The best health news search engine - My Health News » CBC Health and Science News » February 2010 - Bird flu, Avian influenza, Diabetes, Cholesterol, Caner, HIV

Canadian Blood Services reaches out to ethnic donors

Posted: February 28th, 2010, 6:39pm CST

Canadian Blood Services is trying to encourage more people from ethnic communities to register as stem cell and marrow donors.

Hospitals urge Ontario-wide pathology review

Posted: February 27th, 2010, 6:36pm CST

The association representing Ontario's public hospitals wants the province to extend an investigation into the pathology procedures at a Windsor hospital to the rest of Ontario's hospitals.

Improve playpen testing, labels: Health Canada

Posted: February 26th, 2010, 5:49pm CST

Health Canada called Friday for stricter safety standards for Canadian-made playpen accessories such as change tables and mobiles.

Montreal schools ban green cleaning products

Posted: February 26th, 2010, 4:14pm CST

Montreal's public health department is warning school boards across the city not to use biodegradable cleaning products, Radio-Canada has learned.

Old mice run faster with supplements

Posted: February 26th, 2010, 9:59am CST

Researchers at McMaster University develop a cocktail of ingredients that forestalls aspects of the aging process in mice.

Heart damage curbed with blood pressure cuff

Posted: February 26th, 2010, 9:31am CST

Using a blood pressure cuff to intermittently stop blood flow in the arm helps reduce the amount of damage from a heart attack, researchers say.

H1N1 pandemic still in peak phase: WHO

Posted: February 24th, 2010, 9:47am CST

It's too soon to conclude that the H1N1 pandemic has peaked, the World Health Organization says.

Doctor stops surgery after mastectomy errors

Posted: February 24th, 2010, 9:32am CST

A surgeon at a Windsor, Ont., hospital has stopped operating after a second case was revealed in which the doctor performed a mastectomy on a woman who did not have cancer.

Tough transition for foreign health workers on P.E.I.

Posted: February 24th, 2010, 5:51am CST

Getting qualifications to work in Canada can be more difficult for health workers on the Island than in other parts of the country, a recent study by the P.E.I. Association for Newcomers has found.

Hospital uncovers 2nd mistaken mastectomy

Posted: February 23rd, 2010, 10:34pm CST

Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital in Windsor, Ont., is investigating a second case in which Dr. Barbara Heartwell performed a mastectomy in 2001 on a patient who did not have cancer.

Life expectancy in Canada nears 81

Posted: February 23rd, 2010, 9:22pm CST

Newborn Canadians may live to celebrate nearly 81 birthdays on average, a Statistics Canada report on life expectancy suggests.

Surgery Williams had in U.S. available here

Posted: February 23rd, 2010, 7:53pm CST

Canadian cardiac surgeons say there was no need for the premier of Newfoundland and Labrador to cross the border for world-class health care.

Disabled child immigration decision reserved

Posted: February 23rd, 2010, 7:26pm CST

A French family denied permanent residence in Canada because of a child's handicap will have to wait longer to know their fate.

Alberta's high bowel disease rates focus of study

Posted: February 23rd, 2010, 7:12pm CST

University of Calgary researchers are looking for people with bowel disease in an attempt to understand why so many Albertans suffer from the problem.

Alberta's high bowel disease rates studied

Posted: February 23rd, 2010, 7:12pm CST

University of Calgary researchers are looking for people with bowel disease in an attempt to understand why so many Albertans suffer from the problem.

Gardasil approved for males

Posted: February 23rd, 2010, 6:34pm CST

Gardasil, a vaccine against human papilloma virus (HPV), has been approved as a treatment to prevent genital warts in males aged nine to 26 in Canada, the vaccine's manufacturer said Tuesday.

H1N1 pandemic peak assessed

Posted: February 23rd, 2010, 5:11pm CST

The World Health Organization's flu experts meet to discuss the status of the H1N1 pandemic and whether flu activity is past its peak.

Eastern Health uncovers lab testing problem

Posted: February 23rd, 2010, 2:12pm CST

A problem with some test results involving people taking an immunosuppressive drug has been uncovered at a lab operated by Eastern Health, Newfoundland and Labrador's largest health authority.

Wear mouth guards on slopes: dentists

Posted: February 23rd, 2010, 2:06pm CST

When Alexandre Bilodeau finished his high-flying Olympic freestyle moguls event to win the gold medal, the bright white of his mouth guard couldn't have been a better advertisement for the importance of wearing that hardware, experts say.

