Hospital workers in Halifax vote in favour of tentative contract deal

HALIFAX - A tentative deal aimed at averting a strike by some 3,600 hospital workers in the Halifax area was ratified by the union membership Friday....More

Free Viagra and transgender surgery on the chopping block at DND: sources

OTTAWA - There could soon be less spring in the step of those at National Defence as the department considers halting the decade-long practice of distributing free Viagra to the troops....More

Controversial bird flu study clears last publication hurdle; gets export permit

A controversial bird flu study has cleared the final hurdle on its long road to publication, with the Dutch government granting the work an export permit....More

Bottled water given to students at 24 New Brunswick schools after lead found

FREDERICTON - Nearly 11,000 students in the New Brunswick city of Saint John are being given bottled water after elevated levels of lead were found at their school water fountains, the province's education minister said Friday....More

B.C. women ordered to share frozen sperm like any asset of a failed relationship

VANCOUVER - Thirteen vials of donated sperm should be divided among two women whose same-sex relationship has fallen apart, says a British Columbia judge who concluded sperm should be treated the same as any other type of property in a spousal dispute....More

US approves powerful Johnson & Johnson antibiotic Levaquin to treat or prevent deadly plague

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. - U.S. regulators have approved use of a powerful Johnson & Johnson antibiotic to treat plague, an extremely rare, sometimes-deadly bacterial infection....More

Some facts about teens and Type 2 diabetes

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Sobering news from a federally funded study of nearly 700 youths with Type 2 diabetes found that it's extremely hard to keep the disease under control. Even a common diabetes pill failed to keep blood sugar at safe levels in half of them....More

Sobering new research finds many overweight teens have a hard time controlling their diabetes

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - New research sends a stark warning to overweight teens: If you develop diabetes, you'll have a very tough time keeping it under control....More

Ontario urged to ban teens 18 and under from using tanning beds

TORONTO - A Belleville woman is urging the Ontario legislature to pass a private member's bill to ban kids 18 and under from using tanning beds....More

One student sent to hospital after mystery illness at Toronto school

TORONTO - Several people became ill at a Toronto elementary school Thursday, including one student who was taken to hospital. There's no word on what the mystery illness was at St....More

Nova Scotia premier says he won't reveal cost of deal with health workers

HALIFAX - Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter says he won't disclose how much a tentative agreement with 3,600 hospital workers in Halifax could cost taxpayers until it is finalized....More

N.B. government creates new office to find cuts in health spending

FREDERICTON - The New Brunswick government will spend $500,000 this year on a temporary agency that's mandated to find ways to cut costs in the Health Department....More

Liberals must explain conflicting stories about control over Ornge: critics

TORONTO - Health Minister Deb Matthews is standing by her testimony that she was powerless to bring Ornge to heel, despite conflicting accounts of whether the government had any leverage to rein in the province's troubled air ambulance service....More

Indoor tanning beds should be off-limits to those under 18, say opponents

TORONTO - As a child, Kate Neale always wore hats and high-SPF sunscreen to protect her ultra-fair skin from the rays of the sun....More

Guidelines recommend cancer survivors eat better, exercise to help prevent return of disease

ATLANTA - A cancer diagnosis often inspires people to exercise and eat healthier. Now the experts say there's strong evidence that both habits may help prevent the disease from coming back....More

Free Viagra and transgender surgery on the chopping block at DND: sources

OTTAWA - There could soon be less spring in the step of those at National Defence as the department considers halting the decade-long practice of distributing free Viagra to the troops....More

Recycling organs? Doctors have attempted it with livers, hearts, kidneys

CHICAGO - It turns out you can recycle just about anything these days — even kidneys and other organs donated for transplants. Recently in Chicago, in what is believed to be the first documented case of its kind in the U.S....More

Ornge still plagued by staff problems, distrust from some hospitals: director

TORONTO - A member of Ornge's new board of directors says Ontario's troubled air ambulance service is still suffering from a lack of qualified pilots and acute care paramedics....More

Ontario Premier McGuinty says he only met ex-Ornge CEO Chris Mazza once

TORONTO - A prominent law firm with connections to Canada's most powerful political players collected almost $11 million from Ontario's troubled air ambulance service, which has since fallen under the shadow of a criminal probe, a legislative committee heard Wednesday....More

New Brunswick Liberals propose signs to caution buyers of energy drinks

FREDERICTON - New Brunswick's Liberal Opposition has introduced a bill that would require retailers to display signs informing customers of the possible health risks from excessive consumption of energy drinks....More

New Brunswick family doctors seek moratorium on fracking for shale gas

FREDERICTON - The New Brunswick College of Family Physicians called on the provincial government Wednesday to implement a moratorium on shale gas fracking, saying it was worried about the possible harm it could cause to public health....More

Margaret McCain donates $10 million to CAMH for youth mental health services

TORONTO - The widow of New Brunswick food mogul Wallace McCain has made a $10-million donation to Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health....More

