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Great variety of drugs helps treatment of diabetics
Last week’s column outlined how type 2 diabetes develops and causes harm: the liver produces too much sugar, the muscle, liver and fat cells poorly absorb sugar because they are less responsive to insulin and the insulin producing beta-cells of the pancreas eventually burn out.
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Dealing with diabetes means understanding how it works
At Montreal’s Jewish General Hospital, the chief of emergency medicine, Dr. Marc Afilalo always emphasized the importance of knowing the pathophysiology of diseases. ‘Pathophysiology’ refers to the abnormal physical processes that cause disease: in short, how things work.
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Which is worse: cigarette or joint?
You walk a fine line at times when responding to teens’ questions. One frequently asked centers around comparisons between marijuana, cigarettes and alcohol. For example, a common question is, “What is worse, smoking a joint or smoking a cigarette?”
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Story helps children understand depression
Alex is eight years old. His father, who quit his job from the police department, is depressed. Alex is uncertain what he should do. His father does attend his soccer games and pays little attention to him. Alex wants to quit soccer because he thinks he is no good.
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Teens and the weed issue
‘Just say no’ won’t work when it comes to talking to your teenager about the dangers of smoking marijuana. Much more will be achieved with rational discussions about responsibility
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How to avoid getting skin cancer
With the summer months approaching, the ozone hole growing and the tan enthusiasts ready to hit the beach, it is important to know how skin valiantly tries to protect itself. Alas, people subject their dermis (skin) to multitudes of insults and injuries. Cuts, bruises, scrapes and mild burns heal well and cause no lasting damage.…
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Leaderless in Ottawa
Originally published in The Ottawa Citizen April 30, 2002 Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more! – Eric Idle – Monty Python’s Flying Circus Recent reports in the National Post and Ottawa Citizen about Health Canada’s failure to disclose to Canadians in the mid 90’s the lead risk in Turkish raisins is another example of…
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Elderly suffer after lengthy use of anxiety drugs
Mr. T. is a strapping 85 year-old man who suffers with an anxiety disorder. He also cares for his wife who is severely affected by Alzheimer’s. Twenty years ago he was prescribed clonazepam (Rivotril), a benzodiazepine (BDZ). He became dependent upon them to control his anxiety. BDZs and the elderly do not mix well.
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What teens want to know
School children tend to set the agenda when it comes to what health info they want Despite numerous health advisory and information campaigns, inroads into curbing or modifying deleterious adolescent behaviours remain wanting. There are many reasons, including competition from television and movies, advertising, peer pressure, academic responsibilities, development of independent attitudes and rebelliousness, and…