H1N1 shot blamed for Calgary woman's rare disorder

Posted: February 23rd, 2010, 1:28pm CST

A Calgary woman regrets getting the H1N1 shot after her doctor told her it likely caused a rare and painful disorder.

Life expectancy in Canada climbs to nearly 81

Posted: February 23rd, 2010, 9:03am CST

Newborn Canadians may live to celebrate nearly 81 birthdays on average, a Statistics Canada report on life expectancy suggests.

300 get sick aboard Caribbean cruise

Posted: February 22nd, 2010, 9:47pm CST

About 300 guests got sick with a stomach ailment aboard a cruise to the Caribbean that departed from South Carolina, a cruise line says.

Anti-seizure drug promotion faces legal fire

Posted: February 22nd, 2010, 9:17pm CST

A lawsuit over the anti-seizure drug Neurontin began in the U.S. on Monday, with patients, insurance companies and unions accusing the drug manufacturer of aggressively marketing it as pain medication.

Melamine kidney impact rare: Chinese study

Posted: February 22nd, 2010, 8:16pm CST

Fewer than one per cent of Chinese children likely to have consumed melamine-contaminated baby formula or food suffered kidney damage, and most of those who did have damage showed no symptoms, a study indicates.

Williams talks about U.S. heart surgery

Posted: February 22nd, 2010, 5:38pm CST

Danny Williams, the premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, has broken his silence on his decision to undergo heart surgery in the U.S., and the controversy it caused.

Nap refreshes brain's learning

Posted: February 22nd, 2010, 3:29pm CST

Taking a mid-afternoon nap may prepare the brain to learn new things, early research suggests.

Obama unveils newest health-care plan

Posted: February 22nd, 2010, 3:21pm CST

U.S. President Barack Obama has unveiled a new compromise health-care plan that attempts to bridge the differences between the stalled House and Senate bills.

Disturbed teen can't make own decisions: court

Posted: February 22nd, 2010, 12:03pm CST

A Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court judge says a 16-year-old who has repeatedly harmed herself by swallowing objects or cutting herself doesn't have the capacity to make a decision involving her own health care.

Pediatricians urge choking warnings for food

Posted: February 22nd, 2010, 9:13am CST

The largest pediatricians group in the United States thinks more foods should have warning labels about choking hazards.

End homeopathy funding: British MPs

Posted: February 22nd, 2010, 6:57am CST

The government should stop funding homeopathic products because they don't work, a British parliamentary science group says.

Paramedics worried by speed limit

Posted: February 22nd, 2010, 5:07am CST

The union that represents P.E.I. paramedics is upset with a new rule that restricts the speed of ambulances in the Maritimes.

Norwalk outbreak at nursing home

Posted: February 21st, 2010, 11:17am CST

A Saint John nursing home has been closed to visitors in the wake of some confirmed cases of the Norwalk virus.

Stress fun side of fitness for teens

Posted: February 19th, 2010, 5:59pm CST

Focus on fun not health to get inactive teens to exercise, a new study suggests.

Baby Isaiah stays on life-support

Posted: February 19th, 2010, 5:14pm CST

The parents of a brain-damaged baby will be back in court March 11 in an effort to keep their infant alive.

HIV vaccine facility won't be built

Posted: February 19th, 2010, 4:31pm CST

A planned multimillion-dollar HIV vaccine manufacturing facility won't be built in Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed Friday.

Add pregnant women to draft drug guide: MDs

Posted: February 19th, 2010, 2:53pm CST

Medications are rarely tested for safety in pregnant women, but proposed federal guidelines could discourage studies that might offer better information and help ease worries, researchers say.

Dolphins have diabetes off switch

Posted: February 19th, 2010, 2:24pm CST

Dolphins develop a form of type 2 diabetes, the only animal other than humans to do so, although dolphins can turn it on and off, researchers say.

Ski and snowboard culture eschews helmets

Posted: February 19th, 2010, 12:41pm CST

Skiers and snowboarders are continuing to put fashion before safety by forgoing helmets, according to a commentary by a Toronto neurosurgeon published Thursday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Food colouring label changes planned

Posted: February 19th, 2010, 10:35am CST

Canadians are invited to weigh in on Health Canada's proposed changes to improve food colouring labelling.

Wrigley to get full-time nurse

Posted: February 19th, 2010, 10:13am CST

Residents in the small N.W.T. community of Wrigley will soon be able to see a nurse in person, after more than a decade of having to get medical advice by phone.

