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Improving the odds to quit smoking
Original broadcast date: January 4, 2009 New Year’s resolutions involve commitments to make positive changes, whether it’s to sort out money matters, enjoy life more or finally get in shape before swimsuit season. For many Canadian smokers, quitting permanently would be one of their greatest accomplishments in life, but successful quitting requires a plan. Getting…
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Improving accuracy of asthma diagnosis
Findings published in the November 18, 2008 edition of the Canadian Medical Association Journal suggest that approximately 30 per cent of Canadians diagnosed with asthma may not have the disease. The question is how the diagnosis was determined in the first place and what can be done to improve diagnostic accuracy. Dr. Shawn Aaron, Senior…
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Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
A majority of people are unaware of the difference between high blood pressure or hypertension and a condition known as Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. November is PAH Awareness Month and a recent Ipsos Reid survey shows that there is a lot of work to do to raise awareness about a condition that will claim the lives…
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Sleep apnea's effects on memory storage
Sleep apnea is a common condition that up to now has been associated with a myriad of health problems including heart disease, obesity, diabetes, depression, and fatigue among others. A new study published by UCLA researchers in the June 27 edition of the journal Neuroscience Letters showed that for people with sleep apnea showed tissue…
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Lung Association calls for universally accessible smoking cessation supports for all smokers
The Lung Association is calling for universally accessible smoking cessation supports for all smokers living in Canada. This recommendation is based on the results of its new report entitled “Making Quit Happen: Canada’s Challenges to Smoking Cessation”. Dr. Anthony D’Urzo, MD, MSc, BPHE, CCFP, FCFP, Family Physician and Director of Primary Care Lung Clinic, Toronto…
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Asthma in children: Remember the number 38!
It is important to have a discussion about asthma in children; its prevention, treatment strategies, new research and the complexity of managing asthma and allergies together. Every year during the back-to-school season, there is a significant spike in the number of hospital treatments required for children as a result of asthma attacks. The “September epidemic…
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Asthma risk in children with antibiotic use during infancy
Antibiotics play a pivotal role fighting pathologic bacterial infections. However, there use is being redefined for some conditions. For example, the standard of care in some countries for treating middle ear infections in children is to treat the pain and wait a few days because it can resolve on its own. This prevents bacterial resistance…
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Antiobiotics not effective for acute bronchitis
There is no evidence antibiotics help the vast majority of patients with acute bronchitis, and doctors should stop routinely prescribing them. Acute bronchitis, an inflammation of the main airways to the lungs marked by an irritating cough, is one of the most common conditions treated by primary-care doctors, occurring in about 5 percent of adults…
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Understanding COPD
November 15th was World COPD Day, a day to raise awareness of the fourth leading cause of death in Canada. COPD continues to be a misunderstood disease and patients need to know how they can take charge of this condition and know what to do if they suffer an attack or exacerbation of respiratory difficulties.…