Imperial Tobacco challenging federal increase in the size of package warnings

MONTREAL - Imperial Tobacco Canada is fighting the constitutionality of Ottawa's plan to increase the size of graphic health warnings so that they cover 75 per cent of the surface of cigarette packages....More

Indoor tanning beds should be off-limits to those under 18, say opponents

TORONTO - As a child, Kate Neale always wore hats and high-SPF sunscreen to protect her ultra-fair skin from the rays of the sun....More

New CDC report says for US adults, total cholesterol levels continue to fall

ATLANTA - U.S. health officials say only 13 per cent of U.S. adults have high total cholesterol. That may seem incredible in a nation where two-thirds of adults are overweight....More

Health minister won't intervene as Halifax braces for possible hospital strike

HALIFAX - The NDP government of Nova Scotia resisted calls Tuesday to intervene in a labour dispute on the eve of a possible strike by about 3,600 hospital workers in Halifax....More

Government demanding $1 billion in cuts to fees and programs: Ontario doctors

TORONTO - Ontario's governing Liberals are playing hardball in labour talks with doctors by threatening to impose $1.1 billion in cuts to fees and programs that will hurt patients, the Ontario Medical Association said Tuesday....More

Doctors say Ottawa woman doing well after double-lung transplant in Toronto

TORONTO - Doctors caring for an Ottawa woman who generated star support for organ donation say the 21-year-old is doing well after her double-lung transplant....More

Cancer treatment and nutrition cookbook essential tool for patients, caregivers

A cancer survivor who also cared for her father through the illness until his death knows firsthand about the challenges of treating the disease....More

Breathe of fresh air: joint research to look into First Nations lung diseases

SASKATOON - Helping First Nations people breathe easier is the focus of a new joint study. The University of Saskatchewan, University of Regina and two aboriginal communities will work together to look at First Nations breathing problems....More

B.C. introduces legislation to reduce the price of generic drugs

VICTORIA - The B.C. government has brought in legislation to cut the price of generic drugs after scrapping a deal with the pharmacy industry that was aimed at reducing prices....More

Strike delayed at Halifax hospitals as both sides continue negotiations

HALIFAX - Mediated talks are expected to continue today in hopes of averting a strike by some 3,600 hospital workers in Halifax....More

Organ donation a click away: Manitoba sets up online registry for donors

WINNIPEG - Manitobans who want to be organ and tissue donors can now register online. Any resident of the province 18 or older can register to become a donor at www.signupforlife....More

Nova Scotia panel wants shorter wait times for youths needing mental health help

HALIFAX - An expert panel is calling on Nova Scotia to shorten wait times for children and youths who have been referred for a mental health assessment, but the health minister says the province is already having a tough time meeting existing standards....More

Hospital bills for appendix removal may range from cost of a refrigerator to cost of house

CHICAGO - What do hospitals charge to remove an appendix? The startling answer is that it could be the same as the price of a refrigerator — or a house....More

Hair dryers sold at Costco recalled due to potential hazard: Health Canada

OTTAWA - Health Canada has issued a recall for select hair dryers due to a potential defect found in the products. The department says Testarossa TST65C Professional Hair Dryers sold at Costco stores across Canada are affected by the recall....More

Cardiac rehab: Healing the heart at home alternative to hospital-based program

TORONTO - Mark Lemieux is running on the treadmill, the slap of each sneaker-clad foot marking one more step in his quest to bump up his cardiovascular fitness and keep it there....More

Capital Health says ERs will remain open if hospital workers go on strike

HALIFAX - The Capital District Health Authority says emergency rooms will remain open but most clinics outside hospitals will be closed in the event of a strike by about 3,700 workers....More

Novartis tries to make hospitals use $1,120 eye drug over $95 alternative

LONDON - Drugmaker Novartis says it is taking legal action in Britain to make hospitals use an eye drug that costs 700 pounds ($1,120 Cdn) per shot instead of a cheaper one that costs just 60 pounds ($95)....More

New CDC report says for US adults, total cholesterol levels continue to fall

ATLANTA - U.S. health officials say only 13 per cent of U.S. adults have high total cholesterol. That may seem incredible in a nation where two-thirds of adults are overweight....More

Nova Scotia names mediator to prevent strike by Halifax hospital workers

HALIFAX - The Nova Scotia government has appointed a mediator in an effort to prevent a strike by about 3,600 hospital workers in Halifax next week. Bruce Outhouse, a mediator, arbitrator and lawyer, has been appointed to help resolve the labour dispute....More

N.S. officials warn people not to eat ham products that may be contaminated

HALIFAX - The Nova Scotia government is warning the public not to consume certain ham products that may be contaminated with Listeria....More

Manitoba RCMP, border guards, seize counterfeit erectile dysfunction drugs

WINNIPEG - Mounties and border guards in Manitoba have seized a shipment of fake drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction....More

