Get fit at 50 and stay that way through decades with workout tweaks

At 45, DeEtte Sauer was a dead woman walking. She was morbidly obese, her heart disease so serious a doctor warned her to expect "an event at any time....More

Flu season picking up, with reports widespread in 5 states, CDC says

ATLANTA - Flu season appears to be picking up. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says five states had widespread reports of flu last week, up from zero two weeks earlier....More

Dr. Oz launches weight-loss challenge, says friends can support fitness goals

TORONTO - Dr. Mehmet Oz touts tips for wellness on his popular daytime show, but even the health-conscious heart specialist isn't immune from indulging his sweet tooth during the holidays. The doctor admits baklava is among his weaknesses....More

Dr. Oz launches weight-loss challenge, says friends can support fitness goals

TORONTO - Dr. Mehmet Oz touts tips for wellness on his popular daytime show, but even the health-conscious heart specialist isn't immune from indulging his sweet tooth during the holidays. The doctor admits baklava is among his weaknesses....More

Dr. Oz launches weight-loss challenge, says friends can support fitness goals

TORONTO - Dr. Mehmet Oz touts tips for wellness on his popular daytime show, but even the health-conscious heart specialist isn't immune from indulging his sweet tooth during the holidays. The doctor admits baklava is among his weaknesses....More

Dr. Oz launches weight-loss challenge, says friends can support fitness goals

TORONTO - Dr. Mehmet Oz touts tips for wellness on his popular daytime show, but even the health-conscious heart specialist isn't immune from indulging his sweet tooth during the holidays. The doctor admits baklava is among his weaknesses....More

A dying activist's photo among new, larger, graphics for cigarette labels

OTTAWA - A deathbed photo of a lung cancer victim is among the new, more explicit graphics for cigarette package labels in Canada....More

Ottawa's bolder cigarette warnings prompt cynicism from all sides

OTTAWA - The federal government's plan for a bold in-your-face anti-smoking campaign takes clear aim at young people, new Canadians and smokers who struggle with literacy....More

CFIA issues Salmonella alert for Little Bear brand greens

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public not to consume certain Little Bear brand fresh greens because of possible Salmonella contamination....More

Saskatchewan plans for carbon monoxide detectors after death at seniors home

REGINA - Saskatchewan is moving to install carbon monoxide detectors in all health-care facilities after a man at a seniors home died from exposure to the gas....More

Reports identifies more than two dozen ways to better handle flu pandemic

OTTAWA - Canada needs to be better prepared to handle an influenza pandemic, two major reports said Wednesday....More

People with mental health issues need more community supports: report

TORONTO - Police, the courts and hospital emergency rooms spend too much time dealing with people with mental health issues who aren't getting needed supports in the community, concludes an expert panel set up by the Ontario government....More

Carbon monoxide gas linked to death of man in Saskatchewan seniors home

HUMBOLDT, Sask. - A resident of a seniors home in Saskatchewan has died after being exposed to carbon monoxide gas. The man was among 24 residents of St. Mary's Villa in Humboldt who were forced from the home on Boxing Day because of a leak in a boiler....More

Bigger, more graphic labels for cigarette packages set to be unveiled

OTTAWA - The ten-year-old warning labels on cigarette packages sold in Canada are about to get bigger and more graphic. Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq is expected to unveil the new, more explicit labels on Thursday....More

Three prisoners at B.C. jail come down with H1N1 flu; outbreak not unusual

VANCOUVER - Three female prisoners at a Metro Vancouver jail have been diagnosed with the H1N1 flu. A government spokeswoman says the inmates at the Surrey Pre-Trial Centre were given Tamiflu as soon as their symptoms appeared and one has already recovered....More

Going under the knife for elective surgery: Is your surgeon well-rested?

TORONTO - Doctors who are on-call and awake all night working should inform daytime elective surgery patients of their sleep-deprived status, an article in a prestigious medical journal says....More

Coping with family stress compounded while in space: astronaut Bob Thirsk

MONTREAL - Family stress is complicated enough — even more so when you're dangling in orbit 350 kilometres from Earth....More

Researchers test new approach when best treatment for dangerous sleep apnea fails

WASHINGTON - Loud snoring may do more than irritate a spouse: It can signal sleep apnea, depriving a person of enough sleep to trigger a car crash, even a heart attack....More

McGuinty goes for threepeat next year, despite complaints about HST, hydro bills

TORONTO - The unofficial campaign for the Oct. 6, 2011 Ontario election began with the fall sitting of the legislature, as the Liberal government tries for a third consecutive term in office....More

Tackle your cosmetics case to clean the clutter for instant gratification

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Don't know where to start on the "clean-the-clutter" resolution for the new year? Your cosmetics case or medicine cabinet would be good since gratification can come in minutes instead of the hours it would take to organize your closet or...More

Studies in 2011 could decide MS theory's validity after 'roller-coaster' year

TORONTO - Almost exactly a year ago, a theory about a potential contributing cause of multiple sclerosis burst into the public consciousness....More

Museum of health care promises 'total relief' at anniversary gala

KINGSTON, Ont. - Health care is a serious issue, but the Museum of Health Care plans to take a light-hearted approach when it kicks off its 20th anniversary in February....More

