Human meds, led by over-the-counter drugs, top list of toxins that can kill pets

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Human medications including dropped pills sickened more pets in the United States last year than any other toxin....More

Health Canada issues voluntary recall of weight loss, body-building product

OTTAWA - A product promoted for weight loss or body building was the subject of a voluntary recall Friday because it contains caffeine and synephrine, a combination that could potentially cause dizziness, tremors, headaches, irregular heart rate, seizures, psychosis, heart...More

First seasonal case of HIN1 surfaces in Saskatchewan as flu cases rise

REGINA - Saskatchewan has its first lab-confirmed case of HIN1 influenza this year. The Ministry of Health says the case involves a young adult in the Regina Qu'Appelle Health region who is doing well and did not need treatment in hospital....More

Alzheimer's research projects receive $8.6M in funding from federal government

VAUGHAN, Ont. - Research into Alzheimer's disease is receiving an $8.6 million boost from the federal government. The money will go toward 44 research projects across the country approved by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research....More

Province pressures school board to remove smoking shelter at Manitoba school

STEINBACH, Man. - A smoking shelter built as part of a pilot program at a Manitoba high school has been removed following an investigation by the province's education minister....More

CFIA warns against consuming candy containing undeclared peanuts

OTTAWA - Canada's food regulator is warning people with allergies to peanuts not to consume a candy called Wally & Molly Saltwater Taffy....More

Some patients seeing health records online, but experts warn it may cause panic

TORONTO - Thousands of patients taking advantage of Canada's first online health records system say it is giving them control over their care, but some experts are warning too much information can cause panic....More

Pathologist Dr. Charles Smith facing hearing that could strip him of licence

TORONTO - A disgraced pathologist blamed for ruining lives by providing misguided expert opinions in court faces a disciplinary hearing this week that could see him stripped of his expired medical licence. Dr....More

Newfoundland hospital gets almost $500,000 in renovations to reduce wait times

CLARENVILLE, N.L. - The government of Newfoundland and Labrador will spend almost $500,000 on renovations to the Dr. G.B. Cross Memorial Hospital in Clarenville....More

Health Tip: Symptoms That May Indicate Bipolar Disorder

(HealthDay News) -- Bipolar disorder causes major mood swings, ranging from depression to manic (elevated) mood....More

Damage found in brain 2 weeks after mini-stroke: B.C. researchers

Mini-strokes are thought to be fairly fleeting, often lasting a few minutes with symptoms gone within 24 hours and no apparent lingering effects — although they do heighten a person's risk of full-blown stroke in the future....More

Close large homes for disabled, expert says after confinement of autistic man

HALIFAX - Nova Scotia should gradually close large institutions for the disabled and move residents into smaller regulated homes to reduce abuse of its most vulnerable, an international expert says....More

Calgary police seize hundreds of packs of synthetic marijuana; it's illegal too

CALGARY - Calgary police have seized thousands of dollars worth of synthetic marijuana....More

Bountiful by the numbers: lots of teen moms, few high school graduates

VANCOUVER - More than one in 10 children born in the polygamous community of Bountiful, B.C., until recently has been born to a teenage mother, according to statistics filed with a B.C. court....More

B.C. child poverty at play in 21 child deaths: children's advocate

VICTORIA - The sad, short lives of 21 B.C. children who all died before their second birthday has the province's independent children's representative calling on the government to do more to fight child poverty....More

Ignatieff fundraiser to be hosted by man aiming to revive asbestos industry

MONTREAL - Michael Ignatieff was the star attraction Thursday at a lavish Liberal fundraiser hosted by a businessman leading the charge to reopen one of Canada's last-remaining asbestos mines....More

Harper predicts 'wave of hope' as he opens UN meeting on maternal health

GENEVA - A $40 billion initiative on maternal and child health will create a "wave of hope" across the developing world, Prime Minister Stephen Harper predicted Wednesday as he opened a United Nations meeting....More

Fewer infections, malfunctions in dialysis patients using rt-PA solution: study

Almost every night, Didja Nawolsky hooks herself up for nocturnal dialysis because her kidney function has been affected by a rare autoimmune disease....More

FDA investigating possible association between breast implants and rare cancer

WASHINGTON - Federal health officials said Wednesday they are investigating a possible link between breast implants and a very rare form of cancer after reviewing a handful of cases reported over the last 13 years....More

Facility apologizes after report of autistic man's 15-day confinement

SYDNEY, N.S. - A Nova Scotia special care home is apologizing after the mother of a 20-year-old autistic man said her son was locked for periods of time over 15 days in a constantly lit room without a bathroom....More

Danish study finds higher mental health risk after childbirth but not after abortion

