Taquisha McKitty, woman at centre of life-support battle, has died

A woman at the centre of a legal battle in Ontario over how to define death died Monday morning of natural causes while she was on life-support.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2CGSyEt

Love on borrowed time: Cancer patients find romance despite terminal prognosis

When facing a disease with life-or-death stakes, matters of the heart may seem like a secondary concern. But cancer can serve as a "litmus test" for a relationship — and many fail, said Dr. Robert Rutledge, a Halifax radiation oncologist.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2VkYoCP

'I wouldn't trade it for the world': Grandparents increasingly becoming primary caregivers

An apartment building in downtown Washington, D.C., is catering to a new kind of family unit that is becoming more common in the U.S. and Canada in part because of the devastating toll of the opioid crisis: families where the primary caregiver is a grandparent.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2TmCptz

'We are new Russians': How a hard-drinking nation curbed its alcohol use

Once known for its enthusiasm for alcohol, Russia has fallen steadily down the list of the hardest-drinking nations, thanks to a variety of social and political measures.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2EV29tP

Fitness in your home à la Netflix: On-demand, unlimited subscription classes

Instead of a subscription to stream TV and movies on demand, a growing number of companies want to sell you a subscription for on-demand, unlimited fitness sessions. Peloton, Echelon and Fly Anywhere are three U.S. companies that want to cater to Canadians with a convenient way to work out.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2AmOkAz

Cattle and dairy farmers fear new food guide could hurt their industries

The rumoured minimization of meats and dairy in Canada's new food guide has some producers concerned it could cause a blow to their industries and negative health effects to boot.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2AqfhTP

100 years ago, a train carrying Spanish flu pulled into Calgary. Within weeks, Alberta was in crisis

While those in the prime of their life were victims of both the war and the flu, the war took young men. Women (mainly volunteer nurses and expecting mothers), Indigenous people, and members of the working class were hardest hit by the influenza.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2VhmEpx

B.C. nurse hopeful Ebola outbreak in Congo can be contained soon

A nurse practitioner from B.C.'s Interior is lending her expertise to help contain the Ebola outbreak in the Congo.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2s1TIUQ

Received a new heart recently? This mom may be looking for you

A Brampton woman is on a mission to find the man who received the gift of her son's heart earlier this year. Keerin Reid died in September 2017. Through a series of letters, she learned the recipient of heart is a 54-year-old father of two. But she wants to know more.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2VayxO1

The Big Trip: How psychedelic drugs are changing lives and transforming psychiatry

Researchers believe psychedelic drug therapy could have the potential to treat everything from PTSD to cigarette addiction. Here are the stories of three people whose lives have been changed by the research.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2Ve62z3

Former nurse on P.E.I. talks about burnout — and says the province needs to do more

The province recently announced a new nursing graduate recruitment program, but a former nurse says much more needs to be done to improve working conditions.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2QSa1CG

Automated service calls isolated people to make sure they're OK

Lise Pigeon believes a service such as Pair — which automatically calls its elderly members at a set time every day, and contacts family members or police if there is no answer after three tries — could have helped her after a fall.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2Ai1BKI

Listeners offer support to Sask. gynecologic oncologists who feel burned out

Listeners of The Morning Edition offered words of support and shared their experiences with two specialists who recently told CBC News they left their positions due to excessive workload without much relief

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2AlDevA

CHEO confirms 3rd case of rare polio-like illness

The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario has confirmed a third case of acute flaccid myletis, a rare polio-like illness that causes paralysis in children.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2ETogkr

Overdose crisis continues in B.C. with 120 deaths last month, coroner says

The B.C. Coroners Service's latest figures show almost exactly the same number of people died by drug overdose between Jan. 1 and Nov. 30, 2018 as during the same period last year.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2GIJEKX

Durex recalls condoms in Canada after failed shelf-life tests

One batch is "not expected to meet the registered burst pressure specification at end of shelf-life," according to Health Canada.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2EUkgzo

Pediatrician pop quiz: When to go to the emergency room during flu season

Montreal Children's Hospital's Dr. Dominic Chalut answers the Dos and Don'ts of when to bring your child to an emergency room during flu season.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2SpeU31

Working in space doesn't seem to shorten astronauts' lives

Space travel exposes astronauts to forms of radiation that are uncommon on Earth, and that are linked to cancers and heart problems, but a U.S. study suggests this doesn't significantly shorten their lives.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2AlGdnB

Mentally disabled man anxious about Presto after transit card problems nearly left him stranded

Grant Koturbash, 52, says TTC driver told him to get off the bus and to put money on his Presto card after it was declined. The problem is, Koturbash is unable to load the card on his own, and relies on a social worker or family.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2SqJqJx

Alleged phoney doctor in Vancouver asking for cash for surgeries, health authority warns

Vancouver Coastal Health says Asten Nguyen Phong Nguyen — a.k.a. “Dr. Nguyen Nguyen” — is advertising himself as a surgeon at Vancouver General Hospital and is requesting deposits on future surgeries.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2GKed2D

Ban on assisted dying at St. Martha's hospital should end, says law prof

Because of its Catholic origins, St. Martha's Regional Hospital in Antigonish, N.S., has an agreement dating back to 1996 allowing it to forego medically assisted dying.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2QTfV6t

Many teens resist allure of smartphone 'catnip' — but some still struggle

The seemingly irresistible draw of social media scrolls on smartphones can be hard to withstand. But some teens are finding ways to strike a balance. Studies have found slight associations between spending five hours or more online and poorer adolescent well-being in surveys.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2BKD2WF

These life-saving devices are everywhere. But could you find one when you need it?