DIY or call in the professionals? Tips on why, how and when to babyproof a home

Babies and toddlers are curious creatures. Something captures their attention — a stuffed animal, a shiny object or a noisy rattle — and they're going after it....More

CFIA issues Salmonella alert for Little Bear brand greens

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public not to consume certain Little Bear brand fresh greens because of possible Salmonella contamination....More

Defence confirms breach of medical information of Forces personnel

HALIFAX - Defence officials are reviewing the medical records of several Forces personnel after an investigation showed their personal health information was mistakenly placed in a veteran's military medical file. Maj....More

Coping with family stress compounded while in space: astronaut Bob Thirsk

MONTREAL - Family stress is complicated enough — even more so when you're dangling in orbit 350 kilometres from Earth....More

Studies set up to test hotly debated MS theory

Canada has one of the highest rates of multiple sclerosis in the world, with about 75,000 people affected by the disease. The MS Society of Canada and the National MS Society in the U.S. have provided more than $2....More

Studies in 2011 could decide MS theory's validity after 'roller-coaster' year

TORONTO - Almost exactly a year ago, a theory about a potential contributing cause of multiple sclerosis burst into the public consciousness....More

Researchers test new approach when best treatment for dangerous sleep apnea fails

WASHINGTON - Loud snoring may do more than irritate a spouse: It can signal sleep apnea, depriving a person of enough sleep to trigger a car crash, even a heart attack....More

McGuinty goes for threepeat next year, despite complaints about HST, hydro bills

TORONTO - The unofficial campaign for the Oct. 6, 2011 Ontario election began with the fall sitting of the legislature, as the Liberal government tries for a third consecutive term in office....More

Studies in 2011 could decide MS theory's validity after 'roller-coaster' year

TORONTO - Almost exactly a year ago, a theory about a potential contributing cause of multiple sclerosis burst into the public consciousness....More

CFIA issues Salmonella alert for Little Bear brand greens

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public not to consume certain Little Bear brand fresh greens because of possible Salmonella contamination....More

Certain McCormick Canada sesame seeds, blends recalled over Salmonella concerns

OTTAWA - The public is being warned not to eat certain McCormick Canada sesame seeds and sesame blends with herbs because they may be contaminated with Salmonella....More

Probiotic natural health product over undeclared dairy, says Health Canada

OTTAWA - Health Canada says a probiotic natural health product is being recalled because it could contain trace amounts of dairy not declared on the labels....More

Father's app lets disabled son 'speak' through iPad

RALEIGH, N.C. - Victor Pauca will have plenty of presents to unwrap on Christmas, but the 5-year-old Winston-Salem boy has already received the best gift he'll get this year: the ability to communicate....More

Whole Foods recalls ginger bread houses that may be tainted with bacteria

OTTAWA - The public is being warned not to eat certain ginger bread houses made by Rolf's Patisserie and Whole Foods Market brands....More

London hospital cuts Urgent Care Centre hours due to doctor shortage

LONDON, Ont. - A London, Ont., hospital says it's temporarily cutting the hours of its Urgent Care Centre due to a shortage of physicians. St....More

Defence confirms breach of medical information of Forces personnel

HALIFAX - Defence officials are reviewing the medical records of several Forces personnel after an investigation showed their personal health information was mistakenly placed in a veteran's military medical file. Maj....More

Coping with family stress compounded while in space: astronaut Bob Thirsk

MONTREAL - Family stress is complicated enough — even more so when you're dangling in orbit 350 kilometres from Earth....More

McGuinty goes for threepeat next year, despite complaints about HST, hydro bills

TORONTO - The unofficial campaign for the Oct. 6, 2011 Ontario election began with the fall sitting of the legislature, as the Liberal government tries for a third consecutive term in office....More

Provinces win control of in-vitro fertilization in Supreme Court challenge

OTTAWA - A divided Supreme Court of Canada has upheld the right of the provinces to regulate in-vitro fertilization. But the court said the federal government is within its rights in banning cloning and human hybrids....More

Peanut allergic consumers warned of granola bar packages that may be mislabelled

TORONTO - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is once again warning people with peanut and nut allergies to be careful with Quaker brand Chewy Granola Bar packages. The 14-bar value packs may contain Quaker brand Dipps granola bars that do contain peanuts....More

N.S. premier announces $16m collaborative care clinic for Queens County

LIVERPOOL, N.S. - Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter has announced plans for a $16-million collaborative primary care clinic in Queens County. It's part of the government's recently announced plan to improve health-care delivery with such clinics....More

Med school pain course revised over concerns about possible pharma influence

TORONTO - A complaint about perceived drug industry involvement in a pain management course for medical students has prompted the University of Toronto to revamp its curriculum....More

Energy drinks improve response time, but effect shrinks as dosage rises: study

TORONTO - Imtiaz Miah knows that excessive caffeine consumption isn't good for his health, but the fourth-year electrical engineering student at Ryerson University turns to caffeinated drinks to help him stay alert to get his schoolwork done....More

Crew of foreign freighter hit by gas leak recovering, returning to ship

PORT COLBORNE, Ont. - Transport Canada says most of the crew members who became violently ill from a gas leak on a foreign grain freighter are back on their ship. The agency says the crew members still in hospital will board the ship in St. Catharines, Ont....More

