarrassing" the Conservative government may be just the tip of the iceberg as the country's privacy watchdog says she has received other complaints from injured soldiers....More

Hands-only CPR saves more lives than normal method in adults with cardiac arrest

CHICAGO - Hands-only CPR doesn't just eliminate the "yuck factor." A new study shows it can save more lives....More

Prevent food-related illness by preparing turkey safely this Thanksgiving

OTTAWA - Turkey will be on the menu for many Canadians this holiday weekend, and it's important to prepare the festive meal's centrepiece properly to avoid food-related illness....More

Online giving, rise of Facebook help homegrown fundraising for breast cancer

Ten-year-old Parker Salinas considers herself one lucky little girl and a lifelong believer in the power of pink....More

More vets emerge with allegations of privacy breaches

OTTAWA - More veterans are coming forward with claims their private medical information was distributed or widely accessed by federal bureaucrats in what some say were attempts to smear reputations....More

Manitoba family wants man with Alzheimer's out of Winnipeg Remand Centre

WINNIPEG - A Winnipeg man with advanced Alzheimer's is languishing in jail instead of bring treated in a nursing home because of cracks in Manitoba's health system, his family said Wednesday....More

Hurley and Lauder keep up cancer conversation with audience used to hearing it

NEW YORK, N.Y. - The breast cancer awareness movement's dynamic duo, Evelyn Lauder and Elizabeth Hurley, have watched their audience evolve in nearly two decades of promoting the pink ribbon, matching lipsticks and mammograms....More

Health Canada reports case study of seizure after energy drink consumption

OTTAWA - Health Canada is encouraging individuals to tell them about suspected adverse reactions to energy drinks and other natural health products following a report of a student who suffered a seizure....More

E-health drug records lead to estimated $436M in savings and efficiencies: study

TORONTO - Canada is chalking up some e-health gains in the area of medication, with an estimated $436 million in cost savings and efficiencies this year, says a report released Wednesday....More

Consider abandoning codeine until more safety research is done: CMAJ

TORONTO - The widely used painkiller codeine is potentially dangerous and may need to be phased out altogether until more safety research is done, an editorial in the Canadian Medical Association Journal says....More

People working in loud places might have triple the risk of heart problem: study

LONDON - What's bad for your ears may also be bad for your heart. According to a new study, people who work in noisy places for at least a year and a half could have triple the risk of a serious heart problem compared to those who work in quiet environments, a new study says....More

More vets emerge with allegations of privacy breaches

OTTAWA - More veterans are coming forward with claims their private medical information was distributed or widely accessed by federal bureaucrats in what some say were attempts to smear reputations....More

Ignatieff pledges $1b to help care for sick or elderly family members

OTTAWA - The battle lines for the next federal election were drawn Tuesday after Michael Ignatieff unveiled a key plank of the Liberal platform: a $1-billion family-care plan....More

Hungary declares state of emergency to deal with sludge flood

DEVECSER, Hungary - Hungary declared a state of emergency in three counties Tuesday after a flood of toxic red sludge from an alumina plant engulfed several towns and burned people through their clothes....More

Hands-only CPR saves more lives than normal method in adults with cardiac arrest

CHICAGO - Hands-only CPR doesn't just eliminate the "yuck factor." A new study shows it can save more lives....More

More vets emerge with allegations of privacy breaches

OTTAWA - More veterans are coming forward with claims their private medical information was distributed or widely accessed by federal bureaucrats in what some say were attempts to smear reputations....More

E-health drug records lead to estimated $436M in savings and efficiencies: study

TORONTO - Canada is chalking up some e-health gains in the area of medication, with an estimated $436 million in cost savings and efficiencies this year, says a report released Wednesday....More

NDP in B.C. calls for prostate screening program to detect cancer earlier

VANCOUVER - New Democrats in British Columbia are calling for the province to cover the cost of a prostate cancer screening test that can detect the cancer early. Deputy NDP health critic Sue Hammell says B.C....More

More aggressive care for sepsis urged as scientists find new clue to what fuels it

WASHINGTON - It is one of the most intractable killers you probably never have heard of: sepsis, an out-of-control reaction to infection that can start shutting down organs in mere hours....More

Minister vows crackdown on hospitals using lobbyists, but won't divulge details

TORONTO - Health Minister Deb Matthews is promising to crack down on the use of lobbyists by hospitals amid criticism that scarce health-care dollars are being wasted on trying to influence the government....More

Heart disease: Gene test aims to spare chronic chest pain patients angiograms

It's not a perfect test. Yet researchers report a key step for the first gene test aimed at reducing unnecessary angiograms — expensive and somewhat risky procedures that hundreds of thousands of North Americans have each year to check for clogged arteries....More

