Health

Nova Scotia election: Why health care has become the number one issue

HALIFAX – For Janet Glazebrook, having to beg a doctor to test her sister for hip fractures after waiting hours in a crowded emergency room helped determine her vote in Nova Scotia's May 30 election.

Roots of opioid crisis run deep

Canada is in the midst of an epidemic of opioid use and abuse – involving both prescription and illicit forms of the potent narcotics – that shows no signs of abating and has led to an explosion of fatal overdoses.

'Couch potato' youth missing out on crucial bone development: study

VANCOUVER – A new study has found teens who have a "couch potato" lifestyle risk having permanent negative effects on their bone health.

Exercise can slow aging process in seniors, study says

Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine report that elderly women who sit for more than 10 hours a day with low physical activity have cells that are biologically older by eight years compared to women who are less sedentary.

Shoulder pain linked to increased risk of heart disease

A new study led by investigators at the University of Utah School of Medicine finds that individuals with symptoms that put them at increased risk for heart disease could be more likely to have shoulder problems, including joint pain and rotator cuff injury.

Smart phone health apps not always so smart, study finds

NEW YORK – Don't count on smartphone health apps in an emergency: A review shows many don't warn when you're in danger.

Feds urged to make mental health top priority in health accord negotiations

OTTAWA – The Trudeau government is being urged to make mental health a top priority as it negotiates a new health accord with the provinces and territories.

Pilot project suggests civil servants love 'sit-stand' desks

OTTAWA – It seems some federal workers don't want to be caught sitting down on the job.

Game Boy Disease? There's a cure for that, doctor says

VANCOUVER – When patients visit Dr. Vahid Sahiholnasab for a routine check-up, he often asks to review their electronic fitness trackers.

Who wants to be a millionaire?

VANCOUVER – Canadian men could be wealthier and healthier if they curbed their spending on things like tobacco and alcohol, lost a few pounds, and invested the money instead, says a new report released on the eve of Canadian Men's Health Week. In fact, a very unhealthy guy could stand to lose $8.6 million over his lifetime.

Exercise, more than diet, key to preventing obesity: study

Two factors – metabolism and gut microbes – have been credited by researchers as key players in the fight against obesity. However, there is an ongoing debate about whether exercise or diet better promotes metabolism and healthy shifts in gut microbes, the microscopic organisms in the intestines that break down food and can contribute to decreased obesity.

Early bedtime is good for the heart: study

Researchers are making a strong case that the duration and timing of people's sleep are closely associated with whether their behavior is heart-healthy.

Strength training lowers risk of mortality, study says

Older adults who met twice-weekly strength training guidelines had lower odds of dying in a new analysis by researchers at Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Columbia University. The study is the first to demonstrate the association in a large, nationally representative sample over an extended time period, particularly in an older population.

When change is inevitable

Did you ever wake up thinking, “I just don’t feel good,” then you realize that you had been saying this to yourself for days, weeks, months or even years?

Predictive tool helps better manage concussions in children, teens

Researchers have developed a tool that can predict whether a child or teen with a newly diagnosed concussion is likely to have symptoms that will persist longer than usual, giving them the opportunity to see a specialist sooner.