Despite costing Canadians billions, lack of awareness plagues diabetes: experts

Seven years ago, Canadian singer-songwriter Dan Hill watched as the diabetes that had already claimed his father's legs took his life as he lay in a coma....More

Beyond stem cells: Scientists transform skin cells to nerve, heart, blood cells

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Suppose you could repair tissue damaged by a heart attack by magically turning other cells into heart muscle, so the organ could pump effectively again. Scientists aren't quite ready to do that....More

Appealing apple: B.C. biotech seeks approval for fruit that doesn't turn brown

VANCOUVER - Growing an apple that doesn't turn brown is no pie-in-the-sky feat, but the British Columbia company that's got the technology on the ground still needs health regulators to declare its product isn't forbidden fruit....More

Alberta NDP withdraws motion on alleged whisper campaign against former Tory MLA

EDMONTON - The NDP will not raise a point of privilege over allegations that Alberta Tory caucus members questioned the mental stability of a former colleague. Dr....More

'Good' bacteria products may have some benefits for kids; more evidence needed

CHICAGO - A leading medical group says there's some evidence that probiotics, or "good" bacteria, may have limited benefits for certain illnesses in children....More

Vitamin D: A tale of 2 recommendations, a little more is good, but don't overdo

WASHINGTON - New U.S. dietary guidelines recommend more doses of vitamin D than under the current standards, but caution that there's no proof that megadoses prevent cancer or other ailments....More

Ontario to grant new powers to chief medical officer in wake of H1N1 pandemic

TORONTO - The Ontario government is poised to grant sweeping new powers to the province's chief medical officer of health in the wake of last year's H1N1 pandemic....More

3 teens taken to hospital after consuming chemical purchased over the Internet

AJAX, Ont. - Durham region police are issuing a warning after three teens became ill _ one seriously _ while experimenting with a chemical compound purchased over the Internet. Police say they were called to a residence in Ajax, Ont....More

Saputo recalls cheese slices that may be tainted with Listeria bacteria

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public not to eat a cheese product made by Saputo Inc. because it could be contaminated with Listeria bacteria....More

More sandwiches from P.E.I. firm recalled over possible Listeria contamination

ALBERTON, P.E.I. - A P.E.I. food company is expanding a voluntary recall of some of its sandwiches and other items because they may be contaminated with Listeria bacteria....More

Hospital in Dryden rejects smoking ban to respect patient rights: CEO

DRYDEN, Ont. - A hospital in Dryden has once again rejected a proposal to go smoke-free. The board of directors of the Dryden Regional Health Centre said it is not interested in pursuing a smoking ban....More

Edmonton hospital using robotic tool for treating gynecologic cancers

EDMONTON - Alberta Health Services says a high-tech, less invasive surgical tool to treat gynecologic cancers is helping more patients than ever before....More

Port Hope launches media strategy after criticism from anti-nuclear activist

PORT HOPE, Ont. - Port Hope hopes to repair its image after an anti-nuclear activist warned that radioactive waste has caused contamination in the historic Ontario town....More

Walking 8 km per week linked to slower progression of Alzheimer's: study

Walking isn't a cure for Alzheimer's, but a researcher who studied people with cognitive impairment says it might improve the brain's resistance to the disease and slow the decline....More

Pediatrics group cites rising hospital stays for eating disorders, says docs need to be alert

CHICAGO - A new report on eating disorders cites data showing a sharp increase in children's hospitalizations for such problems. Among children younger than 12 with eating disorders, hospitalizations surged 119 per cent between 1999 and 2006....More

'Good' bacteria products may have some benefits for kids; more evidence needed

CHICAGO - A leading medical group says there's some evidence that probiotics, or "good" bacteria, may have limited benefits for certain illnesses in children....More

Red Cross: 80 per cent of governments use 'failed' approach toward HIV, drug use

GENEVA - The spread of HIV and AIDS among millions of people could be slowed if addicts who inject drugs were treated as medical patients rather than as criminals, the International Federation of the Red Cross said Friday....More

Quaker recalls Chewy Granola Bars Value Packs, may have been mispacked

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Quaker Canada are warning people with peanut allergies not to consume certain Quaker brand Chewy Granola Bars Value Packs....More

Most people in Ontario will soon have to pay out-of-pocket for vitamin D tests

TORONTO - Ontario is delisting vitamin D testing for most of the population as of Dec. 1. People with conditions such as osteoporosis, rickets, osteopenia, malabsorption syndromes and renal disease will continue to have the test covered....More

More than 600,000 people killed worldwide every year by second-hand smoke: study

LONDON - Second-hand smoke kills more than 600,000 people worldwide every year, according to a new study. In the first look at the global impact of second-hand smoking, researchers analyzed data from 2004 for 192 countries....More

Health Canada urges caution in sharing breast milk if source is unknown

OTTAWA - Canadians should avoid obtaining human breast milk for their babies through the Internet or directly from other individuals because of possible health risks, Health Canada said Thursday in a release....More

Alta. to create more local health control after Duckett's departure

EDMONTON - Alberta's health minister says the province will move to restore more local control over service delivery in the wake of the departure of its top health bureaucrat....More

Alberta to restore more local health control after departure of top health boss

EDMONTON - Alberta will move to restore more local input into health care now that the province's top health bureaucrat is gone....More

Macho northern men at greater risk of illness, death than men in rest of B.C.