Liberals warn Albertans must choose between credit card and medicare for health

EDMONTON - The Alberta Liberals are urging voters to be careful on Monday if they want to protect and improve public health care. Leader Raj Sherman says it comes down to a choice between paying for health services with a credit card or through medicare....More

FDA says no risk from Gulf seafood amid environmental worry over sick fish at oil spill site

WASHINGTON - Photos of fish with sores may raise concern about long-term environmental effects of the massive BP oil spill — but federal health officials say the Gulf seafood that's on the market is safe to eat....More

Cut surgery requirement for birth-certificate sex change, Ontario ordered

TORONTO - People who live as the opposite sex should not have to undergo sex-change surgery before they can change their gender on their birth certificates, Ontario's Human Rights Tribunal has decided....More

'Ecoholic Body' a source on everything that comes into contact with our bodies

TORONTO - Adria Vasil, an expert on all things green, unveils what's hiding in our hairstyling aids, sunscreens and even our clothing in "Ecoholic Body," the third book in her earth-friendly series....More

First Nation's water imperils economy, health and maybe even pregnancies

SLATE FALLS, Ont. - Like many remote First Nations, Slate Falls is surrounded by abundant, sparkling blue water that it can't seem to drink or pump sufficiently into its houses. The water defines this northwestern Ontario community....More

Poor people six times more likely to be hurt in road accident: study

MONTREAL - People living in poor neighbourhoods are more than six times as likely to be injured in a road accident as their wealthy counterparts, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Public Health....More

Ottawa woman who underwent double lung transplant suffers setback

TORONTO - Helene Campbell, the Ottawa woman who underwent a double lung transplant in Toronto on April 7, has suffered a setback in her recovery....More

Manitoba government will cover full cost of oral cancer drugs

WINNIPEG - The Manitoba government is going to cover the full cost of oral cancer drugs. Until now, patients were covered under medicare only if they were at a health-care facility or if they had private insurance, which usually has a deductible....More

Iqaluit RCMP evacuate territory's only hospital wing over possible gunman

IQALUIT, Nunavut - RCMP in Iqaluit have evacuated a wing of the territory's only hospital over fears a gunman may be inside....More

Health Canada warns diabetes drug Actos may pose bladder cancer risk

TORONTO - Taking the diabetes drug Actos may increase one's risk of developing bladder cancer, Health Canada and the drug's maker, Takeda Canada Inc., said in a warning issued Thursday....More

Alberta NDP to cap drug costs for seniors, add more long-term care beds

EDMONTON - The New Democrats say it's time to give Alberta seniors a break on their prescription drugs. Leader Brian Mason says a senior would pay no more than $300 a year because the party would cap out-of-pocket drug expenses at $25 a month....More

2011 the worst year for US measles in 15 years; most cases tied to Europe, other countries

ATLANTA - Last year was the worst year for measles in the U.S. in 15 years, health officials said Thursday. There were 222 cases of measles, a large jump from the 60 or so seen in a typical year....More

FDA says no risk from Gulf seafood amid environmental worry over sick fish at oil spill site

WASHINGTON - Photos of fish with sores may raise concern about long-term environmental effects of the massive BP oil spill — but federal health officials say the Gulf seafood that's on the market is safe to eat....More

Provinces ready and willing to fill health-care void left by feds: Brad Wall

OTTAWA - The provinces are ready and willing to fill the void left by the federal government in reforming Canada's health-care system, says Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall....More

Large survey of breast cancer tumours finds 10 types; should lead to better care

TORONTO - There is more variation in breast cancer than current treatment approaches acknowledge, according to the largest effort to date to distinguish between and find out what's driving breast cancer tumours....More

Hospital workers could be off job next week after filing strike notice

HALIFAX - The union representing almost 3,600 hospital workers in Halifax filed strike notice with the provincial government today, indicating they could be off the job next week....More

Federal court orders a new hearing for First Nations child welfare

OTTAWA - A new Federal Court ruling on child welfare clears the way for First Nations to challenge federal funding for education, policing and health care, says the Canadian Human Rights Commission....More

Cook fresh or frozen fiddleheads properly to avoid illness: Health Canada

OTTAWA - Fiddleheads are one of nature's earliest gifts for those who love the edible shoots of the ostrich fern. But it's best to be safe when preparing the young sprouts — which look like the curled heads of miniature violins — to avoid getting sick....More

Compliments brand extra-strength acetaminophen gelcaps recalled: Health Canada

TORONTO - Vita Health Products is recalling some over-the-counter pain medication because the packaging makes it look like the drug is in a child-resistant package, but it is not....More

B.C. stop smoking program gets 100,000 orders for free products in 6 months

VICTORIA - A B.C. government program that offers people free products like prescription drugs and nicotine patches to help them stop smoking has racked up 100,000 orders in its first six months....More

Ottawa woman who underwent double lung transplant suffers setback

TORONTO - Helene Campbell, the Ottawa woman who underwent a double lung transplant in Toronto on April 7, has suffered a setback in her recovery....More