Companies recall 3 probiotic natural health products over undeclared soy, dairy

OTTAWA - Health Canada says three probiotic natural health products are being recalled because they could contain trace amounts of dairy or soy protein not declared on the labels....More

Certain McCormick Canada sesame seeds, blends recalled over Salmonella concerns

OTTAWA - The public is being warned not to eat certain McCormick Canada sesame seeds and sesame blends with herbs because they may be contaminated with Salmonella....More

Certain Brandy Beans liqueur chocolate recalled over undeclared milk

OTTAWA - People with milk allergies are being warned to avoid certain VSC Chocolats Brandy Bean Liqueur Chocolates because they may contain milk not declared on the label....More

Canadian Medical Association Journal editor-in-chief leaving helm next year

OTTAWA - The editor-in-chief of the Canadian Medical Association Journal will be leaving the position next year. Dr. Paul Hebert informed staff he won't return to head up the journal once his five-year contract expires on Dec....More

Alternative medicines instead of regular drugs could be dangerous for kids

LONDON - Giving alternative treatments such as homeopathic remedies instead of conventional medicines to children may have deadly side effects in rare instances, a new analysis says....More

Alberta hastily scrubs homosexuality as disorder from diagnostic guide

EDMONTON - Alberta has finally scrubbed homosexuality from its diagnostic guide to mental disorders, more than thirty-five years after the psychiatric profession made the same move....More

Abbott recalls 359 million blood sugar testing strips for diabetics

WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday that Abbott Laboratories is recalling up to 359 million testing strips used by diabetics because they can give falsely low blood sugar readings....More

Provinces win control of in-vitro fertilization in Supreme Court challenge

OTTAWA - A divided Supreme Court of Canada has upheld the right of the provinces to regulate in-vitro fertilization. But the court said the federal government is within its rights in banning cloning and human hybrids....More

Med school pain course revised over concerns about possible pharma influence

TORONTO - A complaint about perceived drug industry involvement in a pain management course for medical students has prompted the University of Toronto to revamp its curriculum....More

Certain McCormick Canada sesame seeds, blends recalled over Salmonella concerns

OTTAWA - The public is being warned not to eat certain McCormick Canada sesame seeds and sesame blends with herbs because they may be contaminated with Salmonella....More

Teen births decline dramatically in 2009; births for most ages fell, partly due to recession

ATLANTA - The U.S. teen birth rate hit an all-time low in 2009 — a decline that stunned experts say is partly because of the economy....More

Study: Cancer patients in Denmark, UK worse off than patients in Australia, Canada, Sweden

LONDON - Cancer patients in Australia, Canada and Sweden had a better chance of surviving for five years than those in Denmark and the U.K. in recent years, a new study says. Researchers tracked 2....More

N.L. doctors ratify new four-year contract to end prolonged labour dispute

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Doctors in Newfoundland and Labrador have ratified a new four-year contract with the province that calls for almost $88 million in raises....More

Free yoga for unemployed Americans aims to chill out the out-of-work

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Some yoga studios in the United States are offering their own jobless benefit: free classes....More

Canada has high ranking in survival for 4 cancers; study compares 6 countries

TORONTO - A comparison of cancer survival rates in six developed countries puts Canada in the top three alongside Australia and Sweden, and ahead of Norway, Denmark and the U.K....More

Brazilian government gives fast-food chains 6 months to provide nutritional info

RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazil's fast-food chains have six months to start giving consumers calorie counts and nutritional information about their burgers, fries and milkshakes....More

Certain Brandy Beans liqueur chocolate recalled over undeclared milk

OTTAWA - People with milk allergies are being warned to avoid certain VSC Chocolats Brandy Bean Liqueur Chocolates because they may contain milk not declared on the label....More

Alberta hastily scrubs homosexuality as disorder from diagnostic guide

EDMONTON - Alberta has finally scrubbed homosexuality from its diagnostic guide to mental disorders, more than thirty-five years after the psychiatric profession made the same move....More

Travellers to Dominican Republic offered advice to protect against cholera

TORONTO - Travellers to the Dominican Republic are being reminded to take precautions against cholera. The U.S....More

Study of echinacea for the common cold finds the herbal remedy doesn't help

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Got the sniffles? The largest study of the popular herbal remedy echinacea finds it won't help you get better any sooner....More

RCMP struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder within the ranks

VANCOUVER - Ron Campbell was a crisis negotiator and veteran officer of the RCMP when he was called out with the emergency response team to a standoff near Edmonton six years ago....More

Pfizer voluntarily recalls Thelin, used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension

OTTAWA - Pfizer is pulling a drug for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension because of concerns of liver damage. The medication is called Thelin, and it's being discontinued in countries around the world....More

Ohio woman who in 2008 received first US face transplant meets with husband, children of donor

LAKEWOOD, Ohio - The nation's first face transplant patient has said a donor saved her from a life of eating and breathing through a tube, but until this weekend she knew her only as a woman who died in 2008....More

New technologies help hospitals rethink power of play in a wired world

OTTAWA - Tyrone Henry doesn't consider himself much of a video game aficionado. But the 17-year-old's quiet demeanour vanishes when he talks about how good he is at playing racing games on the new Microsoft Kinect....More