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. - A study by Northern Health says men's health is surprising poor in the northern reaches of the province....More

Maker of children's allergy tablets recalls product over quality-control issues

OTTAWA - Health Canada is advising consumers that a popular children's allergy medication is being voluntarily recalled by the manufacturer over quality-control issues....More

Letter indicates N.S. seniors still being asked for nursing home deposits

HALIFAX - Nova Scotia's health minister said Wednesday her department sent letters by mistake to thousands of people, telling them they may have to pay security deposits to nursing homes....More

Eat more protein and less carbs to prevent weight regain, study finds

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - More turkey, less white bread and mashed potatoes. Just in time for holiday feasting, a large study found that diets higher in protein and lower in carbohydrates can help overweight adults who managed to drop some weight keep it off....More

Daily dose of drug cuts risk of gay men getting infected with HIV, study finds

TORONTO - A new way of using an existing HIV medication is generating a buzz of hope in the battle to curb the global AIDS epidemic....More

Bad biscuit: Alberta's top health bureaucrat out after cookie comment

EDMONTON - Alberta's top health bureaucrat is leaving his position, days after rebuffing reporters at an emergency meeting on long wait times by telling them he was busy eating a cookie....More

Alberta health board takes its time digesting fate of biscuit-loving boss

EDMONTON - Members of the Alberta Health Services Board were meeting for a second day Wednesday to decide the future of their boss, who told reporters last week he was too busy eating a cookie to answer questions....More

Wildrose Alliance says Albertans should be able to boot their MLAs

EDMONTON - The Wildrose Alliance says it wants the citizens of Alberta to have the power to recall ineffective members of the legislature. The party issued a news release Wednesday saying all provincial politicians should be accountable to their constituents....More

Quaker recalls Chewy Granola Bars Value Packs, may have been mispacked

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Quaker Canada are warning people with peanut allergies not to consume certain Quaker brand Chewy Granola Bars Value Packs....More

More meat and potatoes: Alberta cooks up new menus for nursing homes, hospitals

CALGARY - Seniors and patients in Alberta's nursing homes and small hospitals want more meat and potatoes, cabbage rolls and pies and puddings. That's some of the feedback from an independent review of menus in provincial facilities....More

H1N1 cases outnumbered heart attacks, strokes at hospitals during 5-week period

TORONTO - A new look at last year's flu pandemic finds that two-thirds of hospitalizations for the H1N1 flu were in a five-week period beginning at the end of October....More

Fiscal woes expected to dominate throne speech from N.B. Conservatives

FREDERICTON - New Brunswick's Conservative government opens the fall session of the provincial legislature today with a throne speech that's expected to be dominated by efforts to get government spending under control....More

Carbon monoxide leads to evacuation at Calgary shelter during cold snap

CALGARY - Dozens of people in a Calgary shelter were forced into the extreme early morning cold after a buildup of potentially deadly carbon monoxide gas....More

Alberta Premier Stelmach finds Duckett's cookie comment 'offensive'

EDMONTON - Alberta's premier has hinted that he's losing patience with the man charged with running the province's health-care system as the issue of long emergency-room waits continues to dog his government....More

Aerobics, weight training may lower blood sugar in people with diabetes

CHICAGO - People with diabetes should mix aerobics with weight training to get the best results in lowering blood sugar, a new study suggests. The combination worked best for weight loss too, compared to aerobics or weight training alone....More

Newfoundland doctor charged with threatening doctor has been suspended

CORNER BROOK, N.L. - Newfoundland's Western Health district says it has suspended a doctor charged with threatening another doctor in the province....More

Daily dose of drug cuts risk of gay men getting infected with HIV, study finds

TORONTO - A new way of using an existing HIV medication is generating a buzz of hope in the battle to curb the global AIDS epidemic....More

N.L. man charged with leaving threatening voice message with physician

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - A Newfoundland man has been accused of threatening a St. John's physician. A 47-year-old Corner Brook man was arrested Monday on a charge of uttering threats to cause death....More

Fewer small kids in ER after removal of infants' cough and cold medicines: study

CHICAGO - Removing cough and cold medicines for very young children from store shelves led to a big decline in emergency room visits for bad reactions to the drugs, U.S. government research found....More

Family says B.C. man died while insurance company, hotel fought over bill

VANCOUVER - For 10 days, Mike McDonald lay in a Dominican Republic hospital, his brain swelling, while his insurance company and the hotel where he suffered a head injury debated over who would pay his hefty medical bill....More

Boomers are unhappiest group over their sex life, but think they know it all: poll

WASHINGTON - Baby boomers in the U.S. are the unhappiest age group when it comes to their sex life....More

Alberta government dumps its squeaky wheel on health waiting times

EDMONTON - A member of the Alberta legislature who was suspended from caucus Monday for criticizing his government colleagues over health care is refusing to back down....More