Bound-up bowels leave constipation sufferers longing for regular call of nature

It's one of those personal ailments that plagues millions of Canadian adults, who often suffer in silence because they're too embarrassed to talk about, well, about not being able to "go." Let's face it, constipation isn't exactly dinner conversation....More

1 in 9 drugs prescribed in Que. are off-label; most lack strong evidence: Study

TORONTO - One out of every nine prescriptions written in Quebec is for a drug that isn't being used for the purposes for which it was licensed, a new study suggests. That practice is called off-label use....More

NDP says tobacco companies found loophole in ban on candy-flavoured cigarettes

TORONTO - Ontario needs another ban on candy-flavoured tobacco products after the industry found a loophole in a 2010 law before it even went into effect, New Democrat health critic France Gelinas said Tuesday....More

Manitoba to table budget that juggles core programs with need to cut costs

WINNIPEG - Media reports say the upcoming Manitoba budget will call for a major reduction in the number of regional health authorities in the province....More

Johns Hopkins confirms early talks on First Nations private hospital in B.C.

KELOWNA, B.C. - Prestigious Baltimore, Maryland-based Johns Hopkins Hospital confirms preliminary discussions with a southern B.C. native band about a potential new hospital near Kelowna....More

HEALTHBEAT: Go to bed on time, says study that mimics night shift to link diabetes, poor sleep

WASHINGTON - More people pull the night shift. Teens text past midnight and stumble to class at dawn. Travelers pack red-eye flights. Nodding off behind the wheel isn't the only threat from a lack of shut-eye....More

Health groups condemn cuts to anti-smoking program in federal budget

OTTAWA - National health groups are condemning the Harper government for cuts to a federal non-smoking program....More

Anger may stress the heart, but study suggests being optimistic is heart healthy

WASHINGTON - Be happy — it seems to be good for your heart. Scientists have long known that Type A personalities and people who are chronically angry, anxious or depressed have a higher risk of heart attacks....More

Toronto reports 1st case of human rabies since '31; first in country since '07

TORONTO - Toronto has reported its first case of human rabies in 81 years, in an unidentified person who may have become infected during travel outside the country....More

Sex selection may be at play among Indian, South Korean families in Ontario: Study

TORONTO - A new study hints that some families of Indian and South Korean origin in Ontario may be practising sex selection to ensure they have boy babies. The work, by researchers from Toronto's St....More

Review of Cape Breton's Talbot House followed resident complaint: minister

HALIFAX - A provincial review of an addiction treatment centre was launched after a complaint was received from a former resident, Nova Scotia's community services minister said Monday....More

Oxy addict on reserve still craves drug after losing his children

CAT LAKE, Ont. - Samuel Wesley cracked when the child welfare authorities took his daughter away....More

Bound-up bowels leave constipation sufferers longing for regular call of nature

It's one of those personal ailments that plagues millions of Canadian adults, who often suffer in silence because they're too embarrassed to talk about, well, about not being able to "go." Let's face it, constipation isn't exactly dinner conversation....More

1 in 9 drugs prescribed in Que. are off-label; most lack strong evidence: Study

TORONTO - One out of every nine prescriptions written in Quebec is for a drug that isn't being used for the purposes for which it was licensed, a new study suggests. That practice is called off-label use....More

Manitoba to table budget that juggles core programs with need to cut costs

WINNIPEG - The Manitoba budget to be tabled today is expected to juggle spending on core services with cost cutting aimed at bringing down a $1-billion deficit....More

HEALTHBEAT: Go to bed on time, says study that mimics night shift to link diabetes, poor sleep

WASHINGTON - More people pull the night shift. Teens text past midnight and stumble to class at dawn. Travelers pack red-eye flights. Nodding off behind the wheel isn't the only threat from a lack of shut-eye....More

Organ donation advocate takes first steps following double lung transplant

TORONTO - An Ottawa woman whose high-profile pitch for organ donation has tugged at celebrity heartstrings took a big leap foward Saturday in her own personal battle for survival....More

Deli Chef "Super Loaded Sub" recalled due to possible Listeria contamination

OTTAWA - Deli Chef is recalling its "Super Loaded Sub" because of possible Listeria contamination. The sandwiches were sold in 330 gram packages bearing the UPC 0 56040 37452 6, an expiry date of May 18, and the Establishment number 318....More

Alberta Tory patriarch weighs into provincial election campaign

CALGARY - The patriarch of Alberta's Progressive Conservative party has made a plea to Conservatives who have switched to the rival Wildrose, by pledging support for Alison Redford Saturday....More

U.S. security advisers urge limits for data included in Dutch bird flu study

The U.S. biosecurity panel that recently lifted its objections to the publication of controversial bird flu studies has raised additional concerns about one of the papers, work conducted by a Dutch research team. In its report to the U.S....More