Nearly 1 million U.S. kids live in areas with no children's doctor nearby: study

CHICAGO - There are enough children's doctors in the United States, they just work in the wrong places, a new study finds. Some wealthy areas are oversaturated with pediatricians and family doctors. Other parts of the nation have few or none....More

Girl's quest for new ear: Making facial prosthetics more realistic

WASHINGTON - Elise Lutz never let her friends see what was left of her ear. She'd carefully style her long hair into a one-sided ponytail, or swelter under a swim cap for hours at meets, to cover the molten lump from a severe burn as a toddler in her native...More

Federal government urged to monitor drug shortages; pharmacists concerned

TORONTO - The federal government should come up with a mechanism to monitor drug shortages across the country, the Liberal health critic says. Ujjal Dosanjh notes that the U.S....More

Enough to make you sick: Norovirus hits seniors homes, schools in Edmonton area

EDMONTON - Health officials say a gastrointestinal virus that can be hard on children and seniors is making the rounds in the Edmonton area....More

Infection outbreak on maternity ward means stepped-up infection control measures

VICTORIA - The Vancouver Island Health Authority has declared an outbreak of an infection at a Victoria hospital's maternity ward....More

Frozen dumplings recalled over undeclared egg, one allergic reaction so far

OTTAWA - People with allergies to egg proteins are being warned not to eat certain Choripdong brand frozen dumplings as they contain egg not declared on the label. Dumplings sold in 810 gram packages (with Universal Product code 0 761898 652022) are affected....More

2010 a tough year for charity scams, but Canadians will bounce back: experts

TORONTO - Fraudsters may have raked in thousands of dollars by preying on the generosity of Canadians in 2010, but that doesn't mean the country's philanthropic spirit has been crushed by a rash of high-profile charity scams, experts say....More

Injury of elderly N.S. patient prompts push for training of hospital security

HALIFAX - Injuries to an elderly, bedridden woman who was moved in her bed by hospital security guards in Halifax have prompted the Health Department to recommend new training for commissionaires who handle difficult patients....More

Football and a freak fall: Manitoba judge eyes new rules for stadiums

WINNIPEG - Should sports stadiums be required to curb beer sales and improve safety features to protect fans in the stands? Those are two of the questions being considered by a Manitoba judge following a wide-ranging inquest into the death of a spectator at...More

RCMP struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder within the ranks

VANCOUVER - Ron Campbell was a crisis negotiator and veteran officer of the RCMP when he was called out with the emergency response team to a standoff near Edmonton six years ago....More

N.L. government caves to doctors' demands with tentative contract deal

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - In the end, doctors in Newfoundland and Labrador got almost everything they ordered. Their protracted contract fight with the province ended Thursday with the government's near total capitulation....More

Mother's voice triggers language area in newborn brain, research suggests

MONTREAL - Hearing from Mom can be a source of comfort for little ones, but new research suggests her voice is capable of more than just soothing stress — it can noticeably impact the baby's brain shortly after birth....More

Immigrant who didn't tell sex partners he had HIV going to jail, then deported

WINNIPEG - An HIV-positive immigrant has been given a reduced prison sentence that will expedite his deportation from Canada....More

Hospital report: progress in reducing death rates, some surgeries unneeded

TORONTO - Canadian hospitals are making progress in reducing hospital death rates, a new report indicates, but certain orthopedic surgeries and some other procedures are being done when they may not be needed....More

CFIA says Quaker granola bars recalled due to undeclared peanuts

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Safeway stores are urging people allergic to peanuts to not consume certain granola bars. The affected product is the 364-gram Quaker Chewy Granola Bars Value Packs, which were recalled on Nov. 24....More

B.C. polygamy hearings break for holidays after contradictory expert testimony

VANCOUVER - The British Columbia judge deciding whether Canada's law against multiple marriage is constitutional will take a break over Christmas from the battle of experts that has comprised the case so far....More

B.C. addictions study recommends free alcohol for homeless alcoholics

VANCOUVER - Alcohol is the cheapest drug in B.C., says a report released Thursday by the Centre for Addictions Research, which recommends a hike in liquor prices to reduce illness and injuries....More

Alberta to study patients who have gone abroad to have controversial MS treatment

EDMONTON - The Alberta government says it will spend $1 million to track results from people who have travelled out of the country for a controversial multiple sclerosis treatment not currently available in Canada....More

Mother of bipolar daughter pushes to get more help for mentally ill youth

Maureen Bilerman knew something was wrong when her normally shy 13-year-old daughter suddenly became incorrigible, her thoughts and actions disjointed, sometimes destructive....More

Mentally ill youth needing treatment go through criminal justice system

HALIFAX - At 17, he was out of school, living on his own and occasionally stealing cough syrup from drug stores in Halifax....More

Grandmother at wits end, fears for grandson's well being with no help in sight

HALIFAX - He often stays out all night, drinking and doing drugs. When he does come home, his sleep is interrupted by night terrors. He's 16, but doesn't go to school. The Nova Scotia boy has a record for car theft and various petty crimes....More

First step taken in using genetic markers to customize prostate cancer screening

WASHINGTON - Scientists have taken a first step toward improving those problematic PSA tests for prostate cancer, by mixing in some genetic information that might help tell which men really need a biopsy....More

Chair of troubled Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital in Windsor, Ont., fired

WINDSOR, Ont. - Just days after the province announced it was taking control of a troubled Windsor, Ont., hospital, the chairman of the Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital board has been fired....More

Almost 1 in 10 Canadians aged 12 to 44 reports chronic pain: StatsCan

TORONTO - Chronic pain is often associated with getting older, but new figures indicate that about 10 per cent of those aged 12 to 44 also experience extreme aches and discomfort....More

Source says tentative deal reached in N.L. doctors contract dispute

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Doctors in Newfoundland and Labrador have reached a tentative deal with the provincial government after drawn-out negotiations A source confirms that details will be announced later today....More

CFIA says Quaker granola bars recalled due to undeclared peanuts.