Prince Edward Islanders lack vitamin D

Posted: February 19th, 2010, 6:02am CST

Increased testing of Prince Edward Islanders for vitamin D shows most of them need to be taking a supplement.

Road safety website targets seniors

Posted: February 18th, 2010, 9:53pm CST

People concerned about the road worthiness of older drivers may turn to a new website and brochures.

Canadian hockey hero Henderson has cancer

Posted: February 18th, 2010, 8:26pm CST

Canadian hockey hero Paul Henderson revealed he is battling cancer - a form of leukemia.

Canada won't change plans on improving child, women's health

Posted: February 18th, 2010, 4:14pm CST

The federal government won't add contraception and abortion to a package of initiatives aimed at improving women and children's health despite pleas from the Opposition.

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Loto-Québec online site a health risk: officials

Posted: February 18th, 2010, 3:24pm CST

Public health directors from across Quebec are asking the province to step back from its plan for online gambling.

Zinc in denture creams tied to nerve damage

Posted: February 18th, 2010, 1:30pm CST

Canadians who have been heavily applying Poligrip denture cream for several years should stop using the product, given reports that excess use has been linked to neurological damage and blood problems, the British manufacturer says.

Act happy, avoid heart attack

Posted: February 18th, 2010, 11:02am CST

Being happy may help to avoid a heart attack, a new study suggests.

Program sees stillbirths drop

Posted: February 17th, 2010, 6:09pm CST

The rate of stillbirths in developing countries fell more than 30 per cent after birth attendants received basic training in newborn care, researchers found.

Hospital probes mistaken mastectomy

Posted: February 17th, 2010, 5:41pm CST

Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital in Windsor, Ont., is investigating why a woman underwent a mastectomy when tests showed she did not have cancer.

Medical isotope supply boosted by Poland

Posted: February 17th, 2010, 1:47pm CST

A company that sells some medical isotopes to Canada says a nuclear research reactor in Poland will increase the worldwide supply.

Sugar preserves vaccines without refrigeration

Posted: February 17th, 2010, 1:43pm CST

British researchers have developed a new way of preserving vaccines without refrigeration by sealing the vaccine's live viruses inside glass made of sugar.

Cancer genetic map shows shared flaws

Posted: February 17th, 2010, 12:18pm CST

An international team of scientists has mapped genetic traits of 26 different cancers and found that many abnormalities are shared across multiple cancers.

Cigar, pipe smoking damages lungs

Posted: February 17th, 2010, 12:15pm CST

Pipe and cigar smokers may think their habit is safer than cigarettes, but both groups are at risk of developing damage to their airways, leading to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

High blood pressure found in 19% of Canadians

Posted: February 17th, 2010, 11:04am CST

Nearly one in five Canadians adults - about 4.6 million people between the ages of 20 and 79 - has high blood pressure, Statistics Canada reports.

WestJet to keep pets in plane cabins

Posted: February 17th, 2010, 9:28am CST

Calgary-based WestJet airlines says it has no immediate plans to stop passengers from bringing small pets on board, despite warnings by doctors about allergies.

Virtual slot machines provide clues about addiction

Posted: February 17th, 2010, 9:16am CST

Ottawa researchers are using virtual reality to figure out what makes slot machines so addictive in an effort to prevent people from developing gambling problems.

Immigrants struggle with declining health

Posted: February 17th, 2010, 9:13am CST

Some healthy people who immigrate to Canada find their health deteriorating after their arrival - an issue immigrant communities are struggling to understand and address.

217 possibly exposed to radiation at Ont. plant

Posted: February 16th, 2010, 8:11pm CST

Up to 217 workers may have been exposed to nuclear radiation at the Bruce Nuclear Plant near Owen Sound, Ont., says the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission in a document released Tuesday.

Man treated after applying 20 nicotine patches

Posted: February 16th, 2010, 7:08pm CST

A 25-year-old Regina man locked himself in a restaurant's bathroom Tuesday and applied more than 20 nicotine patches to his body, police say.

Alberta OK's more surgeries to cut wait times

Posted: February 16th, 2010, 6:45pm CST

Alberta says it will reduce surgery wait times, starting with approval for 2,230 additional surgeries and non-surgical procedures between now and the end of March.

Morning light helps sleepy teens' clock

Posted: February 16th, 2010, 6:42pm CST

Many teens aren't getting enough bright light in the morning to reset their biological clocks, researchers have found.

Improve condom fit for public health, MDs say

Posted: February 16th, 2010, 4:12pm CST

Nearly half of men surveyed said they had used a poorly fitting condom in the previous three months, according to a new study that sheds light on why couples fail to use them.