Report clearing bird flu studies for publication posted without board members' OK

The final report of the U.S. panel that recently withdrew its objections to the publication of two controversial bird flu studies has been posted publicly....More

Manitoba set to table budget with mix of spending cuts and increases

WINNIPEG - Manitoba is set to table one of its most challenging budgets in recent memory Tuesday as it struggles to balance a $1-billion deficit and "strategic" spending increases without drastically hiking taxes or making deep spending cuts....More

First Nations children send heartbreaking letter to drug-addicted parents

CAT LAKE, Ont. - Item number nine in the letter to members of the Cat Lake reserve from the children in Grade Six is as blunt as it is painful. "It hurts us and shoomis and kokum (grandpa and grandma) when you're doing drugs and you're not at home....More

A memo from the children of Cat Lake to their drug-addicted parents

CAT LAKE, Ont. - The Grade 6 students in Cat Lake recently spent a few days compiling a letter to the majority of adults in their community who are addicted to prescription drugs such as Oxycontin....More

First case of swine H3N2 influenza this year reported in US child

TORONTO - After a lull of several months, an influenza virus that is sporadically jumping from pigs to people in the United States has made yet another appearance. U.S....More

Doctors say they fear 16 per cent pay cut under Ontario's contract proposals

TORONTO - Ontario's doctors say they could be facing a 16 per cent pay cut over four years because of the government's proposed wage freeze....More

CDC: Larger share of births are to unwed couples who are living together

ATLANTA - Health officials say nearly 1 in 4 babies are born to unmarried couples who are living together, a significant jump from a decade ago. The government previously said more than 40 per cent of births are to unwed mothers....More

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria found in ancient cave could be source of new drugs

TORONTO - Deep inside a cave in New Mexico, researchers have made a remarkable discovery — bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, even though they have been pristinely isolated from human contact for more than four million years....More

Alberta Tories promise free insulin pumps for Type 1 diabetes patients

EDMONTON - The Alberta Progressive Conservatives are promising to do more to help people who suffer from Type 1 diabetes....More

New Terry Fox monument in St. John's marks Mile Zero of the Marathon of Hope

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - On April 12, 1980, a curly haired 21-year-old named Terry Fox stared up from the edge of the North Atlantic on a grey spring morning in St. John's, N.L. He wore running shorts and a chilled look on his not yet famous face....More

Fertility treatment bans in Europe drive future parents abroad, draw criticism

LONDON - More than three decades after Britain produced the world's first test-tube baby, Europe is a patchwork of restrictions for people who need help having a child. Many countries have strict rules on who is allowed to get fertility treatments....More

Fertility treatment bans in Europe drive future parents abroad, draw criticism

LONDON - More than three decades after Britain produced the world's first test-tube baby, Europe is a patchwork of restrictions for people who need help having a child. Many countries have strict rules on who is allowed to get fertility treatments....More

APNewsBreak: California finds dangerous chemicals in nail polishes that advertise as non-toxic

SAN FRANCISCO - Some nail polishes commonly found in salons and advertised as free of a so-called "toxic trio" of chemicals actually have high levels of agents known to cause birth defects, according to California state chemical regulators....More

WHO: Dementia cases worldwide will triple to over 115 million by 2050

GENEVA - Cases of dementia — and the heavy social and financial burdens associated with them — are set to soar in the coming decades as life expectancy and medical care improve in poorer countries, the World Health Organization says. Some 35....More

Toronto and Ottawa would benefit from safe drug injection sites, report says

TORONTO - Toronto and Ottawa would benefit from having supervised drug injection facilities, but reaction to the report making that recommendation suggests the process of translating advice to reality may not be swift....More

Stressful income tax deadline day boosts risk of fatal car crashes: study

TORONTO - This month's income tax deadline day can not only be stressful for those who have left filing their return to the last minute, but it can also be deadly....More

Hundreds of southern Ontario students face suspension over outdated shots

SIMCOE, Ont. - Health officials in southern Ontario say hundreds of high school students could face suspension if they don't get their booster shots. Wendy Holmes, program co-ordinator for the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit, says 388 students are on notice....More

Doctor's unwarranted forceps intervention caused severe brain damage: court

TORONTO - An experienced obstetrician whose unwarranted forceps intervention during labour led to the birth of a child with catastrophic brain injuries was indeed negligent, Ontario's top court ruled Wednesday....More

CDC: Larger share of births are to unwed couples who are living together

ATLANTA - Health officials say nearly 1 in 4 babies are born to unmarried couples who are living together, a significant jump from a decade ago. The government previously said more than 40 per cent of births are to unwed mothers....More

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria found in ancient cave could be source of new drugs

TORONTO - Deep inside a cave in New Mexico, researchers have made a remarkable discovery — bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, even though they have been pristinely isolated from human contact for more than four million years....More