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Safeway stores are urging people allergic to peanuts to not consume certain granola bars. The affected product is the 364-gram Quaker Chewy Granola Bars Value Packs, which were recalled on Nov. 24....More

Government says Saskatchewan residents to pay more for basic ambulance service

REGINA - People in Saskatchewan will likely be paying more when they need to use an ambulance....More

Drinking wine with your fondue slows digestion but won't hurt: study

LONDON - Does it matter what you drink with that cheese fondue? The Swiss would say absolutely! Debate has raged for decades in Switzerland over the perfect fondue beverage....More

Changes in care of organ donors doubles number of lungs viable for transplants

TORONTO - Some simple changes in how patients who have been declared brain-dead are cared for prior to organ donation could double the number of lungs available for transplant, researchers say....More

Cantaloupes bought at Winnipeg Safeway store may contain salmonella: CFIA

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public not to consume cantaloupes from a Winnipeg Safeway store as they may be contaminated with Salmonella. The cantaloupes were sold at the Safeway located at 655 Osborne St. on December 5....More

Almost 4,900 deaths each year in Ontario because of infectious diseases: report

TORONTO - Infectious diseases kill nearly 4,900 people in Ontario each year, and cause more than seven million illnesses, estimates a report released Tuesday....More

Alberta minister disappointed in number of construction sector safety problems

EDMONTON - Alberta's employment minister says he is disappointed with the number of safety problems government inspectors have found at construction sites....More

Alberta city votes to ban smoking in cars when children are present

LEDUC, Alta. - Come next July, it will be illegal for drivers in an Edmonton-area community to smoke in cars while children are in the vehicle....More

MPs urge 'serious' money for mental health to keep ill people out of prison

OTTAWA - Governments must make a "serious investment" in the mental-health system to prevent the vulnerable from ending up in prison, says a House of Commons committee that calls for co-ordinated action on a complex set of problems....More

Most Canadians' folic acid levels fine, don't need more added to food: study

TORONTO - Most Canadians have adequate blood levels of folic acid, and in fact some of us may be getting too much of the B vitamin through diet and supplements, researchers suggest....More

Mentally ill killer a victim, too, says wife of slain Ottawa sportcaster

VANCOUVER - When a severely mentally ill man murdered her husband in August 1995, Alana Kainz said there were two victims in the shooting — her husband and the man who killed him. She didn't always believe Jeffrey Arenburg was a victim....More

Low-sugar cereals are more nutritious even if kids add sugar: Yale study

CHICAGO - A Yale University study has good news for parents wanting to avoid serving super-sugary cereals....More

Last-ditch treatment to get healthy gut bacteria into superbug-ravaged patients

WASHINGTON - A superbug named C. difficile is on the rise, a germ that so ravages some people's intestines that repeated tries of the strongest, most expensive antibiotic can't conquer their disabling diarrhea....More

Health providers called on to be sensitive to patients' cultural needs

The woman opens her eyes in recovery outside the operating room as an unknown male in scrubs leans over to ask how she feels. Groggy with anesthetic, it takes her some moments to realize her hospital gown is askew and her hair has tumbled loose across the pillow....More

Doctors ask Canadians to write prescription for future of health care

OTTAWA - Canadians are being asked to write their own prescription for the future of the country's health-care system....More

Alberta wants more people to call Health Link to ease stress on emergency rooms

EDMONTON - Alberta Health Services hopes its phone information service will take some pressure off of clogged hospital emergency rooms....More

Cantaloupes bought at Winnipeg Safeway store may contain salmonella: CFIA

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is warning the public not to consume cantaloupes from a Winnipeg Safeway store as they may be contaminated with Salmonella. The cantaloupes were sold at the Safeway located at 655 Osborne St. on December 5....More

Eating disorders a problem among Orthodox Jews amid rigid food rituals

COCONUT CREEK, Fla. - Hilary Waller remembers begging her mother to let her fast on Yom Kippur. At 10 years old she was a bit too young, but embracing the rigid discipline seemed desperately important. "It felt like I was practising not eating....More

Drug combo helps women with early breast cancer more than one drug alone: study

SAN ANTONIO - New drug combinations are helping women with early breast cancer. Using two drugs that more precisely target tumours doubled the number of women whose cancer disappeared compared to those who had only one of the drugs, doctors reported Friday....More

Citing liver damage, Pfizer withdraws Thelin

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Pfizer Inc. said Friday it is pulling its blood pressure drug Thelin off the market and stopping all clinical trials because the drug can cause fatal liver damage....More

2 male sexual enhancement products recalled, may pose grave risks: Health Canada

OTTAWA - Health Canada says two health products promoted for male sexual enhancement that may pose serious health risks have been voluntarily recalled. Durazest for Men and Once More were recalled by Natural Performance Products Ltd....More

Health care facilities must report all shootings and some stabbings to police

VICTORIA - B.C.'s solicitor general says health care facilities will be required to report all gunshot wounds and some stab wounds to police as of Feb. 1. Rich Coleman says the new legislation is aimed at combating gang and gun violence....More

Tenor John McDermott pays it forward at Sunnybrook's palliative care wing

TORONTO - For the past 15 years, Scottish-Canadian tenor John McDermott has been going to Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto to put on a Christmas show for veterans living there. But this year, he's bringing a much bigger gift he hopes will mean a whole lot more....More

Claus-trophobia: Why do some kids feel shy, nervous or scared around Santa?