Czech doctors leave tool in woman's abdomen

Posted: February 16th, 2010, 3:56pm CST

It took five long months for a Czech woman to discover the reason for her pain: doctors had left a medical tool inside her abdomen.

Accutane linked to severe skin reactions

Posted: February 16th, 2010, 2:34pm CST

Rare but potentially deadly skin reactions have been found in people using Accutane to treat severe acne, Health Canada says.

Alberta OKs more surgeries and cuts wait times

Posted: February 16th, 2010, 12:43pm CST

Alberta says it will reduce surgery wait times, starting with approval for 2,230 additional surgeries and non-surgical procedures between now and the end of March.

Tut was a 'frail king' with broken leg

Posted: February 16th, 2010, 12:23pm CST

Egypt's King Tut likely died from complications of a broken leg that was exacerbated by malaria a d had a club foot, an extensive study of his mummy and family suggests.

Restore pet ban in plane cabins: MDs

Posted: February 16th, 2010, 12:21pm CST

Pets travelling by air belong in the cargo hold, not the cabin, where their dander could irritate passengers' allergies, states an editorial in the Canadian Medical Association Journal Tuesday.

Ecstasy damages complex memory: study

Posted: February 16th, 2010, 9:29am CST

Ecstasy users have more trouble with difficult memory tasks than non-drug takers and cannabis users, according to new Australian research.

Dark-skinned immigrants urged to take vitamin D

Posted: February 16th, 2010, 7:22am CST

Immigrants who come to Canada from sunnier parts of the world are at risk of health problems caused by a lack of vitamin D unless they take supplements, doctors and nutritionists warn.

Decriminalize euthanasia, Quebec MDs urge

Posted: February 15th, 2010, 6:53pm CST

The head of Quebec's medical specialists association tells a national assembly committee there's a need for clear policies on when a doctor can hasten a patient's death.

'Death' proteins help stem cells develop: study

Posted: February 15th, 2010, 5:02pm CST

Stem cells that repair and regenerate tissues may need to get their DNA chopped up as a normal part of developing into specialized cells like muscle cells, Ottawa researchers have found.

Norovirus hits St. John's nursing home

Posted: February 15th, 2010, 3:18pm CST

Health officials say an increasing number of people on Newfoundland's east coast have come down with Norovirus, a nasty stomach bug that spreads rapidly and commonly causes diarrhea and vomiting.

1 in 3 chance of developing asthma: study

Posted: February 15th, 2010, 10:17am CST

One in three people can expect to be diagnosed with asthma in their lifetimes, Ontario research suggests.

Teens unaware of risks of driving drowsy

Posted: February 15th, 2010, 8:41am CST

Teen drivers were twice as likely to have a crash if they were sleepy behind the wheel, Italian doctors found.

Ont. appealing raw milk producer's acquittal

Posted: February 13th, 2010, 10:21am CST

Raw milk crusader Michael Schmidt says the Ontario government is wasting its time by appealing last month's court ruling that found him not guilty of violating the Health Protection and Promotion Act.

Historic trauma in aboriginals boosts hepatitis C risk

Posted: February 12th, 2010, 7:11pm CST

The trauma of having a parent who was forced to attend a residential school is linked to higher rates of hepatitis C infection among aboriginal young people in B.C., new research suggests.

Repeat breast cancer surgery not reduced with MRI

Posted: February 12th, 2010, 6:21pm CST

Adding expensive MRI scans for breast cancer patients did not help reduce the number who needed repeat operations, say British researchers who concluded the extra cost offers few benefits.

Nunavut unrolls youth safe sex campaign

Posted: February 12th, 2010, 5:05pm CST

Health officials in Nunavut are giving out flavoured condoms to young people as part of a campaign to try to halt the steady rise in sexually transmitted infections.

Mumps outbreak in U.S. exceeds 1,500 cases

Posted: February 12th, 2010, 11:26am CST

A mumps outbreak among Orthodox Jews in New York and New Jersey has now surpassed 1,500 cases and shows no sign of ending soon, health officials say.

Canadians split on premier's U.S. health care

Posted: February 12th, 2010, 8:24am CST

Premier Danny Williams is out of a U.S. hospital and on the mend as a new poll suggests his trip south for heart surgery divides people at home.

Caribou hunting ban raises Dene health concerns

Posted: February 11th, 2010, 6:43pm CST

Some northern residents are becoming worried about the impact of a caribou meat shortage on their health.