U.S. drug czar targets prescription abuse on first Canadian visit

OTTAWA - The Obama administration's drug czar brought his fight against the abuse of prescription drugs to Canada on Monday in meetings with the federal health minister and the country's top Mountie....More

Fiscal woes expected to dominate throne speech from N.B. Conservatives

FREDERICTON - New Brunswick's Conservative government opens the fall session of the provincial legislature today with a throne speech that's expected to be dominated by efforts to get government spending under control....More

Daily dose of drug cuts risk of gay men getting infected with HIV, study finds

TORONTO - A study has found that gay men who take a daily antiretroviral drug can cut their risk of getting infected with HIV by almost 45 per cent compared to those given a dummy pill....More

Darvon maker to withdraw painkiller after evidence of heart risks: US agency

WASHINGTON - The maker of the painkiller Darvon is pulling the drug off the market at the request of U.S. health officials who say the 50-year-old pill causes potentially deadly heart rhythms....More

Alberta Medical Association lauds Tory for speaking about health-care problems

EDMONTON - The Alberta Medical Association says it is encouraged that a Tory member of legislature hasn't been disciplined for speaking out about problems in health care....More

Tobacco control convention seeks restrictions on flavour additives

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay - In a major blow to the tobacco industry, public health officials from around the world have agreed to recommend restricting or banning flavour additives that make cigarettes more palatable to new smokers....More

Alta. health official sorry for telling reporters 'I'm eating a cookie.'

EDMONTON - The president and CEO of Alberta Health Services apologized on Saturday for refusing to answer reporters' questions because he was eating a cookie....More

Pope's condom remarks draw praise from Catholics, AIDS campaigners

GENEVA - The Pope's positive comments about condom use by male prostitutes will help fight the AIDS crisis, health groups said Sunday, although they cautioned that his remarks fell short of declaring condoms an acceptable method of disease prevention for all....More

Alta. health official sorry for telling reporters 'I'm eating a cookie.'

EDMONTON - The president and CEO of Alberta Health Services apologized on Saturday for refusing to answer reporters' questions because he was eating a cookie....More

WHO: Almost 40 per cent of money spent on health systems is wasted, but more funds needed

LONDON - Health care systems worldwide are wasting up to 40 per cent of their funds, but more money is needed to boost their capabilities, according to a new report from the World Health Organization....More

Supreme Court ruling on sexual pre-consent could affect seniors with dementia

TORONTO - Closing the door softly behind him, the man slips into his wife's bed and gently kisses her forehead. This whisper of lips to skin has been the couple's prelude to sexual intimacy throughout decades of marriage. But now there is a difference....More

Asthma among young kids drops to lowest level in a decade: StatsCan

TORONTO - Asthma cases have dropped among two- to seven-year-olds to their lowest level in more than a decade, Statistics Canada reported Wednesday....More

Higher risk of heart disease, high blood pressure after Walkerton crisis: study

TORONTO - More than a decade after the Walkerton water crisis, scientists who studied the affected residents are still mining their health data to learn as much as they can about the impact of E. coli bacteria....More

Health Canada announces restrictions on diabetes drug due to heart risks

OTTAWA - Health Canada has announced new restrictions and a consent form for the diabetes medication rosiglitazone, sold under the brand name Avandia, because of an increased risk of heart-related illness....More

Depressed man's asthma triggered by peeking at ex on Facebook, researchers say

TORONTO - Italian doctors say social networking could be a real-life source of stress after studying the case of a young man whose asthma attacks appear to have been triggered by seeing his ex on Facebook....More

Alberta's assistant health minister blames bureaucrats for emergency room crisis

EDMONTON - Alberta's struggle to fix a crisis in emergency room waits took an in-house turn Thursday when the No. 2 politician in the Health Department blamed the bureaucrats. "We're not the people running the darn thing. That's AHS (Alberta Health Services)....More

Toronto man, 39, charged with fraud after allegedly faking brain cancer

TORONTO - A 39-year-old Toronto man is charged with fraud after allegedly pretending to have terminal brain cancer. Police allege he first made the claim in October 2009 and that his friends then organized a fundraiser and collected $3,000....More

International survey shows Canadians overuse emergency rooms after hours

OTTAWA - A new survey says Canadians use emergency rooms more than people from 10 other countries, mainly because they can't get access to their regular medical care during weekends and evenings....More

Dumped boy has asthma attacks after peeking into ex's Facebook page, Italian doctors say

LONDON - Beware unhappy asthmatics: Italian doctors warn that Facebook could trigger an attack in some susceptible users....More

Police probe death threat made against doctor embroiled in Newfoundland dispute

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - An investigation is underway into an alleged death threat against a Newfoundland doctor who broke ranks with the province's medical association during a bitter dispute with the provincial government, police said Wednesday. P.K....More

NHL family uses personal tragedy to highlight issue of teen suicide

OTTAWA - A high-profile NHL family opened their private nightmare to the world on Wednesday in an effort to raise public awareness about teen suicide....More