TORONTO - Call it a case of Claus-trophobia. It's a perennial holiday tradition for children to pose for photos with Santa, and while many relish the chance for face time with the man in red, other little ones may feel shy, nervous, anxious and even...More

AP EXCLUSIVE: Flying high until his story crashed - pilot duped doctor groups with fake M.D.

MILWAUKEE - He seemed like Superman, able to guide jumbo jets through perilous skies and tiny tubes through blocked arteries. As a cardiologist and United Airlines captain, William Hamman taught doctors and pilots ways to keep hearts and planes from crashing....More

Manitoba government offers doctors up to $61,000 to work in under-served areas

WINNIPEG - The Manitoba government is offering medical students up to $61,000 in grants to cover their training if they agree to work in under-serviced communities after graduating....More

Jury concludes Saskatchewan woman arrested by police died accidentally

NORTH BATTLEFORD, Sask. - A jury has ruled that the death of a Saskatchewan woman who was taken to hospital after an overnight stay in a police cell was accidental....More

Fresh donor semen illegal and potentially risky, says Health Canada

OTTAWA - Health Canada is warning Canadians about the potential dangers of using fresh donor semen in assisted conception....More

Feds still open to bigger, badder warning labels for smokes: health minister

OTTAWA - Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq says the federal government has not ruled out requiring bigger, more explicit warning labels on cigarette packages....More

Experts on stuttering praise 'The King's Speech' for highlighting condition

TORONTO - As "The King's Speech" hits theatres Friday, experts on stuttering hope the film about George VI's debilitating stammer will raise awareness about the oft-misunderstood condition....More

Bone drug Zometa doesn't help most with early or mid-stage breast cancer: study

SAN ANTONIO - Doctors are reporting a stunning setback for a promising new approach for fighting breast cancer....More

Bone drug Zometa does not help most with early or mid-stage breast cancer: study

SAN ANTONIO - One of the most promising new approaches for fighting breast cancer took a stunning setback Thursday when a major study showed that a bone-building drug did not stop cancer from returning or extend life for most women fighting the disease....More

Alberta spending $1.3 billion on health projects in Edmonton, Calgary

CALGARY - Alberta will spend $1.3 billion over the next three years on health facilities in Calgary and Edmonton, including badly needed upgrades to cancer centres in both cities....More

Retail therapy: Tips on how to stay healthy while holiday shopping

TORONTO - The holidays are typically a hectic time loaded with events and activities from potlucks and cocktail events to office parties and family gatherings....More

New TB test available to poorer countries for fraction of original price

LONDON - Health officials say a new test to diagnose tuberculosis in less than two hours will be available to poor countries for a fraction of its original price....More

More dirty tools at B.C. hospital; 9,000 patients alerted, infection risk low

KAMLOOPS, B.C. - More dirty hospital tools have been found in Kamloops, B.C., where hundreds of surgeries were cancelled earlier this year because of improperly cleaned instruments....More

Hundreds hold hands at rally to improve mental health services in New Brunswick

FREDERICTON - Hundreds of people stood side by side, holding hands, in downtown Fredericton on Wednesday to draw attention to what they say is a lack of services for mentally ill children and youth....More

Article in The Lancet takes Canada to task for asbestos exports

MONTREAL - Criticism of Quebec's controversial asbestos industry is front and centre in a new article published in The Lancet, the prestigious British medical journal....More

Alberta Health Services says it will increase number of high-priority surgeries

CALGARY - Alberta is injecting almost $17 million into its health system to open more operating rooms and reduce wait times for high-priority surgeries. The government says the cash will allow for up to 5,000 more surgeries to be performed next year....More

Surgeon general finds even occasional puff can cause immediate harm

WASHINGTON - Think the occasional cigarette won't hurt? Even a bit of social smoking — or inhaling someone else's secondhand smoke — could be enough to block your arteries and trigger a heart attack, says the newest surgeon general's report on the killer the nation...More

Number of registered nurses in Canada rises by six per cent: Report

TORONTO - A new report says Canada has six per cent more registered nurses today than it did five years ago — an increase that should help slash wait times and improve access to healthcare....More

Researchers find interactive video games good way to promote youth fitness

CALGARY - University of Calgary researchers suggest that interactive video games can provide kids with more than just a workout for their thumbs....More

Nova Scotia emergency centres would ease burden on hospital ERs, premier says

HALIFAX - Collaborative emergency centres will be created throughout Nova Scotia to help ease the burden on clogged hospital emergency rooms, Premier Darrell Dexter said Tuesday....More