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Having an abortion does not increase the risk of mental health problems, but having a baby does, one of the largest studies to compare the aftermath of both decisions suggests....More

Chiefs in northern Manitoba call for inquest into nursing station care

WINNIPEG - The group that represents chiefs in northern Manitoba is calling for an inquest into the death of a patient who had attended a nursing station....More

Chance of surviving cardiac arrest when shocks given higher in public: study

TORONTO - The odds of surviving a cardiac arrest are higher for people who are in a public place like a mall or a sports arena than for those who are at home when they receive electrical shocks, a new study indicates....More

CDC estimates some 26 million Americans have diabetes, up 9 per cent since 2008

ATLANTA - U.S. health officials have raised their estimate of how many Americans have diabetes to nearly 26 million. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the new estimate Wednesday....More

National standards announced to protect police, paramedics, firefighters

TORONTO - For the first time, Canada has national standards for protective equipment for firefighters, police and paramedics....More

High doses, frequency of opioid prescribing are 'troubling': Ontario study

TORONTO - Researchers are raising new concerns about opioids, in particular some of the high doses of strong painkillers being prescribed to socially disadvantaged people in Ontario....More

Harper spat with U.A.E. could cost billions: Ontario cabinet minister

OTTAWA - The Harper government's spat with the United Arab Emirates over airline landing rights could cost Ontario businesses billions of dollars in future contracts, a provincial cabinet minister says. "Local politics is getting the best of us....More

Harper leaves for meetings on maternal health

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper is on his way to Geneva, where he hopes to flesh out details of his plan to aid Third World mothers and children....More

Findings of corruption in one aid program show need for strict rules on another: PMO

GENEVA - Evidence of corruption in a billion-dollar aid program linked to a new maternal and child health initiative illustrates the need for clear accountability rules, the Canadian government said on the eve of a summit in Geneva....More

Canadian Forces members are getting fatter and drinking more, survey suggests

HALIFAX - Canadian Forces personnel are getting fatter, more sedentary in their work, less physically active and becoming heavier drinkers, according to a new military study....More

Autistic man confined in room, sometimes without toilet, for two weeks: mother

SYDNEY, N.S. - An autistic man was locked in a room at a special care home in Nova Scotia for 15 days, sometimes urinating in the corner when nobody knew he needed to go to the washroom, says his mother and staff at the facility....More

Harper predicts 'wave of hope' as he opens UN meeting on maternal health

GENEVA - A $40 billion initiative on maternal and child health will create a "wave of hope" across the developing world, Prime Minister Stephen Harper predicted Wednesday as he opened a United Nations meeting....More

Furor over development fund flares on eve of Harper trip to Geneva

OTTAWA - An international fund into which the Conservative government plowed a half-billion dollars last year is reeling over revelations of corruption, including reports of misused millions in Mali — one of Canada's top donor countries....More

From 19th century low-carbs to obesity soap, US diet history shows yen for fast fix

WASHINGTON - Before there were modern weight loss diets, there was William Banting. He invented the low-carb diet of 1863....More

Exercise pioneer Jack LaLanne dies at 96; brought fitness to masses

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Jack LaLanne was prodding Americans to get off their couches and into the gym decades before it was cool. And he was still pumping iron and pushing fruits and vegetables decades past most Americans' retirement age....More

Comparing heart meds: Using cheaper class of drugs saves millions, study finds

TORONTO - A new comparison of two classes of heart drugs reveals that millions of dollars in savings could be realized if the health-care system restricted use of the more costly option....More

Communities in southern Alberta getting new X-ray machines to replace old ones

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. - Several communities in southern Alberta are getting new X-ray machines. Alberta Health Services installed a new one last week in Fort McLeod....More

AP Interview: Getting rid of polio Bill Gates' top priority, donation to be announced at Davos

LONDON - Bill Gates is again shifting his attention from the computer industry, describing eradicating polio as his top priority....More

'Going Blind' documentary turns lens on stories of hope, independence

TORONTO - Even though Joseph Lovett had glaucoma and had been seeing a noted ophthalmologist for 15 years, he had never gone to a low-vision therapist — indeed, had never even heard the job description before....More

High doses, frequency of opioid prescribing are 'troubling': Ontario study

TORONTO - Researchers are raising new concerns about opioids, in particular some of the high doses of strong painkillers being prescribed to socially disadvantaged people in Ontario....More

FDA checking 36 fever-related seizures in children after flu shot

ATLANTA - U.S. government officials are investigating an apparent increase in fever-related seizures in young children after they got a flu shot. The U.S....More

Are Prozac-popping fish present in the St. Lawrence River in Montreal?

MONTREAL - Are Prozac-popping fish present in the water supply? That's the surprising question raised in a study by the Universite de Montreal's chemistry department....More

Are Prozac-popping fish present in the St. Lawrence River in Montreal?