New Merck drug drops bad, raises good cholesterol to record levels: study

CHICAGO - An experimental drug boosted good cholesterol so high and dropped bad cholesterol so low in a study that doctors were stunned and voiced renewed hopes for an entirely new way of preventing heart attacks and strokes....More

Large crowd gathers at hockey arena for memorial for coach's daughter

OTTAWA - The arena that normally hosts the Ottawa Senators of the NHL is filling up with a different crowd today....More

Freon leak at Ottawa YMCA; 7 workers exposed, 3 hospitalized, 200 evacuated

OTTAWA - Three workers are in hospital for treatment following exposure to a freon leak at an Ottawa YMCA. Fire officials say seven workers who were removing asbestos were exposed to freon gas when the leak occurred in a mechanical room....More

Food agency says sandwiches made by P.E.I. firm may contain Listeria

ALBERTON, P.E.I. - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public not to eat certain ham and cheese sandwiches made by Atlantic Prepared Food Ltd. of Prince Edward Island....More

Boy, 15, charged in attack on pregnant woman on Saskatchewan reserve

CARLYLE, Sask. - Mounties in Saskatchewan have charged a 15-year-old boy with assaulting a pregnant woman in June....More

Asthma among young kids drops to lowest level in a decade: StatsCan

TORONTO - Asthma cases have dropped among two- to seven-year-olds to their lowest level in more than a decade, Statistics Canada reported Wednesday....More

Riots erupt in Haiti cities over claims UN peacekeepers brought cholera; 2 dead

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Anti-U.N. riots spread to several Haitian cities and towns, as protesters blaming a contingent of Nepalese peacekeepers for an outbreak of cholera that has killed more than 1,000 people exchanged gunfire with U.N. soldiers....More

Prepare oil-packed herbs and vegetables properly to avoid illness

OTTAWA - A pretty glass jar of vegetables or fragrant herbs packed in oil is a popular hostess gift, but if the food hasn't been prepared or stored properly, the recipient could end up getting ill....More

Gambling linked to substance abuse, suicide attempts in Ontario students

TORONTO - A new study by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health shows some 29,000 Ontario middle and high school students report behaviours linked with problem gambling. Dr....More

France suggests link between diabetes drug Mediator and 500 deaths

PARIS - French health officials said Tuesday the now-banned diabetes and weight-loss drug Mediator may have been linked to the deaths of about 500 people....More

Council to set standards for pathologist training, quality assurance in labs

TORONTO - Rocked by numerous scandals involving botched breast cancer and other diagnostic tests in a number of provinces, professional medical groups are taking steps to standardize pathology and laboratory services across the country....More

Americans fed up with airport security measures; pat-downs angering travellers

WASHINGTON - Nine years after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Americans fed up with stringent airport security measures appear to be nearing their "Network" moment: they're as mad as hell, and they're not going to take it anymore....More

Alberta promises to help MS patients needing help after controversial surgery

EDMONTON - Alberta's health minister says patients who need treatment following controversial out-of-country surgery for multiple sclerosis will get help....More

Small decline in preterm births reported, but U.S. still nowhere near its goal

WASHINGTON - Premature births may finally be starting to inch down, says a new report from the March of Dimes. The change is small: In 2006, 12.8 per cent of U.S. babies were born premature, compared with 12.3 per cent in 2008....More

Taking fish oil capsules doesn't help heart rhythm problem: study

CHICAGO - Eating fish is good for the heart, but taking omega-3 fish oil supplements did not prevent flare-ups of a common heart rhythm problem as doctors hoped it would, researchers reported Monday....More

Taking fish oil capsules doesn't help heart rhythm problem: study

CHICAGO - Eating fish is good for the heart, but taking omega-3 fish oil supplements did not prevent flare-ups of a common heart rhythm problem as doctors hoped it would, researchers reported Monday....More

Taking fish oil capsules doesn't help heart rhythm problem: study

CHICAGO - Eating fish is good for the heart, but taking omega-3 fish oil supplements did not prevent flare-ups of a common heart rhythm problem as doctors hoped it would, researchers reported Monday....More

Study finds smoking rates dropped dramatically over past three decades

CHICAGO - A study finds smoking rates in some adults have dropped sharply in the past three decades, with greater decreases among adults with higher incomes and more education....More

Spain announces postponement of Euro-Med summit, cites stalemate between Israel, Palestinians

MADRID - A planned summit of European and Middle Eastern leaders has been postponed for a second time because of the stalemate in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, Spain said Monday....More

Ontario Brain Institute gets $15-million boost from provincial government

TORONTO - The provincial government is providing $15 million over three years in startup funding for a new Ontario Brain Institute. The institute will bring Ontario's top brain researchers together with people who know how to commercialize their ideas....More

Heart rhythm problems: J&J blood thinner averts strokes as well as Coumadin

CHICAGO - Millions of people who are struggling with the tough-to-use blood thinner warfarin, sold as Coumadin and other brands, may soon have another alternative....More

Be aware of possibility of drug use by teens, substance abuse centre urges

OTTAWA - Most parents believe their teens are staying away from illegal drugs and prescription painkillers, a new survey suggests, but that might not reflect what's actually going on....More