N.L. premier avoids opposition call for binding arbitration with doctors

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Kathy Dunderdale is sounding more optimistic, but wants to leave a resolution to the contract dispute with the province's doctors outside the powers of the legislature....More

Manitoba firefighters to be covered for four more cancers by Workers Comp

WINNIPEG - The Manitoba government is proposing amendments to the Workers Compensation Act that would expand coverage for firefighters....More

Health groups want Alberta cancer victim's photo on anti-smoking ads

CALGARY - The grim photo of anti-tobacco activist Barb Tarbox, taken while she was in the final stages of her battle with lung cancer, should be used in new anti-smoking ads across the country, says her husband and two Alberta health groups....More

Handle leftovers safely for healthy holidays; when in doubt, throw it out

OTTAWA - The many gatherings that take place over the holiday period can generate plenty of leftovers, a bonus for the harried cook. But any food left sitting out for a few hours on a buffet table might cause illness if it hasn't been handled properly, Health Canada says....More

French disease expert says in report that UN troops likely source of Haiti's cholera outbreak

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - A contingent of UN peacekeepers is the likely source of a cholera outbreak in Haiti that has killed at least 2,000 people, a French scientist said in a report obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press....More

New tuberculosis test will be much cheaper for poor countries, could revolutionize treatment

LONDON - Health officials say a new test to diagnose tuberculosis will be available to poor countries for a fraction of its original price....More

Health officials call for national immunization registry in Canada

OTTAWA - Canada's independent public health advocate is calling for a national immunization registry as the country looks to renew its Health Accord in 2014....More

Germ inspectors get increased role in fighting hospital-spread infections

BALTIMORE - This is no ordinary intensive care unit: Every doctor, nurse, friend or loved one must cover their clothes with a bright yellow gown and don purple gloves before entering a patient's room so some scary germs don't hitch a ride in or out....More

Disabled girl left alone with dead mother doing much better: brother

VANCOUVER - A 15-year-old girl with Down syndrome who spent nine days alone with her dead mother is in a much better place now, say her family and former neighbours....More

Canadians waiting longer for elective surgery; report says wait time 18 weeks

VANCOUVER - Canadians are waiting longer for elective surgery, according to a new report by the Fraser Institute....More

Canadian health-care workers warn cholera epidemic about to 'skyrocket' in Haiti

CALGARY - There's a permanent smell of bleach at the cholera treatment centre in Bercy, Haiti, where doctors and nurses, many of them Canadian, attempt to provide medical aid for those who are still paying the price from January's devastating earthquake....More

B.C. child rep's report says disabled girl's plight highlights need for change

VANCOUVER - The case of a 15-year-old girl with Down syndrome who spent nine days alone with her dead mother is a tragic sign that the children's ministry needs to change its policies immediately, says a new report by the province's independent child advocate....More

2 products labelled non-dairy recalled over fears they may contain milk traces

OTTAWA - The manufacturers of two natural health products that are labelled non-dairy are being recalled because they may contain trace amounts of milk protein from dairy ingredients used in the production process....More

N.L. premier avoids opposition call for binding arbitration with doctors

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Kathy Dunderdale is sounding more optimistic, but wants to leave a resolution to the contract dispute with the province's doctors outside the powers of the legislature....More

Flu deaths on northern Manitoba reserve point to need for more doctors: chiefs

WINNIPEG - The leader of Manitoba's northern chiefs says more doctors are needed to cope with a flu outbreak that has already killed two people....More

Baby boy dies of whooping cough in northern Saskatchewan; twin sister sick too

STANLEY MISSION, Sask. - A five-week-old boy in northern Saskatchewan has died from whooping cough and his twin sister is sick in hospital. But health officials say there's no reason for people in Stanley Mission to panic. Dr....More

B.C. expands HIV-AIDS testing to identify patients outside at risk groups

VANCOUVER - A cutting-edge HIV-AIDS program in B.C. is now casting a much wider net as it tries to curb the spread of the potentially deadly disease....More

At start of the flu season, CDC says 1 in 3 Americans have already had shots

NEW YORK, N.Y. - As the flu season gets under way, about one in three Americans have already been vaccinated, health officials reported Friday. That's about the same rate or even a little ahead of seasonal flu vaccinations at this time last year, said Dr....More

Outspoken Alberta doctor could sue over alleged campaign to discredit him

EDMONTON - A member of the Alberta legislature who was booted from the government caucus for publicly criticizing state of health care is rattling a legal sabre. Dr....More

Nova Scotia woman battling cancer hits the open road to live her dream

HALIFAX - Rolling over a Halifax harbour bridge at the wheel of a 13-speed Peterbilt tractor-trailer, Donna Douglas's diagnosis of cancer is set aside amid her raw joy at being a trucker....More

New Brunswick 'liberation' fund for MS based on politics, not science: expert

FREDERICTON - A leading authority on multiple sclerosis says a New Brunswick government promise to help patients access so-called "liberation" therapy outside the country is rooted in politics rather than science....More

Health officials call for national immunization registry in Canada

OTTAWA - Canada's independent public health advocate is calling for a national immunization registry as the country looks to renew its Health Accord in 2014....More

