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Tropical disease prevention prior to travel
A majority of Canadian boomers are expecting to travel in the coming years, and they are not traveling to just spend time on the beach. Choosing more exotic locales and travel experiences means that more preparation is needed to prevent illnesses caused by tropical diseases. What are the diseases that are tracked and for which…
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A conversation about Bipolar Disorder with Mike MacDonald
Bipolar disorder is an inheritable illness that leads to extreme mood swings. One study revealed a 13 percent risk of bipolar disorder among children of biological parents with the disorder. About one in 100 Canadians suffer from this condition over their lifetime. The World Health Organization identified it as the sixth leading causes disability-adjusted life…
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Genetics of inflammatory bowel disease
Last week I talked about how researchers had uncovered a new genetic mechanism that could explain why some people develop inflammatory bowel diseases like Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s. The discovery by a six-member Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Genetics Consortium of a genetic risk factor for IBD was reported in Science Express, the online publication of…
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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.…
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Health Partners International of Canada
When medical aid and services are sent into war zones or disaster areas, where do the supplies and personnel come from? How are aid packages and their contents organized and what infrastructure is needed to make it happen? Health Partners International of Canada brings much needed medicines, vaccines and other supplies to some of the…
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Is there evidence for the effectiveness of universal flu vaccine programs?
With the beginning of flu shot season there are questions being asked about the effectiveness of universal vaccination programs. Is there evidence to support the widespread use of the vaccine as part of public health policy? In the October 28, 2006 edition of the British Medical Journal, Dr. Tom Jefferson, co-ordinator of the Cochrane Vaccines…
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Early evidence for lung cancer screening
Up to now lung cancer screening has not been effective. Repeated studies have shown that annual chest X-rays were not sensitive enough to pick up early-stage ling cancer. A study published in the October 26, 2006 edition of the NEJM reported that lung cancer can be detected at its very earliest stage in 85 percent…
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The facts of lice life
Say these five words to parents “Your child has head lice”. The reaction runs the gamut from revulsion to shock to a feeling of repudiation of their parenting skills and ability to keep a clean household; in short it is sometimes viewed as a badge of failure. Let’s get the facts about this parasite and…
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Winter, light therapy and effects on ADHD
We are aware of the effect the winter months and short daylight hours can have on our mood. For some it can bring about a seasonal depression. However, for people suffering from Attention Deficit Disorder the lack of sunlight can exacerbate their condition. A new study from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)…