Troops who sought counselling at hospital near CFB Petawawa must look elsewhere

Hundreds of soldiers from Canadian Forces Base Petawawa who sought counselling at a nearby hospital in eastern Ontario must get help elsewhere....More

Studies: Pfizer drug, Medtronic device, help mild heart failure; J&J's Natrecor disappoints

CHICAGO - Millions of people with mild or moderate heart failure got good news Sunday, with studies showing a Pfizer drug and a device from Medtronic can boost survival and cut trips to the hospital by patients having trouble breathing....More

Ottawa hopes asbestos mining waste will yield plants and biofuels

MONTREAL - A federal government plan to transform mountains of asbestos mining waste in Quebec into lush greenery could pose a risk to citizens living nearby, according to internal documents....More

NDP bill gives Ombudsman power to probe hospitals, municipalities, schools, CAS

TORONTO - Vulnerable seniors in long-term care homes and families torn apart by social workers are just two reasons why Ontario's ombudsman needs expanded authority similar to his counterparts in other provinces, say social activists and the New Democrats....More

BC hospitals using acute care beds to help shelter homeless

VANCOUVER - Provincial hospitals are increasingly putting up homeless patients in acute care beds because they have no place else to go, according to data from British Columbia's Ministry of Health....More

Study finds smoking rates dropped dramatically over past three decades

CHICAGO - A study finds smoking rates in some adults have dropped sharply in the past three decades, with greater decreases among adults with higher incomes and more education....More

Spain announces postponement of Euro-Med summit, cites stalemate between Israel, Palestinians

MADRID - A planned summit of European and Middle Eastern leaders has been postponed for a second time because of the stalemate in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, Spain said Monday....More

Be aware of possibility of drug use by teens, substance abuse centre urges

OTTAWA - Most parents believe their teens are staying away from illegal drugs and prescription painkillers, a new survey suggests, but that might not reflect what's actually going on....More

Cholera surge feared in Haiti's capital as cases mount

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Health workers feared a surge of cholera cases in the shantytowns and muddy tent camps of Haiti's capital as suspected cases piled up Tuesday and a laboratory confirmed cases that originated in the overcrowded city....More

Chinese dad whose son was sickened by tainted milk jailed for safety activism

BEIJING, China - A father who organized a support group for other parents whose children were sickened in one of China's worst food safety scandals was convicted and sentenced Wednesday to 2 1/2 years in prison for inciting social disorder, his lawyer said....More

Tinnitus sufferers: that annoying ringing in your ears is all in your head

HAMILTON - Attention tinnitus sufferers — that annoying ringing in your ears is actually all in your head. A research team from McMaster University, the University of Calgary and four U.S. universities says it has pinpointed the source of tinnitus....More

Scientists release mutant mosquitoes in the Cayman Islands to fight dengue fever

LONDON - Scientists have released genetically modified mosquitoes in an experiment to fight dengue fever in the Cayman Islands, British experts said Thursday....More

Researchers fret Canadian poker star could attract more kids to dangerous game

MONTREAL - One gambling expert has a message for kids dreaming of making millions from playing poker: stick to hockey....More

NDM-1 superbug cases jump to 8 in Canada, Public Health Agency confirms

TORONTO - Eight Canadians have been sickened by NDM-1 bacterial infections, a jump of five confirmed cases of the highly drug-resistant superbugs in less than three months, the Public Health Agency says....More

National doctor ridicules Alberta distracted driving bill as fatally flawed

EDMONTON - The president of Canada's Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons says Alberta's plan to crack down on distracted motorists will bring even more road carnage because it still allows drivers to talk on hands-free devices. "It's misguided....More

15,000 mammograms in Quebec being reviewed for possible errors by radiologist

MONTREAL - Approximately 15,000 mammograms done by a radiologist in Quebec are being rechecked for possible errors....More

Last Remembrance Day at Northeast Mental Health Centre for merchant marine?

NORTH BAY, Ont. - This could be the last Remembrance Day a Second World War merchant marine will spend close to his only family — and that frustrates his nephew....More

Hospitals use interactive computer programs to gain informed consent

CHICAGO - Learning he had prostate cancer floored John Noble. Then came the prospect of surgery and his overpowering fear of being "put under" with anesthesia. Remarkably, he found comfort in a computer....More

Eating 5-a-day veggies, fruits could be bad news for some countries' economies

LONDON - Eating a healthy diet may be good for you, but it may be unintentionally slimming for the economies of some developing countries, a new study says....More

Doctors vs. the Newfoundland government: dispute over pay, workload gets nastier

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Wanted: highly trained medical specialists for an intense work experience in Newfoundland and Labrador. Ability to accept a two-tiered pay system — along with public swipes by politicians — is an asset....More

Cholera surge feared in Haiti's capital as cases mount

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Health workers feared a surge of cholera cases in the shantytowns and muddy tent camps of Haiti's capital as suspected cases piled up Tuesday and a laboratory confirmed cases that originated in the overcrowded city....More