HIV spread among men traced

Posted: February 11th, 2010, 6:09pm CST

Scientists have made a key discovery in pinpointing how HIV is transmitted in men who have sex with men.

Poverty, housing factors in N.W.T. MRSA cases

Posted: February 11th, 2010, 3:48pm CST

Overcrowded housing and poverty in some Northwest Territories communities are contributing to an outbreak in MRSA infections, according to health officials.

Controversial cancer tests still sent out of N.L.

Posted: February 11th, 2010, 3:06pm CST

Hormone receptor testing for breast cancer patients in Newfoundland and Labrador is still having to be done outside of the province five years after doctors first started questioning N.L. laboratories' accuracy in performing the tests.

Hospitalized H1N1 patients differed from norm

Posted: February 11th, 2010, 2:58pm CST

H1N1 patients were younger, sicker, and a higher proportion of them died compared with seasonal flu patients, according to a new Canadian report.

WHO to consider if H1N1 has peaked

Posted: February 11th, 2010, 1:25pm CST

The World Health Organization's expert committee will meet later this month to decide whether the H1N1 flu pandemic has peaked.

Danny Williams out of hospital

Posted: February 11th, 2010, 10:24am CST

Danny Williams, premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, has been released from a U.S. hospital a week after heart surgery.

Listeria experiments probed at U of Saskatchewan

Posted: February 11th, 2010, 10:20am CST

A senior researcher at the Saskatoon Cancer Centre at the University of Saskatchewan is under investigation for running unauthorized experiments - injecting lab mice with listeria bacteria.

Sask. university listeria experiments probed

Posted: February 11th, 2010, 10:20am CST

A senior researcher at the Saskatoon Cancer Centre at the University of Saskatchewan is under investigation for running unauthorized experiments - injecting lab mice with listeria bacteria.

N.S health-care disaster plan in works

Posted: February 11th, 2010, 7:39am CST

A team of health experts has drafted a plan to ration critical care for a worst-case scenario, in which a deadly pandemic overwhelms Nova Scotia's health-care system.

Vein narrowing link to MS probed

Posted: February 10th, 2010, 9:26pm CST

More than half the patients with multiple sclerosis and up to a quarter of healthy people studied showed narrowing in their neck veins that may be a risk factor in the neurological disorder, a preliminary study has found.

Cosmetic surgery death avoidable: parents

Posted: February 10th, 2010, 9:24pm CST

The parents of a young Montreal woman say their daughter's death following cosmetic surgery was preventable.

Que. rights panel favours obese woman

Posted: February 10th, 2010, 7:24pm CST

A morbidly obese Quebec woman with numerous health problems has won her legal fight for a better parking spot.

Stutter linked to cells' recycling bin

Posted: February 10th, 2010, 6:17pm CST

Scientists have found genes that could explain some cases of stuttering.

Sask. finance minister has Parkinson's

Posted: February 10th, 2010, 5:49pm CST

Saskatchewan Finance Minister Rod Gantefoer has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system.

Final arguments in appeal of HIV man convicted of sex assault

Posted: February 10th, 2010, 5:25pm CST

Manitoba's Court of Appeal heard oral arguments Wednesday in the case of an HIV-positive man serving a 14-year prison sentence for having sex with six girls and women from Winnipeg without disclosing his medical condition.

Calgary underground tattoo parlours closed

Posted: February 10th, 2010, 5:15pm CST

Calgary health officials are warning patrons of several home-based tattoo parlours to get tested for serious infections.

Calgary med students volunteer at homeless shelter

Posted: February 10th, 2010, 3:25pm CST

A six-week pilot project at the Calgary Drop-In and Rehab Centre gives medical students hands-on experience with real patients who often have trouble accessing medical care.

MRSA infections rising in N.W.T.

Posted: February 10th, 2010, 2:42pm CST

A dramatic increase in the number of MRSA superbug infections in the Northwest Territories has health officials and residents in at least one region concerned.

Bored workers likely unhealthy

Posted: February 10th, 2010, 2:38pm CST

It's possible that the more bored workers are, the greater their likelihood of premature death, a new commentary says.

Drop-side cribs in recall not sold in Canada

Posted: February 10th, 2010, 11:13am CST

A drop-side crib that was recalled in the U.S. because of the deaths of three infants since 2002 was never sold in Canada, says Health Canada.

Psychiatrists weigh diagnostic manual revision

Posted: February 10th, 2010, 10:46am CST

The American Psychiatric Association is proposing changes to the manual doctors use to diagnose and treat mental disorders including autism, addictions and schizophrenia.