Diet alone unlikely to supply enough vitamin D for winter, some experts say

TORONTO - Confused about how to get enough vitamin D in your diet or whether you should pop a daily supplement? Don't worry, you're not alone....More

Court rules Winnipeg man not criminally responsible in cousin's fatal stabbing

WINNIPEG - A Winnipeg man who fatally stabbed his cousin 13 times after she underwent a bone marrow transplant for leukemia has been found not criminally responsible....More

Canadian honoured for work on microscopy technique developed at Harvard

WASHINGTON - A Canadian who helped develop a new microscopy technique that provides high-resolution images of biological cells and tissues has won a prestigious science award....More

Canada's supply of doctors rises to new high: about 68,100 working doctors

TORONTO - The number of working doctors in Canada rose 4.1 per cent last year, the greatest percentage increase in more than two decades, statistics released Thursday show....More

Alberta Premier Stelmach says opponents spreading fear over health care

EDMONTON - Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach wrapped up a tumultuous fall legislature session Thursday, accusing his political opponents of spreading fear over long wait times in health care....More

Alberta politician who was critical of the system gets apology from fellow doc

EDMONTON - The head of the Alberta Medical Association has apologized for his role in what government critic Raj Sherman has termed a smear campaign to discredit him as mentally unstable. "I telephoned Dr. Sherman, and we talked for close to 15 minutes," Dr....More

Alberta health superboard releases document on how it will work with government

EDMONTON - Alberta Health Services says it will open 280 hospital beds by March to help unclog emergency rooms. The pledge is part of the superboard's response to a self-assessment on how well the health-care system has been performing this year....More

Grandpa Jimmy's Scottish Bakery products recalled due to undeclared allergens

OTTAWA - People with milk or sulphite allergies are being warned not to eat certain Grandpa Jimmy's Scottish Bakery products because allergens aren't declared on the label....More

Cases of diabetes on the rise in New Brunswick, health report says

FREDERICTON - One in 10 New Brunswickers will be living with diabetes by 2012, according to a new report from the province's Department of Health. The report says that's up from one in 13 just three years ago. Dr....More

Canadian Paediatric Society offers guidance on discharge of late preterm babies

TORONTO - A prolonged hospital stay is not always required for babies born between 34 and 36 weeks — a few weeks short of a full-term pregnancy, says a new statement from the Canadian Paediatric Society....More

Canadian Food Inspection Agency destroys 8,200 turkeys on Manitoba farm

WINNIPEG - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says all 8,200 birds at a commercial turkey farm in the Rural Municipality of Rockwood have been destroyed after an outbreak of avian influenza....More

Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach promises public input on future health changes

EDMONTON - Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach, facing renewed accusations Wednesday of a secret agenda to privatize health care, said any changes to the system won't violate universal, accessible care and will have the blessing of the public....More

Alberta health minister says new law is first step to revitalizing care

EDMONTON - Alberta Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky (zwahs-DEHS'-key)says passage of a new Health Act is the first step to revitalizing care in the province. The governing Progressive Conservatives voted Tuesday night to pass Bill 17....More

'Virtual biopsy' may detect athletes' brain injuries before death: study

CHICAGO - Football players with memory and behaviour problems have no way of knowing for sure if getting hit too many times caused brain damage. The only test to diagnose their condition is done after death in an autopsy....More

Nova Scotia adviser recommends new standards for emergency room care

HALIFAX - Nova Scotia is poised to become one of the first provinces in Canada to adopt provincewide standards for emergency care. Dr....More

High rates of food insecurity for families of children with diabetes: study

HALIFAX - A unique study in Nova Scotia shows that families with children who have diabetes may not be able to provide enough safe, nutritious food, largely because of the high cost of medical supplies associated with the disease....More

CDC encouraged more Americans to be tested for AIDS, but still fewer than half

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Fewer than half of Americans have had an AIDS test since guidelines were expanded to include routine screening, according to a government report released Tuesday....More

Cancer, heart disease cause more than half of Canadian deaths: StatsCan

OTTAWA - Cancer and heart disease caused more than half of Canada's 235,217 deaths in 2007. They are far and away the two leading causes of death among Canadians....More

Canada's living donor kidney registry now nationwide, includes Quebec

TORONTO - Canada's registry that helps match people in need of a kidney to living donors marked a milestone as it added residents of Quebec to the roster....More

Alberta aims to cut waits for surgery, cancer treatment under new 5-year plan

EDMONTON - Alberta's health minister denied Tuesday he strong-armed an arms-length board to get rid of the province's top health bureaucrat, and says it's time to move from the turmoil that has rocked his department....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

Study says CT scans best at detecting drugs swallowed by smugglers, but experts note cost

CHICAGO - The best method for finding narcotics that smugglers, or drug "mules," hide within their bodies is the same CT medical imaging more commonly used to spot cancer, a small study by Swiss researchers suggests....More

Canadian Food Inspection Agency destroys 8,200 turkeys on Manitoba farm

WINNIPEG - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says all 8,200 birds at a commercial turkey farm in the Rural Municipality of Rockwood have been destroyed after an outbreak of avian influenza....More

'Virtual biopsy' may detect athletes' brain injuries before death: study

CHICAGO - Football players with memory and behaviour problems have no way of knowing for sure if getting hit too many times caused brain damage. The only test to diagnose their condition is done after death in an autopsy....More