Chinese dad whose son was sickened by tainted milk jailed for safety activism

BEIJING, China - A father who organized a support group for other parents whose children were sickened in one of China's worst food safety scandals was convicted and sentenced Wednesday to 2 1/2 years in prison for inciting social disorder, his lawyer said....More

Researchers fret Canadian poker star could attract more kids to dangerous game

MONTREAL - One gambling expert has a message for kids dreaming of making millions from playing poker: stick to hockey....More

NDM-1 superbug cases jump to 8 in Canada, Public Health Agency confirms

TORONTO - Eight Canadians have been sickened by NDM-1 bacterial infections, a jump of five confirmed cases of the highly drug-resistant superbugs in less than three months, the Public Health Agency says....More

People who fake cancer for a benefit may have medical condition: psychiatrist

TORONTO - People who fake a terminal illness to swindle money out of charitable people and bask in the attention of sympathizers might have a medical condition driving that behaviour, experts say....More

Homes should be checked for cancer-causing radon gas, say health organizations

OTTAWA - Canadians should have their homes checked for radon, a colourless and odourless gas that can have potentially deadly effects over time, health organizations warn....More

Give foreign 'liberation' clinics a miss, Quebec doctors groups tell MS patients

The Quebec College of Physicians is warning multiple sclerosis patients not to seek the "liberation" treatment at clinics outside Canada because the procedure remains scientifically unproven and may have unknown risks....More

Cholera danger rises for Haiti's capital after case confirmed in city resident

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - A cholera epidemic has spread into Haiti's capital, imperiling nearly 3 million people living in Port-au-Prince, nearly half of them in unsanitary tent camps for the homeless from the Jan. 12 earthquake....More

Biology professor seeks to build new antibiotics with Bill Gates grant

VANCOUVER - A Simon Fraser University biology professor has won a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to pursue his research looking for new antibiotics....More

Arbitrator orders raises for 17,000 Ontario hospital workers despite pay freeze

TORONTO - Arbitrators' awards giving unionized public sector workers wage hikes will not be funded by the Ontario government, Premier Dalton McGuinty said Tuesday after yet another ruling against the Liberals' two-year wage freeze....More

Lung cancer in non-smokers could be entirely separate disease, research suggests

VANCOUVER - New research suggests non-smokers who develop lung cancer might have a different disease than smokers, raising the possibility the two groups should be treated differently....More

Cholera surge feared in Haiti's capital as cases mount

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Health workers feared a surge of cholera cases in the shantytowns and muddy tent camps of Haiti's capital as suspected cases piled up Tuesday and a laboratory confirmed cases that originated in the overcrowded city....More

Medical journal urges federal health minister to update tobacco warning labels

TORONTO - Ottawa's decision to abandon plans to beef up tobacco warning labels is a senseless policy shift that could lead to increased smoking, smoking-related illnesses and deaths, says an editorial in the Canadian Medical Association Journal....More

Measles exposure warning in Toronto; chance of getting disease low: officials

TORONTO - Toronto Public Health has issued a warning about measles exposure. Officials say people who were at three places in Toronto at certain times may have been exposed to measles....More

Knowing what runs in the family best predictor of upcoming health problems

WASHINGTON - Make Grandma spill the beans: Uncovering all the diseases that lurk in your family tree can trump costly genetic testing in predicting what illnesses you and your children are likely to face....More

Health ministry suspects cholera entered Haitian capital, awaits confirmation

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Health officials said Monday that they are examining at least 120 suspected cases of cholera in Haiti's capital, the most significant warning sign yet that the epidemic has spread from outlying areas to threaten as many as 3 million people....More

H1N1 deaths, ICU admissions in 2nd wave proportionally less than 1st wave: study

TORONTO - As Canadians start rolling up their sleeves for this year's flu shot, researchers are rolling out a new analysis of last year's flu season....More

Family health histories: Tips on how to get started

WASHINGTON - Some tips on creating family health histories, from the U.S. government and genetic specialists: —Start with information about your own health and that of your parents, children and siblings....More

Doctors cut some drug company ties amid rising scrutiny, but freebies still common

CHICAGO - Doctors have sharply cut some financial ties to drug companies, thanks to increased scrutiny about relationships that critics say improperly influence medical treatment, a survey suggests....More

Sex, drugs, risky behaviours more common in teens who send excessive text messages, study finds

ATLANTA - Teens who text 120 times a day or more — and there seems to be a lot of them — are more likely to have had sex or used alcohol and drugs than kids who don't send as many messages, according to provocative new research....More

Labour calls on Alberta to improve jobsite safety, province hiring 8 inspectors

EDMONTON - Labour groups say more people will be killed and injured in Alberta if the province fails to make sweeping changes to improve safety at job sites....More

B.C. nurse endures night lost in backcountry as hungry wolves howl nearby

TAKLA LANDING, B.C. - A community health nurse from a remote British Columbia community learned a frightening lesson while travelling the web of unmarked, almost identical forest service roads criss-crossing the province....More

Alberta, Saskatchewan team up on project to improve Lloydminster hospital

LLOYDMINSTER, Sask. - Alberta and Saskatchewan have teamed up to help improve health care in the city of Lloydminster, which sits on the boundary of the two provinces....More