Vaccinations may have spared Ont. new round of H1N1

Posted: February 10th, 2010, 9:30am CST

Ontario health authorities say they believe the province's pre-Christmas vaccination campaign has helped to avoid a new round of H1N1.

Antidepressant interferes with breast-cancer drug

Posted: February 9th, 2010, 4:05pm CST

Women taking the breast cancer drug tamoxifen should avoid taking the antidepressant Paxil because the antidepressant may cancel out the benefits of the cancer treatment, researchers say.

Ottawa to appeal injection site ruling

Posted: February 9th, 2010, 2:59pm CST

The federal government is asking the Supreme Court of Canada for leave to appeal a lower court ruling that sanctioned Vancouver's supervised drug injection site.

P.E.I. a bad place for a heart attack: study

Posted: February 9th, 2010, 6:45am CST

P.E.I. is one of the worst places in Canada to have a heart attack, according to a University of Calgary study.

Isotope shortage set to worsen

Posted: February 8th, 2010, 8:53pm CST

The availability of medical isotopes is in question as one of Canada's major suppliers is scheduled to be shut down for repairs later this month.

N.B.'s new trauma system unveiled

Posted: February 8th, 2010, 7:37pm CST

A new co-ordinated network that aims to get treatment for New Brunswick trauma patients more quickly was unveiled Monday.

High blood pressure may predict dementia risk

Posted: February 8th, 2010, 7:06pm CST

Seniors with high blood pressure may face a higher likelihood of developing a type of dementia, a new Canadian study suggests.

Haiti aid groups aim to vaccinate 140,000

Posted: February 8th, 2010, 6:14pm CST

Aid groups planned to launch an emergency vaccination campaign in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Monday in a bid to ward off measles, diphtheria and tetanus.

Italian doctor heightens interest in MS cause

Posted: February 8th, 2010, 5:31pm CST

The Italian doctor whose unconventional thinking on the cause of multiple sclerosis is visiting North America to drum up interest in testing the idea.

Heart strategy could save Canada billions

Posted: February 8th, 2010, 2:41pm CST

Canada could save about $5 billion a year in health-care costs by lowering the number of heart attacks and strokes among the country's population, according to a new report.

Autism linked to older moms

Posted: February 8th, 2010, 2:31pm CST

A woman's chance of having a child with autism increases as she ages, but the risk may be less for older dads than previously suggested, a new study analyzing more than five million births found.

Canada discards U.S. growth charts for kids

Posted: February 8th, 2010, 12:14pm CST

The growth of Canadian children will now be tracked using charts based on the World Health Organization's standards instead of U.S. ones.

Danny Williams out of U.S. intensive care unit

Posted: February 8th, 2010, 11:42am CST

Premier Danny Williams was released Friday from the intensive care unit of a hospital in the United States where he underwent heart surgery Thursday, the premier's office says.

Bad malaria pills in Africa raise resistance fears

Posted: February 8th, 2010, 10:48am CST

The most effective type of malaria-fighting drugs sold in three African countries are often of poor quality, raising fears of increased drug resistance that could wipe out the last weapon left to battle a disease that kills one million people each year, according to a U.S. report.

Tanning bed bill not based on reliable science: industry

Posted: February 7th, 2010, 12:09pm CST

Tanning salon operators say proposed federal legislation that would warn consumers of the cancer risks of tanning is political grandstanding and they are instead calling on the provinces to help regulate operating standards in the industry.

Obese teens offered surgery option

Posted: February 5th, 2010, 9:19pm CST

Canadian teens who are severely obese because of medical conditions will be offered weight-loss surgery in a new program.

Artificial pancreas tested in kids with diabetes

Posted: February 5th, 2010, 6:33pm CST

Children and teens with Type 1 diabetes were able to better control their blood sugar using an automated system that measures glucose levels in real time than with a conventional insulin pump, researchers found.

Calgary best place to have heart attack: study

Posted: February 5th, 2010, 5:14pm CST

Calgary is the best place in Canada to suffer a heart attack, a study carried out by scientists at the University of Calgary faculty of medicine suggests.

Tainted cocaine linked to illnesses in Winnipeg

Posted: February 5th, 2010, 3:57pm CST

The Winnipeg Health Region has issued a warning after two adults were hospitalized with an illness likely caused by cocaine laced with a veterinary drug.

Disclose cleaners' contents: green groups

Posted: February 5th, 2010, 10:28am CST

Environmental advocates have reached back to a 1971 New York state law in an effort to force manufacturers to list the chemicals found in household soaps and cleaners.