Flood payments fast-tracked to residents with damaged furnaces, water heaters

REGINA - Saskatchewan residents whose furnaces and water heaters were damaged by flooding will get government cheques soon....More

Elderly more vulnerable to food-borne illnesses; need to handle products safely

There is little Nira Rittenberg hasn't seen in the fridges and kitchens of the elderly clients she visits every week....More

Correction: Mammograms story

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - In a Sept. 22 story about a mammogram study, The Associated Press reported erroneously that researchers found that women over 50 who had mammograms had a 10 per cent lower risk of death from breast cancer and that a third of that reduction was due to...More

Consider abandoning codeine until more safety research is done: CMAJ

TORONTO - The widely used painkiller codeine is potentially dangerous and may need to be phased out altogether until more safety research is done, an editorial in the Canadian Medical Association Journal says....More

Beet it: Studies say beetroot juice could help athletes exercise longer

LONDON - When Chris Carver ran an ultra-marathon in Scotland last year, which challenges athletes to run as far as possible within 24 hours, he ran 225 kilometres....More

No laps for hot laptops; medical reports link them to "toasted skin syndrome," possible harm

CHICAGO - People who work with a laptop computer sitting on their lap might want to rethink that habit....More

Feds' highly publicized flavoured tobacco law already being flouted, critics say

MONTREAL - Tobacco companies are being accused of skirting highly publicized federal legislation — announced by Prime Minister Stephen Harper — designed to keep kids from getting hooked on flavoured cigarettes....More

Environmental hearings into energy 'game changer' begin in Quebec

MONTREAL - Environmental hearings begin in Quebec on Monday into the risks of tapping a 5,000-square-kilometre energy source one federal document calls an energy "game changer....More

Aboriginal man who struggled with obesity runs 7,000 km for cancer research

WINNIPEG - A young aboriginal man from Winnipeg celebrated his triumphant return to his hometown on the weekend after running all the way from Mexico to raise money for cancer research. Cole Choken, who began his 7,000-kilometre run on Jan....More

Test-tube baby pioneer Robert Edwards of Britain has won the 2010 Nobel Prize in medicine

STOCKHOLM - Robert Edwards of Britain won the 2010 Nobel Prize in medicine on Monday for the development of in-vitro fertilization, a breakthrough that has helped millions of infertile couples to have children....More

Take care when playing interactive video games to avoid injuries: researchers

TORONTO - Interactive video gamers should exercise some caution to avoid injury to themselves and bystanders, say researchers who have studied U.S. data on a broad range of injuries among traditional and interactive gamers....More

Researchers unveil biggest survey on sex in US since 1994; details orgasm gap, condom usage

NEW YORK, N.Y. - The male-female orgasm gap. The sex lives of 14-year-olds. An intriguing breakdown of condom usage rates, by age and ethnicity, with teens emerging as more safe-sex-conscious than boomers....More

Study: Kids with ADHD more likely to have missing or extra DNA in their brains

LONDON - Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are twice as likely to have missing or extra chromosomes than other children — the first evidence that the disorder is genetic, a new study says....More

Study finds income gap between rich and poor doubled over past 20 years

WINNIPEG - (Mba-Income-Health-Gap) A study suggests the income gap between Manitoba's wealthiest and poorest citizens has more than doubled over the past two decades. Dr....More

Prostate cancer patients on hormone therapy should be aware of fracture risk: doc

TORONTO - Men with prostate cancer who are being treated with hormone therapy need to be aware of their increased risk of fractures, says a doctor who has compiled data on thousands of men with the disease. A paper on the findings by Dr....More

Life with family, friends, breast cancer: rawness, honesty in book by Ruth Rakoff

TORONTO - A diagnosis of breast cancer five years ago changed everyday life for Ruth Rakoff: it brought fear, grief, surgeries, chemotherapy, and long stretches of time spent healing under a colourful quilt on the yellow couch in her living room....More

CDC chief picks 6 'winnable battles' in health, angering advocates left out

ATLANTA - Where would you start if you were charged with keeping the nation healthy? Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has chosen six priorities — winnable battles, he calls them....More

Arbitrator says private surgeries are OK for now; Saskatchewan government happy

REGINA - The Saskatchewan government is applauding an arbitrator's ruling that a private clinic can be used for some surgeries — even if it's only for the short term. "I think it's a good day for patients," Health Minister Don McMorris said Thursday....More

26 more women allege sexual assault by Toronto doctor while under anesthetic

TORONTO - Twenty-six more women have come forward alleging a doctor sexually assaulted them while they were under anesthetic, and police warned Thursday there could be more victims....More

'Not necessary' was top reason cited by those who didn't get H1N1 shot: StatsCan

TORONTO - New survey results on the pandemic flu vaccine suggest that about six out of 10 Canadians aged 12 and over did not get an H1N1 shot during the last flu season....More