MONTREAL - Are Prozac-popping fish present in the water supply? That's the surprising question raised in a study by the Universite de Montreal's chemistry department....More

Are fish popping Prozac present in the water? Study:anti-depressants in water supply

MONTREAL - Are fish popping Prozac present in the water supply? That's the surprising question raised in a study by the University of Montreal's department of chemistry....More

People complaining of health impacts from wind turbines head to Toronto court

TORONTO - Opponents of Ontario's use of industrial wind turbines to generate electricity hope legal action will stop any new wind farms until studies are done on possible adverse health effects....More

Hot chocolate with undeclared almonds recalled in allergy scare

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has announced the recall of a brand of hot chocolate, warning it could be dangerous for people with allergies to almonds. The agency said late Friday that the U.S.-made Pelican Bay Ltd....More

Getting her life back: High-tech rehab to help AZ Rep. Giffords to recover from brain injury

HOUSTON - She inspired the nation with her fairy-tale recovery. Now Rep. Gabrielle Giffords must inspire herself through the ordeal of rehabilitation, and doctors say it's likely to be the hardest work she'll ever do....More

New physical activity guidelines reflect `more is better' approach to fitness

TORONTO - Canada's physical activity guidelines are getting a makeover, reflecting a "more is better" approach to fitness by emphasizing the need for both vigorous and strengthening activities in the lives of youngsters, adults and seniors....More

13th patient confirmed dead in C. difficile outbreak at Hamilton hospital

HAMILTON - The president of a Hamilton hospital is confirming the death of a 13th patient due to an outbreak of the C. difficile superbug. Dr. David Higgins, who heads St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, says the patient died Tuesday....More

Wal-Mart to reformulate foods, push suppliers to produce healthier products

WASHINGTON - Wal-Mart, the largest grocer in the United States, says it will reformulate thousands of products to make them healthier and push its suppliers to do the same, joining first lady Michelle Obama's effort to combat childhood obesity....More

US agency says training should be required for doctors using Eli Lilly's Alzheimer's agent

WASHINGTON - A U.S. government panel of medical specialists says a first-of-a-kind imaging chemical designed to help screen for Alzheimer's disease could be beneficial, provided doctors receiving training in interpreting the brain scans....More

Smoking to be officially snuffed at Kelowna, B.C. beaches and parks

KELOWNA, B.C. - In less than two weeks, smokers will not be welcome at Kelowna, B.C., beaches or parks. The Okanagan city is declaring its outdoor areas smoke-free on Feb. 1. The declaration coincides with National Non-Smoking Week....More

Recipient of rare voice box transplant speaks again; yearns to live normal life

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A woman whose natural voice could have been silenced forever because of vocal cord damage is able to talk again after undergoing a rare voice box transplant....More

No injuries after CO leak at Winnipeg daycare centre; 80 plus kids, staff removed

WINNIPEG - More than 80 children and staff were evacuated Thursday from a Winnipeg daycare centre due to a carbon monoxide leak. Allison Stewart, assistant director of Peek-A-Boo Infant Child Care, said there were no injuries....More

Kidney transplants can save millions in dialysis costs: organ transplant report

TORONTO - The number of people living with kidney failure more than tripled in Canada in the last 20 years, new statistics show, but experts hope to save lives and millions of dollars in dialysis costs by expanding organ donor programs....More

FDA checking 36 fever-related seizures in children after flu shot

ATLANTA - U.S. government officials are investigating an apparent increase in fever-related seizures in young children after they got a flu shot. The U.S....More

Saskatchewan premier pursues nuclear plan, including small reactor and PET scans

REGINA - Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall is pursuing a plan to go beyond mining uranium and is eyeing the possibility of small nuclear reactor technology....More

Ontario hospitals transferring patients as they grapple with flu: minister

TORONTO - Ontario hospitals are working together in an "unprecedented" way to cope with the crush of patients with flu-like symptoms, Health Minister Deb Matthews said Wednesday....More

Only 15% of Canadians meet minimum recommended exercise standard: StatsCan

TORONTO - A Statistics Canada report that says only a fraction of Canadians are getting enough exercise has health advocates warning of a physical inactivity crisis....More

McGuinty says Ontario won't ban smoking in apartments; too intrusive

TORONTO - The Ontario government used Weedless Wednesday to encourage more people to butt out, but Premier Dalton McGuinty said he won't ban smoking in apartment buildings. "I think when you get into people's homes, you're crossing a line," said McGuinty....More

Manitoba education minister upset over smoking on high school grounds

WINNIPEG - Manitoba's education minister is promising to investigate a high school's decision to let students smoke on school grounds, although it is unclear whether the province could force the school to change its policy....More