Gluten hosts concern parishioners

Posted: February 5th, 2010, 5:56am CST

The Roman Catholic Church needs to do more to accommodate people with celiac disease who can't eat gluten hosts offered during mass, says a Canadian Celiac Association official.

Stelmach to focus on health, competitiveness

Posted: February 4th, 2010, 7:13pm CST

The government of Premier Ed Stelmach plans to bolster Alberta's competitiveness and focus on improving health care during a new session of the legislature, which got underway Thursday with a throne speech.

Gene doping risky for athletes

Posted: February 4th, 2010, 6:21pm CST

Athletes and coaches might be tempted to try using the already readily available tools of gene therapy to boost performance, but the practice isn't ready to be tested on humans, researchers warn.

Sutures safer than staples for C-section

Posted: February 4th, 2010, 5:55pm CST

Women who had caesarean sections were less likely to suffer complications if their incisions were closed with sutures instead of staples, a U.S. study suggests.

Text message service sends health tips to pregnant women

Posted: February 4th, 2010, 5:36pm CST

Pregnant women and new mothers in the U.S. will be able to get health tips sent to their cellphones under a new government-funded program.

Couple sues St. Mike's hospital over alleged beating

Posted: February 4th, 2010, 4:11pm CST

An aboriginal man and woman who allege they were beaten by security guards at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto have launched a $2.1-million lawsuit.

Shatterproof beer glasses unveiled in U.K.

Posted: February 4th, 2010, 2:23pm CST

Two prototypes of shatterproof pint glasses have been unveiled by the British government in an effort to curb the number of injuries from violence in pubs.

Vietnamese boy to head home with new face

Posted: February 4th, 2010, 1:43pm CST

A Vietnamese boy brought to Canada in 2007 to have a giant growth removed from his face was honoured Wednesday at a celebration of his transformation in Canada and his upcoming return to Vietnam.

Calgary doctors fundraise for emergency rooms

Posted: February 4th, 2010, 1:09pm CST

Some doctors in Calgary are fundraising to buy new diagnostic equipment for hospital emergency rooms.

Whooping cough outbreak hits B.C.'s West Kootenay

Posted: February 4th, 2010, 12:32pm CST

An outbreak of whooping cough in B.C.'s West Kootenay region is raising concern that the low rate of immunization in the area could put the lives of some children at risk.

Protein 'ushers' key to beating malaria

Posted: February 4th, 2010, 8:59am CST

Australian researchers have discovered how the malaria parasite is able to invade human cells, which could lead to a new range of anti-malarial drugs.

Cadmium found in adult jewelry

Posted: February 4th, 2010, 8:37am CST

New testing has found high levels of cadmium in adult necklaces and bracelets bought at three leading retailers, including Saks Fifth Avenue, says a California environmental group.

New test finds awareness in some vegetative patients

Posted: February 3rd, 2010, 10:50pm CST

Scientists have detected glimmers of awareness in some vegetative brain-injury patients and have even communicated with one of them - findings that push the boundaries of how to assess and care for such people.

Some vegetative patients show awareness

Posted: February 3rd, 2010, 10:50pm CST

Scientists have detected glimmers of awareness in some vegetative brain-injury patients and have even communicated with one of them - findings that push the boundaries of how to assess and care for such people.

Bar-coded pills proposed for hospitals, pharmacies

Posted: February 3rd, 2010, 6:14pm CST

A Canadian patient safety group is proposing to use the bar-coding technology found in supermarkets to prevent drug dispensing errors.

Missing DNA tied to obesity

Posted: February 3rd, 2010, 5:02pm CST

Some severely obese people are missing a sest of genes, a new study has found.

Stroke risk lower in new Ont. immigrants

Posted: February 3rd, 2010, 4:49pm CST

The rate of strokes among new immigrants to Ontario is about 30 per cent lower than it is among long-term residents, a new study suggests.

Helmeted teachers of autistic students stir debate

Posted: February 3rd, 2010, 2:58pm CST

A Quebec school's security measures, which include two teachers wearing helmets to work with students with autism and developmental problems, are under attack by the Autism Society of Quebec's local chapter.

Clues to sudden infant death found in brain

Posted: February 3rd, 2010, 1:24pm CST

The brains of babies who died of sudden infant death syndrome show low levels of a chemical that helps regulate breathing, researchers say.

Fish oil may avert psychosis: early study

Posted: February 3rd, 2010, 11:14am CST

Fish oil pills may save some young people with signs of mental illness from descending into full-blown psychosis, according to a preliminary study.