Oil industry to cover costs for group fighting bad stench in northern Alberta

PEACE RIVER, Alta. - A group of Alberta landowners who've been fighting a tar-like stench will be getting support from the people who are believed to be the source of the odour — the oil industry....More

Scientists convert skin into blood cells, potential new transfusion source

TORONTO - In a scientific feat that almost defies imagination, Canadian researchers have transformed human skin into different types of blood cells....More

Don't put away the sunscreen for winter, health officials say

OSHAWA, Ont. - Even though Ontarians have likely packed away their summer clothes, officials in Durham Region say people should keep sunscreen handy. Nurses there say using sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher is needed even in the fall and winter months....More

Check life-saving gadgets in light of return to standard time: Officials

TORONTO - If you remembered to set your clocks back one hour Saturday night, officials say your work isn't done yet— you need to change batteries in several life-saving devices too. Most of Canada returned to standard time at 2 a.m. Sunday morning....More

Boots of two paramedics who died in crash play role at memorial service

TOFINO, B.C. - The boots worn by two paramedics who died in a crash played a key role at their memorial service in Tofino on Vancouver Island....More

Alberta man charged with injecting lethal dose of drugs into acquaintance's arm

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. - An Alberta man is facing criminal charges for allegedly shooting a lethal drug into an acquaintance's arm. Police in Lethbridge say 19-year-old Hunter Loren Patterson died on Nov. 22, 2009 from a drug overdose....More

Wyoming residents chew tobacco the most, followed by West Virginia, report says

ATLANTA - Wyoming tops the United States in chewing tobacco use, with nearly one in six adult men in that state using the product. Government researchers found men use chew, snus and other smokeless products at much higher rates than women....More

Special CT scans cut lung cancer deaths in study; questions remain about screening

WASHINGTON - A major study shows giving heavy smokers special CT scans can detect lung cancer early enough to modestly lower their risk of death — the first clear evidence that a screening test may help fight the top cancer killer in the U.S. and Canada....More

Food no safer than before listeriosis crisis, says inspectors' union

OTTAWA - The union representing federal food inspectors says Canadians aren't any safer now than they were during the deadly listeriosis outbreak two years ago....More

Calgary-born researcher wins prestigious international neurobiology award

TORONTO - Growing up, Christopher Gregg would never have described himself as a science geek or lab rat. A far more right-brained pursuit — being an artist — was much closer to the mark....More

Bureaucrats say they're being unfairly tarred over veterans privacy scandal

OTTAWA - Information sessions to school bureaucrats on the handling of personal information have prompted a backlash among staff at Veterans Affairs, who fear they're being used as scapegoats in the privacy scandal that's rocked the department....More

Alberta Health Services contacting 173 patients over reuse of syringes

HINTON, Alta. - Several dozen patients at a western Alberta health centre have been contacted to get tested for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV after a health worker was discovered reusing syringes....More

Newfoundland medical specialists say they plan to quit over pay dispute

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Thirteen medical specialists in Newfoundland and Labrador are threatening to quit in a dispute with the provincial government over the latest contract offer....More

Trial wraps up for lawsuit seeking identities of sperm, egg donors

VANCOUVER - Olivia Pratten hasn't felt whole since she learned at age five she was conceived through sperm donation, and over the years she learned she's not the only one who grew up without a name or face for her biological dad....More

Paramedics' union says long waits have people calling 911 from emergency rooms

EDMONTON - Paramedics in Alberta say patients are waiting so long for urgent care in overcrowded hospitals that they are now calling the 911 emergency line while sitting in the emergency ward....More

Newfoundland Liberal leader fighting breast cancer wants more screening

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Newfoundland and Labrador's Opposition leader, who is receiving treatment for breast cancer, is calling for the expansion of screening programs....More

New software could put X-rays, MRIs on tablets for doctors to show to patients

TORONTO - A doctor sits down with a hospital patient to review test results but instead of fumbling with the usual clipboard or file of papers, she reaches into her lab coat and pulls out a tablet computer....More

Health experts say UN troops could have caused Haiti cholera outbreak, call for investigation

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Researchers should determine whether United Nations peacekeepers were the source of a deadly outbreak of cholera in Haiti, two public health experts, including a U.N. official, said Wednesday. The U.S....More

Certain online pharmacies selling bogus prescription drugs: Health Canada

OTTAWA - Health Canada is warning consumers about the potential risks of buying prescription drugs online from certain websites, which are offering medications not authorized for sale in Canada and thought to be counterfeit. Those websites are:www....More

Alberta man charged with injecting lethal dose of drugs into acquaintance's arm

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. - An Alberta man is facing criminal charges for allegedly shooting a lethal drug into an acquaintance's arm. Police in Lethbridge say 19-year-old Hunter Loren Patterson died on Nov. 22, 2009 from a drug overdose....More

Bureaucrats say they're being unfairly tarred over veterans privacy scandal

OTTAWA - Information sessions to school bureaucrats on the handling of personal information have prompted a backlash among staff at Veterans Affairs, who fear they're being used as scapegoats in the privacy scandal that's rocked the department....More