Study: Tax deadline day deadly on US roads

CHICAGO - The two certainties in life — death and taxes — may be more intertwined than Ben Franklin ever imagined: A study found that deadly auto accidents increase on Tax Day....More

Live online streaming brings the gym experience to home users

TORONTO - A workout DVD doesn't have to be the only tool in your fitness arsenal when you're in need of a little motivation to get off the couch and exercise at home....More

For some patients, diet and exercise will never get job done: Formerly fat MD

TORONTO - Dr. Ben Williams remembers the first time someone suggested gastric reduction surgery to him as a possible way to triumph in his life-long battle of the bulge....More

Dental X-rays safe, low risk, says Canadian Dental Association

TORONTO - A new study is urging the public to discuss just how often routine dental X-rays should be carried out, but Canada's top dental body says the U.S. research simply underscores a decreasing and well-know risk associated with the procedure....More

California finds dangerous chemicals in nail polishes advertised as nontoxic

SAN FRANCISCO - Some nail polishes commonly found in California salons and advertised as free of a so-called "toxic trio" of chemicals actually have high levels of agents linked to birth defects, state chemical regulators said Tuesday....More

B.C. vaccine program expanded to protect young women from cervical cancer

VICTORIA - The British Columbia government is offering women born between 1991 and 1993 a vaccination program to protect them from cervical cancer. Provincial health officer Dr....More

APNewsBreak: California finds dangerous chemicals in nail polishes that advertise as non-toxic

SAN FRANCISCO - Some nail polishes commonly found in salons and advertised as free of a so-called "toxic trio" of chemicals actually have high levels of agents known to cause birth defects, according to California state chemical regulators....More

Stressful income tax deadline day boosts risk of fatal car crashes: study

TORONTO - This month's income tax deadline day can not only be stressful for those who have left filing their return to the last minute, but it can also be deadly....More

Redford promising $500 tax credit for kids and doubling of cash for sporting organizations

CALGARY - Alberta Premier Alison Redford says her Conservative government will provide new initiatives to support active lifestyles for children in the form of a physical activity tax credit....More

Possible Salmonella contamination prompts recall of Beef Burger Meat Mix

OTTAWA - Intercity Packers Ltd of Mississauga, Ont. is recalling its Beef Burger Meat Mix because of possible Salmonella contamination....More

Ottawa organ donation advocate starting to stir after transplant, family says

TORONTO - The family of an Ottawa organ donation crusader spent the day in seclusion Saturday, keeping close watch as she started to stir following a double lung transplant....More

Leaders' debate this week viewed as critical to fate of Redford's Alberta Tories

EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA, - Alberta Premier Alison Redford, say analysts, will need to deliver the debate of her life this week to save a 40-year-old Progressive Conservative dynasty from the scrap heap....More

Scientists predict payoff from $1B worth of autism research

ATLANTA - More than $1 billion has been spent over the past decade researching autism....More

Premier Alison Redford woos voters in Alberta's rural conservative heartland

BEISEKER, Alta. - Premier Alison Redford focused her attention outside of Alberta's two major cities Monday by unveiling a series of nuggets aimed at voters in what has long been the Progressive Conservative heartland....More

Could autism be linked with mothers' obesity during pregnancy? Study says it could be a factor

CHICAGO - Obesity during pregnancy may increase chances for having a child with autism, provocative new research suggests....More

APNewsBreak: California finds dangerous chemicals in nail polishes that advertise as non-toxic

SAN FRANCISCO - Some nail polishes commonly found in salons and advertised as free of a so-called "toxic trio" of chemicals actually have high levels of agents known to cause birth defects, according to California state chemical regulators....More

Alberta's Wildrose looks to private clinics for health-care wait-list cure

CALGARY - Alberta's Wildrose party says private health clinics are part of the prescription to ease pressures on waiting lists, turning up the heat on a debate that seems to constantly simmer in the province....More

Ottawa organ donation crusader undergoes double lung transplant

TORONTO - An Ottawa woman who harnessed star power to promote organ donation received a new set of lungs on Friday, but still faces "many hurdles" as she recovers from surgery, her doctor warned....More

Alberta government warns consumers not to eat Pomeberry Blend product

EDMONTON - Alberta Health is warning consumers not to eat a frozen berry product that may be linked to the hepatitis A virus. Pomeberry Blend frozen berries are manufactured by Western Family and is distributed through Save-On-Foods and Overwaitea....More

Two main parties continue to make promises as debate over social issues simmers

CALGARY - The controversial issue of so-called "conscience rights" continued to simmer on the backburner Saturday as Alberta's election campaign neared the halfway point....More

Redford promising $500 tax credit for kids and doubling of cash for sporting organizations

CALGARY - Alberta Premier Alison Redford says her Conservative government will provide new initiatives to support active lifestyles for children in the form of a physical activity tax credit....More

Possible Salmonella contamination prompts recall of Beef Burger Meat Mix

OTTAWA - Intercity Packers Ltd of Mississauga, Ont. is recalling its Beef Burger Meat Mix because of possible Salmonella contamination....More