Quebec MDs won't get paid for Haiti work

Posted: February 3rd, 2010, 10:47am CST

Quebec Health Minister Yves Bolduc has turned down a request by some of the province's doctors that each be reimbursed $704 per day for volunteer work in earthquake-ravaged Haiti.

Young cancer patients need more help: researcher

Posted: February 3rd, 2010, 7:09am CST

A new study is examining shortcomings of after-treatment care for young cancer patients in Atlantic Canada.

Gerber toddler meal too salty: stroke group

Posted: February 2nd, 2010, 5:53pm CST

Gerber, one of the best-known names in baby food, has been named this year's recipient of the "Salt Lick Award" from the Canadian Stroke Network due to the high sodium content in one of its prepared meals for toddlers.

Slowing down could extend drivers' lives

Posted: February 2nd, 2010, 3:41pm CST

Each hour spent behind the wheel in North America represents a 20-minute loss in life expectancy based on the risk of fatal crashes, a new computer model suggests.

Indoor tanning campaign targets young women

Posted: February 2nd, 2010, 10:40am CST

A nurse who initially ignored a dark spot on her leg that turned out to be melanoma is encouraging young women to learn the facts about indoor tanning.

Heart surgery to sideline N.L. premier for weeks

Posted: February 2nd, 2010, 8:44am CST

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams will be sidelined from three to 12 weeks because of heart surgery he'll undergo later this week in the United States.

Autism-vaccine study retracted

Posted: February 2nd, 2010, 8:39am CST

British medical journal The Lancet says it has retracted a flawed study linking the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to autism and bowel disease.

Prison report urges needle exchange programs

Posted: February 2nd, 2010, 4:02am CST

A report on drug use in prisons urges the federal government to set up needle exchange programs for inmates.

Helmets save skiers, snowboarders: review

Posted: February 1st, 2010, 8:36pm CST

Helmets reduce the risk of head injury for skiers and snowboarders without increasing the risk of neck injury, Canadian researchers say.

Teens heed non-preachy abstinence advice

Posted: February 1st, 2010, 5:06pm CST

An experimental abstinence-only program without a moralistic tone can delay young teens from having sex, a new U.S. study found.

Herbal remedies may raise heart risks

Posted: February 1st, 2010, 4:53pm CST

Mixing some herbal remedies with heart medications may lead to bleeding or a higher risk of heart problems, a review finds.

Boy on life-support after tonsil surgery

Posted: February 1st, 2010, 3:24pm CST

A 12-year-old boy is in a vegetative state after having his tonsils removed at the Winnipeg Children's Hospital.

Indian workers rebuke Quebec over asbestos

Posted: February 1st, 2010, 1:36pm CST

Unionized workers and activists in India capitalized on Quebec's trade mission this week to blast the province for its active role on the global asbestos market.

Leukemia survival improves with transplants

Posted: February 1st, 2010, 12:28pm CST

Survival among people with leukemia who receive bone marrow transplants is the same as those who have a riskier type of stem cell transplant, a 10-year study suggests.

Alberta man not told when health benefits ended

Posted: February 1st, 2010, 11:51am CST

An Edmonton man's benefits were cut off without any notification from his employer or his insurance company three months before his company went into receivership last month.

Enzyme structure cracks HIV puzzle

Posted: February 1st, 2010, 11:07am CST

AIDS researchers have solved a 20-year-old puzzle regarding a key component of HIV, a discovery that could lead to better treatments.

School playground ball ban partially lifted

Posted: February 1st, 2010, 10:53am CST

A winter ban on playing with balls at an Ottawa public school has been partially lifted after two students collected 250 names on a petition.

Furry angel of death profiled in doctor's book

Posted: February 1st, 2010, 10:45am CST

The scientist in Dr. David Dosa was skeptical when first told that Oscar, an aloof cat kept by a nursing home, regularly predicted patients' deaths by snuggling alongside them in their final hours. But his doubts eroded after he and his colleagues tallied about 50 correct calls made by Oscar over five years.

U.S. resumes Haiti medical airlifts

Posted: February 1st, 2010, 10:02am CST

The U.S. military has resumed medical evacuation flights from Haiti to hospitals in the United States after suspending the airlifts last week.

Doctor stigmatizing addict mothers, group says

Posted: February 1st, 2010, 6:53am CST

There is no need to counsel women taking methadone not to become pregnant, says a national group of doctors that works with pregnant women with addictions.

My Health News » CBC Health and Science News » February 2010

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