Bilingual toddlers have cognitive edge over their unilingual peers: study

MONTREAL - A new study has found that bilingual toddlers have a cognitive edge over their unilingual peers. Researchers from Canada's Concordia and York universities co-authored the study, which tested 63 bilingual and unilingual toddlers....More

Alberta Health Services promises 9,000 additional MRIs by end of March

EDMONTON - Alberta Health Services is promising 9,000 additional MRIs will be done by March 31 to help reduce waiting lists. The provincial health provider says that's more than a five per cent increase over the 166,000 MRIs performed annually....More

13th patient confirmed dead in C. difficile outbreak at Hamilton hospital

HAMILTON - The president of a Hamilton hospital is confirming the death of a 13th patient due to an outbreak of the C. difficile superbug. Dr. David Higgins, who heads St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, says the patient died Tuesday....More

Britain plans major health-care overhaul, but critics are skeptical

LONDON - Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday waded into terrain where past British governments have foundered, promising fundamental changes to the country's expensive and over-stressed public health care system....More

Be alert for risk of death among high birth weight First Nations infants: study

High birth weights for First Nations infants born in Quebec are linked to a higher risk of death when the babies are between four weeks and one year of age, a new study indicates....More

STARS air ambulance won't take off until 2012, says Saskatchewan MLA

REGINA - It will be some time yet before anyone sees emergency response helicopters in Saskatchewan's sky....More

New limits set for chemical that makes kids' plastic toys soft

OTTAWA - The federal government is restricting the use of certain chemicals used to make toys and child-care articles soft and squishy. The new regulations restrict the use of six compounds known as phthalates in toys and items such as bibs and sippy cups....More

New Brunswick government launches review of medical service coverage

FREDERICTON - The New Brunswick government may stop paying for some elective medical services as it looks for ways to cope with a looming budget deficit....More

Fox family hopes for museum honouring Canadian icon Terry

VANCOUVER - Members of Terry Fox's family say they are ready to part with personal memorabilia to set up a museum that would honour the Canadian icon's battle with cancer....More

A new Terry fox memorial site will encompass four bronze statues at BC Place

VANCOUVER - Four bronze statues of Terry Fox will be erected to honour the Canadian icon at B.C. Place, replacing a 27-year-old monument that currently graces the stadium....More

Situation critical at London hospitals where ER wait times are too long

LONDON, Ont. - Hospital officials are warning that the situation is critical at London hospitals where wait times in emergency rooms are too long and there aren't enough beds for patients....More

Not-so-happy hour: medical journal wants national strategy for alcohol use

TORONTO - A national strategy is needed to control overall alcohol use in Canada, particularly heavy drinking or binge drinking, says an editorial Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal....More

New drugs take aim at hepatitis C, spur debate on whether to test baby boomers

WASHINGTON - There's new hope for an overlooked epidemic: Two powerful drugs are nearing the market that promise to help cure many more people of liver-attacking hepatitis C — even though most who have the simmering infection don't know it yet....More

More charges laid in prescription drug trafficking case; warrant out for man, 78

YORKTON, Sask. - An alleged prescription drug trafficking ring in Saskatchewan has spread to Manitoba. Mounties have issued a warrant for a Manitoba man — 78-year-old Henry Ironstand of Valley River First Nation....More

Inaugural summit addresses widespread social weight bias, says it needs to end

TORONTO - David Dolomont is a proud married father of twin boys who spent more than 20 years working as a paramedic....More

Giffords' husband says he'd meet Loughner's parents, doesn't blame them

WASHINGTON - Astronaut Mark Kelly, the husband of wounded congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, says he'd be willing to meet the parents of the man accused of attempting to assassinate his wife, adding he doesn't blame them for their son's alleged crimes....More

Depression, errors, burnout lead some surgeons to consider suicide; study says few seek help

CHICAGO - A study suggests medical errors, job burnout and depression lead surgeons to contemplate suicide at higher rates than the general public, and they're much less likely to seek help....More

Britain plans major health-care overhaul, but critics are skeptical

LONDON - Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday waded into terrain where past British governments have foundered, promising fundamental changes to the country's expensive and over-stressed public health care system....More

Be alert for risk of death among high birth weight First Nations infants: study

High birth weights for First Nations infants born in Quebec are linked to a higher risk of death when the babies are between four weeks and one year of age, a new study indicates....More

Justice for junior: baby born in foyer of Saskatoon provincial courthouse

SASKATOON - Two quick-thinking deputy sheriffs have made a special delivery in the foyer of the Saskatoon provincial courthouse....More