Ottawa organ donation advocate starting to stir after transplant, family says

TORONTO - The family of an Ottawa organ donation crusader spent the day in seclusion Saturday, keeping close watch as she started to stir following a double lung transplant....More

Leaders' debate this week viewed as critical to fate of Redford's Alberta Tories

EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA, - Alberta Premier Alison Redford, say analysts, will need to deliver the debate of her life this week to save a 40-year-old Progressive Conservative dynasty from the scrap heap....More

Canadian hospitals show some performance improvements, report says

TORONTO - A new report on Canadian hospitals shows that the institutions saw some improvement in their performances and finances in 2010 in comparison to a few years earlier....More

Workers at Nova Scotia's Capital Health District could go on strike April 25

HALIFAX - Conciliation talks between a union that represents health care workers and the health board that serves the Halifax and surrounding area have broken down....More

Sales of addictive painkillers exploding in previously unaffected areas in US

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Sales of the two most popular prescription painkillers in the United States have exploded in new parts of the country, an Associated Press analysis shows, worrying experts who say the push to relieve patients' suffering is spawning an addiction epidemic....More

Odwalla Chocolate Protein drinks recalled after allergic reactions in U.S.

DINUBA, Calif. - Odwalla Inc. is recalling some its Chocolate Protein drinks because they may pose a health threat to people with nut allergies....More

Doctors want to redefine autism; some parents worry their children will be denied special ed

CHICAGO - One child doesn't talk, rocks rhythmically back and forth and stares at clothes spinning in the dryer. Another has no trouble talking but is obsessed with trains, methodically naming every station in his state....More

Doctors want to redefine autism; parents worry children will be denied special education

CHICAGO - For the first time in nearly two decades, experts are trying to rewrite the definition of autism. And that worries some parents and specialists. For many years, different autism-related labels have been used, including Asperger's disorder....More

Alberta's Wildrose looks to private clinics for health-care wait-list cure

CALGARY - Alberta's Wildrose party says private health clinics are part of the prescription to ease pressures on waiting lists, turning up the heat on a debate that seems to constantly simmer in the province....More

Alberta government warns consumers not to eat Pomeberry Blend product

EDMONTON - Alberta Health is warning consumers not to eat a frozen berry product that may be linked to the hepatitis A virus. Pomeberry Blend frozen berries are manufactured by Western Family and is distributed through Save-On-Foods and Overwaitea....More

Saskatchewan urged to restrict tanning bed use for people under 18

REGINA - The Canadian Cancer Society says it's time for Saskatchewan to ban the use of indoor tanning beds for people under the age of 18. The society said Wednesday that it's concerned about the rise in skin cancer among young people....More

Saskatchewan touts lower cancer care waits, but officials say more work to do

REGINA - The chairman of the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency says people are being treated for the disease more quickly, but more work needs to be done. Dr....More

Opposition accuses Liberals of throwing up roadblocks in committee probe of Ornge

TORONTO - Ontario's opposition parties are accusing the governing Liberals of deliberately holding up witness testimony before a committee that's looking into the Ornge scandal....More

Hospitals rating tool now open to the public; high traffic crashes site

TORONTO - The server hosting a newly launched online hospitals rating tool crashed shortly after it was opened to the public for the first time Wednesday, as far more people tried to access it than the statistical agency that developed it had anticipated....More

Ex-minister Smitherman points finger at health bureaucrats for Ornge scandal

TORONTO - Former health minister George Smitherman pointed the finger at health bureaucrats Wednesday for failing to keep an eye on Ontario's troubled air ambulance service before it became a full-blown scandal....More

City of Edmonton bans smoking at outdoor venues where children are present

EDMONTON - The City of Edmonton has banned smoking near any outdoor venue where children are present. Under the new bylaw anyone who lights up a smoke within 10 metres of a playground or sports field will face a $250 fine....More

Canadian hospitals show some performance improvements, report says

TORONTO - A new report on Canadian hospitals shows that the institutions saw some improvement in their performances and finances in 2010 in comparison to a few years earlier....More

Sales of addictive painkillers exploding in previously unaffected areas in US

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Sales of the two most popular prescription painkillers in the United States have exploded in new parts of the country, an Associated Press analysis shows, worrying experts who say the push to relieve patients' suffering is spawning an addiction epidemic....More

Foul smelling urine in young kids may be sign of urinary infection: study

TORONTO - Is smellier-than-usual urine a sign of a urinary tract infection in a young child? A new study suggests perhaps sometimes. The results aren't a slam-dunk, though....More

Former tobacco exec tells historic trial he helped destroy documents

MONTREAL - A former tobacco executive has admitted in a historic legal case that he helped destroy research documents in the 1990s....More