New mother-baby centre officially opens at Regina General Hospital

REGINA - The new Rawlco Centre for Mother Baby Care is open at Regina General Hospital. Premier Brad Wall officially opened the facility which contains 36 rooms and better integrates labour and birth services....More

National watchdog group of docs slams Alberta on health wait list problems

EDMONTON - A national group of doctors is giving Alberta a failing grade on reporting health wait lists — but the province says the mark is unfair....More

Manitoba man suffering from Alzheimer's no longer faces assault charge

WINNIPEG - A Winnipeg man with Alzheimer's disease no longer faces a charge of attacking his wife of almost 50 years — a woman he rarely recognizes anymore....More

Leaked documents show feds expected to hand out fewer vet disability claims

OTTAWA - A trove of leaked internal Veterans Affairs documents suggests bureaucrats knew from the beginning that a new system of benefits would mean less cash for injured soldiers with one analysis projecting savings of up to $40 million per year....More

Heart failure patients should see family doc, cardiologist after ER visit: study

TORONTO - Twenty per cent of heart failure patients who are treated in an emergency department and sent home fail to see a doctor within 30 days, a study indicates....More

Health records privacy breach affects more than 100 in Sarnia, Ont., area

SARNIA, Ont. - The confidential health information of more than 100 southwestern Ontario residents has been breached....More

Concussion rate in junior hockey 7 times higher than previously reported: study

TORONTO - The proportion of junior hockey players who suffer concussion is far more significant than previously thought, says a groundbreaking study that has researchers calling for changes to how Canada's national game is played at all levels....More

Almost 5,500 Ontario doctors using electronic health records: minister

TORONTO - Health Minister Deb Matthews says almost 5,500 doctors in Ontario are now using electronic health records....More

Mental illness, substance abuse plan promises 'evidence-based' approach in B.C.

VANCOUVER - The B.C. government has released a 10-year plan to help people deal with mental illness and addiction, which affect one in every five British Columbians....More

Health Canada introducing new measures for use of rodent control pesticides

OTTAWA - Health Canada says new rules will be introduced for rodent control pesticides to help reduce the exposure of children, pets and other animals that aren't targeted....More

Failing energy factories in the brain suspected in illnesses like Parkinson's

WASHINGTON - Parkinson's disease may stem from an energy crisis in the brain, years before symptoms appear....More

Eating peanuts in pregnancy linked to positive allergy tests in allergy-prone kids

Peanut consumption while pregnant is associated with a higher likelihood that a woman's allergy-prone baby will test positive for peanut allergy, a new study suggests....More

CDC says Haiti cholera outbreak matches South Asian strain, putting more scrutiny on UN base

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - A cholera outbreak that has killed more than 300 people in Haiti matches strains commonly found in South Asia, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday. The finding intensifies scrutiny on a U.N....More

'Silent grief' of miscarriages, stillbirths gains voice with walks, care

HALIFAX - Tina Foley and her husband were gearing up for the arrival of their first child, excited about the furniture, toys and baby clothes they had bought in the months before the birth....More

Leaked documents show feds expected to hand out fewer vet disability claims

OTTAWA - A trove of leaked internal Veterans Affairs documents suggests bureaucrats knew from the beginning that a new system of benefits would mean less cash for injured soldiers with one analysis projecting savings of up to $40 million per year....More

Concussion rate in junior hockey 7 times higher than previously reported: study

TORONTO - The proportion of junior hockey players who suffer concussion is far more significant than previously thought, says a groundbreaking study that has researchers calling for changes to how Canada's national game is played at all levels....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

Doctors testing bedside stopwatch as way to ensure timely stroke treatment

TORONTO - Red LED numbers flash in a rectangular box fastened to a hospital bed, counting upward one second at a time, an in-your-face visual cue for emergency room staff dealing with a possible stroke patient....More

Cancer survivor wraps up a 25-day stint in only his underwear for a good cause

TORONTO - Mark McIntyre is used to receiving horrified looks when he greets people at the door. But he hopes that'll change soon....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

Brain attack: Warning signs of stroke cue that emergency medical care needed

Each year, about 14,000 Canadians die from stroke, making it the third leading cause of death. About 80 per cent of the 50,000 strokes that occur each year are ischemic, caused by interrupted blood flow to the brain due to a blood clot....More

Alberta woman pleads guilty to burying newborn baby's body in backyard

HIGH PRAIRIE, Alta. - An Alberta woman has pleaded guilty to burying the remains of her dead baby. Cherry-Lynn Ferino, 24, was charged with concealing the body of a child after a baby's remains were found in the yard of a home in High Prairie on Aug....More

Sunday marks 90th anniversary of Sir Frederick Banting's idea for insulin

TORONTO - Sir Frederick Banting awoke early on the morning of Oct. 31, 1920 with an idea that some call the most important medical discovery of the 20th century — insulin....More

Study: Alcohol is the most lethal drug, outranking heroin, crack cocaine, marijuana

LONDON - Alcohol is more dangerous than illegal drugs like heroin and crack cocaine, according to a new study....More