Immunization clinics planned after hepatitis A confirmed in Duncan, B.C., worker

DUNCAN, B.C. - Public health officials in Duncan, B.C., on Vancouver Island, have arranged a series of weekend immunization clinics to head off a possible outbreak of hepatitis A....More

Groups want government to pay for medication to help smokers kick the habit

VANCOUVER - Two groups are calling on the B.C. government to pay for medication that will help people kick the habit. The BC Lung Association and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C....More

Combat trauma surgeon, Dr. Oz's brother-in-law are the public faces of Giffords' medical team

TUCSON, Ariz. - One is an irrepressible South Korea native who has treated some of the most horrific wartime injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan. The other is a reserved neurosurgeon who happens to be the brother-in-law of television show host Dr. Oz....More

Charges against prominent Canadian telerobotic surgeon stayed in Ontario

NORTH BAY, Ont. - Charges have been stayed against a North Bay, Ont., surgeon who was involved in the world's first telerobotic surgery between two hospitals....More

'Nuclear' candy imported from Pakistan recalled in lead scare

OTTAWA - A voluntary recall has been issued for all Toxic Waste brand Nuclear Sludge Chew Bars, imported from Pakistan. The recall was announced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency late Friday....More

Cancer survivor aims to raze treatment, research barriers with an app to enable collaboration

SAN FRANCISCO - In the late 1990s, Marty Tenenbaum was a hotshot e-commerce entrepreneur riding high on the dot-com boom when he noticed a lump on his body....More

Problem gaming may elevate risk of youth mental health issues, study suggests

TORONTO - Young problem gamers who play compulsively on their consoles and computers may be at greater risk than others for mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, a new study suggests....More

Old bones: Mammoth tusk used for osteoporosis research in London, Ont.

LONDON, Ont. - Researchers at the University of Western Ontario have a mammoth task ahead of them. They've obtained an almost one-metre-long section of a woolly mammoth tusk that was discovered in the Yukon....More

New sterilization unit for Kamloops hospital plagued by dirty surgical tools

KAMLOOPS, B.C. - A Kamloops, B.C., hospital plagued by dirty surgical tools and surgery delays is getting a new facility to clean the instruments doctors use in operating rooms. The provincial government says $10....More

Hold fries, cut salt: US announces first overhaul of school lunches in 15 years

WASHINGTON - School cafeterias in the United States would have to hold the fries and serve kids more whole grains, fruits and vegetables under the government's plans for the first major nutritional overhaul of students' meals in 15 years....More

High-cost meds may play role in poorer kids with IBD requiring surgery: study

TORONTO - Children in low-income neighbourhoods who have inflammatory bowel disease are more likely to go under the knife for surgery than their counterparts in high-income areas, a new study finds....More

Former governor general Jean mourns with Haiti on anniversary of quake

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - At precisely 4:53 p.m. on Wednesday, the moment one year ago when an earthquake shattered their homeland, some Haitians dropped to their knees in prayer....More

Don't exceed top dose of acetaminophen when taking painkillers: Health Canada

OTTAWA - As the United States announced Thursday that it would cap the amount of acetaminophen allowed in prescription painkillers, Health Canada issued a statement saying that it continues to review current and emerging safety evidence. The U.S....More

Chicago researcher: Put anxieties on paper and test fears disappear

SEATTLE - A simple writing exercise can relieve students of test anxiety and may help them get better scores than their less anxious classmates, a new study has found....More

Actress Lisa Ray says hot yoga key to her cancer survival, plans to open studio

TORONTO - Canadian actress Lisa Ray says she's easing back into the spotlight with projects that include plans to open a hot yoga studio just outside Toronto....More

Saskatoon hospital units quarantined after norovirus outbreak

SASKATOON - Three units at Saskatoon's St. Paul's Hospital are under quarantine with a contagious stomach bug, and the Saskatoon Health Region is declaring it an outbreak. Norovirus has been detected in 37 staff and patients at St. Paul's since Jan. 5....More

Report shows first real increase in reported asthma in several years in U.S.

ATLANTA - Asthma seems to be increasing a little, and nearly one in 12 Americans now say they have the respiratory disease, federal health officials said Wednesday About 8....More

Regina health region sends patients to private clinic for scans to cut wait list

REGINA - A Saskatchewan health region is sending more patients to a private clinic for CT scans in an effort to shorten wait times....More

DNA tests for disease risk don't cause undue anxiety or spur better lifestyle: study

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Consumers who get their DNA tested for health risks take the results in stride, says the first major study of how people react to commercial genetic testing....More

Depression, psychological trauma in Canada's Haitian community year after quake

MONTREAL - In the aftermath of the earthquake that rocked Haiti one year ago today, a Creole expression began circulating through Montreal's Haitian diaspora: nou tout jwenn....More

