Wednesday House Call August 5, 2015

Wednesday House Call   August 5, 2015

Dr Barry Dworkin joins Rob Snow to discuss the latest health stories of the week.

Today:

1) Health Canada has ordered new labelling that makes clear homeopathic nosodes are not vaccines, contrary to how they’re often marketed.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/nosode-homeopathic-labels-must-read-not-vaccines-or-alternatives-to-vaccines-health-canada-1.3176008
What the quacks say:
”  Use of nosodes is particularly useful for traveling overseas as they give protection for short periods like weeks at a time.  They can also be used during localized epidemics such as what they are experiencing in Luxembourg with the measles outbreak in France.”
http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/nosodes-homeopathic-alternative-to-vaccines/
2) The “obsession”  about body weight and composition has little to do with actual health.”   Dr. Arya Sharma, chair in obesity research and management at the University of Alberta. “Perfect health is also possible across a wide range of BMIs or body weights.”
What do you think of this claim?
http://www.thespec.com/living-story/5782930–health-is-more-than-body-size-ditch-that-scale-experts-say/
3) Am I taking my life into my hands if I use a public toilet?
”  Unless you lick the toilet seat, there’s really no likelihood of you catching an infection,”   says Jason Tetro, an author and researcher otherwise known as the Germ Guy.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/hazards-of-public-toilet-use-debunked-1.3172754
4) Will my cell phone give me a brain tumor?
(CNN)The city of Berkeley, California, passed a law that goes into effect next month requiring cell phone stores to inform customers about safety recommendations. The move reopened a decades-old debate about whether mobile phones cause brain tumors.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/28/health/cell-phones-brain-tumor-risk-berkeley/