Alberta Tories promise to establish 140 family care clinics across province

STRATHMORE, Alta. - Premier Alison Redford prescribed a network of family care clinics to cure some of Alberta's health-care ills Monday, but her pitch didn't sit well with one of the individuals carefully assembled to be part of her announcement....More

UK officials boost health measures before Olympics due to 3 million people visiting London

LONDON - U.K. health officials are increasing their surveillance for any potential disease outbreaks that could disrupt the London Olympics this summer....More

Tobacco exec cites memory gaps when asked why he destroyed documents

MONTREAL - A retired tobacco executive says he can't remember the details of research documents that were destroyed under his watch and can't recall why they might have been shredded....More

Obama says White House not expecting health care law to be struck down by Supreme Court

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama says he is confident the Supreme Court will uphold his health care overhaul. He says his administration is "not spending a whole lot of time planning for contingencies" in the event that the law is struck down....More

Health Canada needs to work more closely with border agency: auditor

OTTAWA - The Canada Border Services Agency generally does a good job of controlling potentially risky imports of consumer goods, but needs more help from Health Canada to pinpoint some problematic shipments, the auditor general said Tuesday....More

Coalition calls on Alberta election winner to create health wellness fund

EDMONTON - A coalition of 15 groups wants the Alberta government to put money into a wellness fund aimed at preventing fatal diseases....More

Study says five unhealthy lifestyle choices are killing Ontarians faster

TORONTO - A new study says smoking, alcohol, poor diet, lack of physical activity and stress finds are costing Ontarians more than seven years of their lives....More

Osteoporosis drugs linked to eye infections in some first time users: study

TORONTO - First time users of oral osteoporosis drugs may be at an increased risk of developing serious eye conditions, a new study suggests....More

Ontario budget will force hospitals to make major cuts: public health advocates

TORONTO - Austerity measures designed to eliminate Ontario's massive $15.2-billion deficit in five years will spark major cuts in the province's hospitals, public-health care advocates warned Monday....More

Mammograms can find early breast cancers that get unneeded treatment: study

NEW YORK, N.Y. - For years, women have been urged to get screened for breast cancer because the earlier it's found, the better. Now researchers are reporting more evidence suggesting that's not always the case....More

Gene scans may help with rare diseases, but study says they won't be too useful for everyone

WASHINGTON - Gene scans for everyone? Not so fast. New research suggests that for the average person, decoding your own DNA may not turn out to be a really useful crystal ball for future health....More

Foul smelling urine in young kids may be sign of urinary infection: study

TORONTO - Is smellier-than-usual urine a sign of a urinary tract infection in a young child? A new study suggests perhaps sometimes. The results aren't a slam-dunk, though....More

Former tobacco exec tells historic trial he helped destroy documents

MONTREAL - A former tobacco executive has admitted in a historic legal case that he helped destroy research documents in the 1990s....More

Alberta Tories promise to establish 140 family care clinics across province

STRATHMORE, Alta. - Premier Alison Redford prescribed a network of family care clinics to cure some of Alberta's health-care ills Monday, but her pitch didn't sit well with one of the individuals carefully assembled to be part of her announcement....More

Mumm's Sprouting Seeds-Sunflower recalled

OTTAWA - A recall has been issued for Mumm's brand Sprouting Seeds due to possible Salmonella contamination. The affected product, Mumm's brand Sprouting Seeds - Sunflower, are sold in 75 gram packages (UPC 7 73295 07582 3 and lot # SF2020)....More

Loosening of rules about spreading sewage sludge on Ontario farms alarms critics

TORONTO - The loosening of rules around spreading sewage sludge — potentially laced with pharmaceuticals like Viagra — on Ontario farm fields has critics sounding the alarm about potential health risks....More

Use of any type of hormones for menopause symptoms raises breast cancer risk, study suggests

CHICAGO - New research suggests that long-term use of any type of hormones to ease menopause symptoms can raise a woman's risk of breast cancer....More

Ontario re-ignites CPP debate after feds outline changes to old-age security

TORONTO - Middle-class families must either save more for their retirement, or risk suffering a big shock in their golden years....More

Blacks have trouble clearing HPV, study finds; may help explain cervical cancer rate disparity

CHICAGO - Provocative new research might help explain why black women are so much more likely than whites to develop and die from cervical cancer: They seem to have more trouble clearing HPV, the virus that causes the disease....More

Team brings 'Inspired' medicine to homes of patients with respiratory disease

HALIFAX - Tony White says when his respiratory illness makes him hungry for air, fear can seize what's left of his breath. "If you can't breathe, you become very tense and anxious about things....More

Study says five unhealthy lifestyle choices are killing Ontarians faster

TORONTO - A new study says smoking, alcohol, poor diet, lack of physical activity and stress finds are costing Ontarians more than seven years of their lives....More

Foul smelling urine in young kids may be sign of urinary infection: study

TORONTO - Is smellier-than-usual urine a sign of a urinary tract infection in a young child? A new study suggests perhaps sometimes. The results aren't a slam-dunk, though....More