Art and science unite in stem cell exhibit at Calgary's Glenbow Museum

CALGARY - The use of embryonic stem cells in regenerative medicine and therapeutic cloning has generated a maelstrom of public debate, but a new exhibit at Calgary's Glenbow Museum allows the public to view the issue with a cool artistic eye....More

High-cost meds may play role in poorer kids with IBD requiring surgery: study

TORONTO - Children in low-income neighbourhoods who have inflammatory bowel disease are more likely to go under the knife for surgery than their counterparts in high-income areas, a new study finds....More

Former governor general Jean mourns with Haiti on anniversary of quake

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - At precisely 4:53 p.m. on Wednesday, the moment one year ago when an earthquake shattered their homeland, some Haitians dropped to their knees in prayer....More

Congresswoman still in critical condition; 2 discharged from hospital after Arizona shooting

TUCSON, Ariz. - Doctors treating Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords said Monday the congresswoman was responding to verbal commands by raising two fingers of her left hand and even managed to give a thumbs-up....More

Cancer centre in western Manitoba to accept patients in February or March

BRANDON, Man. - Cancer patients in western Manitoba will soon be able to stay closer to home for treatment. The Westman Cancer Centre could accept its first patients in late February or early March....More

Saskatchewan Air Ambulance needs a little TLC of its own after landing accident

REGINA - The Saskatchewan government says it's taking steps to ensure that emergency air medical service for patients is not compromised after a landing accident. An air ambulance was damaged during a landing at the Maple Creek airport on Jan....More

Ottawa turned down 'strong request' to extend mission in post-quake Haiti: UN

LEOGANE, Haiti - The Canadian government turned down a plea to extend its military relief effort in Haiti after last year's earthquake, says a top United Nations official in Port-au-Prince....More

Ontario ombudsman launches probe into unregulated medical transfers

TORONTO - Ontario's watchdog is dispatching his investigative team to probe non-emergency medical transfers of patients across the province....More

Calgary to hold public hearing on tooth decay versus continued fluoridation

CALGARY - People in Calgary will get a chance to have their say on the issue of whether fluoride should continue to be added to the city's drinking water. A public hearing will be held Jan....More

Alcohol swabs recalled over potential contamination concern: Health Canada

TORONTO - A Canadian distributor has issued a voluntary recall of alcohol swabs after concerns were raised over potential contamination. Health Canada says Shandex Sales Group is asking wholesalers, drug stores and other retailers to stop selling the product....More

Depression, psychological trauma in Canada's Haitian community year after quake

MONTREAL - In the aftermath of the earthquake that rocked Haiti one year ago today, a Creole expression began circulating through Montreal's Haitian diaspora: nou tout jwenn....More

Spacing babies less than 2 years apart may raise autism risk in second-born: study

CHICAGO - Close birth spacing may put a second-born child at higher risk for autism, suggests a preliminary study based on more than a half-million California children....More

Montreal mom accepts apology from clothing store over breast-feeding controversy

MONTREAL - A woman who was told to quit breast-feeding her infant daughter in a secluded part of a children's clothing store has received an apology from the company's president....More

Manitoba records first case of H1N1 flu this winter

WINNIPEG - The Manitoba government reported its first H1N1 flu case of the winter Monday, as officials urged more people to get the flu shot....More

Lower rates of acquired infection seen with private ICU rooms: Montreal study

TORONTO - Converting intensive care units with shared rooms to all private rooms in hospitals can help reduce the transmission of serious infections like MRSA and C. difficile, a new study suggests....More

Gossamer BB30 crank sets for bikes recalled; crank arm may crack: Health Canada

OTTAWA - Health Canada says a crank set found on several models of Cannondale bicycles is being recalled over concerns they may malfunction and pose a risk for riders....More

Congresswoman still in critical condition; 2 discharged from hospital after Arizona shooting

TUCSON, Ariz. - Doctors treating Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords said Monday the congresswoman was responding to verbal commands by raising two fingers of her left hand and even managed to give a thumbs-up....More

Cancer centre in western Manitoba to accept patients in February or March

BRANDON, Man. - Cancer patients in western Manitoba will soon be able to stay closer to home for treatment. The Westman Cancer Centre could accept its first patients in late February or early March....More

Ottawa turned down 'strong request' to extend mission in post-quake Haiti: UN

LEOGANE, Haiti - The Canadian government turned down a plea to extend its military relief effort in Haiti after last year's earthquake, says a top United Nations official in Port-au-Prince....More

3 construction workers in Calgary treated for carbon monoxide poisoning

CALGARY - Three home construction workers in Calgary had to be treated for carbon monoxide poisoning. Fire crews were called to a home under construction in the Hamptons, a community in northwest Calgary....More

Squalid, dangerous camps still home to a million Haitians a year after quake

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - With all the cash left to her name stuffed into her bra, a trembling Vedette Guillaume hides under her cardboard mattress and prays the bullets will miss....More

CFIA issues two warnings for food products with undeclared ingredients

OTTAWA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued two new warnings concerning food products....More

Families 'discouraged' by transfer of dementia patients to far away hospital

NORTH BAY, Ont. - A months-long battle to keep a specialized dementia program in North Bay, Ont. will likely come to an end this week....More

Doctors optimistic for Giffords, but say it may take months to know extent of brain damage

TUCSON, Ariz. - Recovering from a gunshot wound to the head depends on the bullet's path, and while doctors are optimistic about Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' odds, it can take weeks to months to tell the damage....More

Collingwood hospital closed to visitors, new patients due to gastro outbreak

COLLINGWOOD, Ont. - Part of a Collingwood hospital remains closed to visitors and new patients due to an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness....More

Canadian helps tuition-free school become sign of progress in post-quake Haiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - A place with a ripped-tarp roof, fallen wall and crumbling staircase is actually a rare gem amid the quake-battered ruins of its Haitian neighbourhood....More

Spacing babies less than 2 years apart may raise autism risk in second-born: study

CHICAGO - Close birth spacing may put a second-born child at higher risk for autism, suggests a preliminary study based on more than a half-million California children....More

Fire officials push alarms to protect against 'silent killer' carbon monoxide

SASKATOON - Fire officials in Saskatoon are urging people to have a working carbon monoxide alarm in every bedroom or within five metres of each bedroom door....More

Experts doubt latest debunking of vaccine link to autism will change minds

ATLANTA - This week more shame was heaped upon the discredited British researcher whose work gave rise to the childhood-vaccines-cause-autism movement, as a prominent medical journal published a report that the man had faked his data....More

Ex-U.S. ambassador Paul Cellucci diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease

OTTAWA - Paul Cellucci, the blunt-talking former U.S. ambassador to Canada, has been diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease....More

Electrical problem shuts down Regina water plant; residents told to limit use

REGINA - People who live in Regina and three neighbouring communities are being asked to limit their water use because a treatment plant has been shut down. The city says an electrical problem caused the Buffalo Pound facility to shut down this morning....More

Certain tests can predict risk of dementia decade before onset: study

TORONTO - Mentally scrambling for words, being unable to recall names or losing track of everyday items like car keys can make a person anxious about whether such mental blips are normal for their age or a harbinger of dementia....More

Brazil allows in vitro fertilization for same-sex couples, single people

RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazil's national association of doctors has approved new rules for in vitro fertilization that let same-sex couples and single people qualify for the process....More

Alberta government not about to hit switch on power line assessment

EDMONTON - There are no plans by the Alberta government for an environmental assessment of a proposed high-voltage power line that critics argue could generate health problems....More

Health experts say UK's surge in flu cases could be replicated across Europe

LONDON - European health officials are warning that the swine flu outbreak that appears to be spiking in Britain could soon spread to the rest of the continent. The annual flu season struck the U.K....More

Saskatchewan privacy boss urges auto insurer to stop over-collecting health info

REGINA - Saskatchewan's privacy commissioner says the province's auto insurer needs to change how it collects health information about claimants....More

Republican threats to kill health-care reform: Real or showboating?

WASHINGTON - Republicans now in control of the U.S. House of Representatives are vowing to kill the sweeping health-care overhaul that's been President Barack Obama's biggest legislative achievement — but are their threats mere political showboating or a symbolic opening...More

Ontario's health minister names supervisor to troubled Windsor hospital

TORONTO - A former chief executive of Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital took over the troubled Windsor, Ont., facility Wednesday, a rare move the governing Liberals insist will get the hospital back on track after years of controversy....More

Once mocked as a hippie diet, veganism catching on in the U.S. mainstream

You've come a long way, vegan. Once mocked as a fringe diet for sandal-wearing health food store workers, veganism is moving from marginal to mainstream in the United States....More

Mentally ill Nova Scotia man not criminally responsible for two murders: parents

HALIFAX - The mother of a mentally ill Nova Scotia man facing two murder charges says her son turned to violence because his mind was overwhelmed by a "monster" he could no longer keep at bay....More

Flu season arrives in Ontario during holidays but fewer getting vaccines

TORONTO - The holiday season brought not only joy and good will to Ontario, but the flu as well, according to public health officials....More

Antibiotic that targets gut bacteria may help some IBS patients: study

TORONTO - It might make a good subject for toilet jokes, but for millions of people with irritable bowel syndrome, there is nothing remotely funny about the disorder....More

First study connecting measles vaccine to autism was a fraud: medical journal

LONDON - The first study to link a childhood vaccine to autism was based on doctored information about the children involved, according to a new report on the widely discredited research....More

Too many heart patients get implanted defibrillators, study finds

CHICAGO - One in five heart defibrillators may be implanted for questionable reasons without solid evidence that the devices will help, according to a first-of-its-kind analysis....More

Sex taunts, death threats, jailbreaks all challenges facing jailhouse nurses

TORONTO - Sexual taunts, death threats and the very real possibility a patient is feigning illness to make a jailbreak attempt are just some of the daily struggles facing Canada's jailhouse nurses....More

Norwalk outbreak at London, Ont., hospital; 4 patients showing symptoms

LONDON, Ont. - For the second time in less than a week, officials at the London Health Sciences Centre are dealing with an outbreak....More

Manitoba professor at centre of controversy over 'exam anxiety' returns to work

WINNIPEG - An assistant professor at the University of Manitoba is back on the job after being suspended for questioning a degree awarded to a student. Gabor Lukacs (gah-BOR' LOO'-katch) was upset that a student was awarded a PhD despite failing an exam....More

Long-term care centre for geriatric mental health patients to open in Edmonton

EDMONTON - A 150-bed health centre for seniors with mental health problems, including Alzheimer's disease, is opening its doors in Edmonton....More

About 6 in 7 adult drivers buckle up; CDC credits rise with preventing injuries

ATLANTA - Nearly six in seven U.S. adults now wear seat belts, an increase in driver safety that health officials say has helped cut motor vehicle deaths and injuries....More

15 ill at Peterborough, Ont., long-term care facility; visits restricted

PETERBOROUGH, Ont. - Visits are being restricted at a long-term care facility in Peterborough, Ont. Fifteen residents have shown at least two of the following symptoms: fever, cough, nasal congestion and sore throat....More

Seasonal flu activity picks up in Canada; predominant strain is H3N2 influenza A

TORONTO - Flu activity is picking up in some parts of Canada, but the predominant strain in this country is H3N2 instead of the pandemic H1N1 virus that dominated the health-care scene a year ago. Dr....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

New Year leaves disabled Nortel workers without benefits

OTTAWA - The new year is bringing little joy to some 400 former Nortel employees who find themselves abruptly cut off from their long-term disability benefits. Without the benefits, the workers predict 2011 will herald a life of poverty and pain....More

Adios smoky bars: Spain's tough anti-smoking law comes into effect

MADRID - The tapas bar — the noisy and bustling Spanish success story that combined delicious morsels with good wine and, often, an ever-present cigarette — is now smoke-free. So are restaurants, discos, casinos, airports and even some outdoor spaces....More

Rare Ewing's Sarcoma strikes at soft tissues in adolescents' bones

MONTREAL - Sarah Cook was a lively eight-year-old playing with her sisters when she first noticed her leg felt strange....More

Medical radiation used in kids, raising concern about future cancers: study

CHICAGO - The first large study to examine the use of X-rays, CT scans and other medical radiation in American children estimates the average child will get more than seven radiation scans by age 18, a potentially worrisome trend....More

J&J joins development of blood test to spot cancer cell in a billion healthy ones

BOSTON - A blood test so sensitive that it can spot a single cancer cell lurking among a billion healthy ones is moving one step closer to being available at your doctor's office....More

Fudge or broccoli? Bad habits get wired into your brain, undermining resolutions

WASHINGTON - Uh-oh, the new year's just begun and already you're finding it hard to keep those resolutions to junk the junk food, get off the couch or kick smoking. There's a biological reason a lot of our bad habits are so hard to break — they get wired into our brains....More

Dr. Ronald Colapinto, known for innovations in vascular radiology, dies at 79

TORONTO - Dr. Ronald Colapinto, a Toronto physician whose innovations made him world-renowned in the field of interventional vascular radiology, has died. He was 79....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

New Year leaves disabled Nortel workers without benefits

OTTAWA - The new year is bringing little joy to some 400 former Nortel employees who find themselves abruptly cut off from their long-term disability benefits. Without the benefits, the workers predict 2011 will herald a life of poverty and pain....More

Adios smoky bars: Spain's tough anti-smoking law comes into effect

MADRID - The tapas bar — the noisy and bustling Spanish success story that combined delicious morsels with good wine and, often, an ever-present cigarette — is now smoke-free. So are restaurants, discos, casinos, airports and even some outdoor spaces....More

J&J helps develop blood test to spot 1 cancer cell in a billion healthy ones

BOSTON - A blood test so sensitive that it can spot a single cancer cell lurking among a billion healthy ones is moving one step closer to being available at your doctor's office....More