Emergency Health Services in Nova Scotia has doubled the number of defibrillators on the provincial registry, but estimates half of the devices in the province are still not listed.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2SpkXoe

Eat Smart Salad Shake Ups recalled in 5 provinces over Listeria fears

Eat Smart Salad Shake Ups, single-serve salad bowls produced in California, are being recalled due to Listeria contamination fears. The recall impacts salads with a best before date of Dec. 29 sold in Alberta, B.C., Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, said the company that produces the salads.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2EP60ro

Desperate Honduran lobster divers suffer the bends at alarming rate

A five-kilogram average daily haul of lobster earns a windfall for divers in one of the most impoverished regions of the Americas, so many take risks, and many suffer for it.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2EPYoFX

From rabid dog saliva to 'Dr. Lipjob,' these are the top B.C. health stories of 2018

The devastating overdose crisis remains the biggest and most important health story in B.C., but this has been a year that saw several major problems and controversies, as well as signs of progress, in the fields of health and medicine.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2GQjNjY

'Thank God we created this,' says Edmonton judge and architect of mental health court

Since Edmonton's mental health court heard its first case in April, more than 2,340 accused have appeared on the docket.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2EOUVXd

Thailand moves to legalize medical marijuana and another drug

Thailand’s legislature has agreed to amend the country’s drug laws to allow the licensed medical use of marijuana, as well as kratom, a locally grown plant traditionally used as a stimulant and painkiller.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2AdSuub

Power of the pooch: Dogs ease kids' anxiety before medical scans

Dogs are offering help at two Toronto hospitals to fearful children who need to get into an MRI machine and adult patients who have anxiety and depression.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2Cyzk47

Logan Boulet Effect: Death of player in Broncos crash highlighted organ donation

Hours after coming across the horrific scene at the Humboldt Broncos bus crash, Bernadine and Toby Boulet still hadn't seen their son Logan.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2Q1ANmM

More Salad Shake Ups recalled due to possible Listeria contamination

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says Eat Smart Salad Shake Ups in Tropical Lime, Asian Sesame and Sweet Kale may be contaminated with Listeria.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2LwP8ap

Children are bearing the brunt of this year's flu season, health officials say

Many Canadian children are spending the holidays battling the flu and other respiratory illnesses — and an early start to the flu season might be partly to blame, public health officials say. Doctors say it's not too late to get the flu shot, which they expect to be more effective than last year.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2AhvPNN

Romaine lettuce now safe to eat, Public Health Agency says

The outbreak of E. coli infections linked to romaine lettuce appears to be over in Canada, with no new illnesses reported since mid-November, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2T3v2ae

First Nations kids more likely to experience pain, less likely to get treatment

New research conducted in Atlantic Canada has found First Nations children are more likely to suffer painful conditions, but are less likely to see specialists or access mental-health services.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2SeQR6A

Choosing life: Paramedic uses music to help first responders access help

Project Warrior sees Moose Jaw paramedic Nicholas Hennink making music, taking pictures of first responders and raising money through donations and the sale of merchandise — 100 per cent of which goes to OSICAN to help first responders seek professional help.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2Q0JuxX

American cities look to Vancouver for overdose crisis response model

As an overdose crisis began taking shape in Denver, Colo., one of the places the city's leaders looked for answers was north of the border.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2QSswXS

Talking turkey: To rinse or not to rinse that Christmas bird

From master chef Julia Child to kitchen bible The Joy of Cooking, home chefs have been told for decades to rinse that Christmas turkey before putting it in the oven.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2ELeEHh

'I can talk about my troubles': Why chats with barbers can promote health for black men

When skilled barbers and hairstylists get their patrons to open up, it offers a chance to promote healthier choices.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2EPFpeG

'Burned out': Saskatoon cancer doctors reveal reasons for departures

The province of Saskatchewan is losing all but one of its gynecologic oncologists. Departing specialists say burn out was inevitable without additional manpower and support. It's a chronic issue in smaller centres in Canada.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2EFf3LD

Dealing with dementia during the holidays: Tips from the Alzheimer Society

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is often stressful at the best of times — and for families dealing with dementia, it can be especially taxing.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2Rc8dDY

'It's not sustainable': Hospitals in Northeastern Ontario at or over capacity

Data compiled by CBC News shows the four major hospitals in the region regularly at or over capacity in a stretch between April and November 2018.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2T5dESj

Picture of Toronto homelessness emerging from research into Out of the Cold program

Dennis Brooks says there are no warm places when you're homeless. He should know. Originally from Glace Bay, N.S., Brooks, 54, was homeless in Toronto on and off for more than 20 years.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2AeA0tQ

Montreal boxer Adonis Stevenson awake from coma, girlfriend says

"Despite recent reports being leaked to media, I wanted to clarify that Adonis is awake," his partner Simone God wrote in a news release Saturday evening. The Montreal boxer has been in hospital since a boxing match Dec. 1 that left him with a brain injury.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2GBHPiQ

'It's like a sober bar': Windsor coffee shop that gives former addicts safe spot an inspiration for U.S. mom

Distraught by watching her son nearly die of a drug overdose, a Pennsylvania mother and her husband drove seven hours to Windsor, Ont., to meet the former addicts who now run a "sober bar."

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2BAGHpH

My daughter's disease is terrible, but I refuse to hate it

Like an awful hurricane, I just stand in fear and awe and resolve to keep living through it.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2Ct61jl

2018 — A year of change in Canadian public health

Canada's legalization of recreational cannabis was described as a 'national uncontrolled experiment' - and it wasn't the only one in 2018.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2EGtdNr

Nanaimo, B.C., without water after storm causes failure at treatment plant

Residents in Nanaimo, B.C., are being told not to use water after a powerful storm caused widespread damage Thursday..

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2EIWQO4

Growing number of measles outbreaks now a global problem

A closer look at the day's most notable stories with The National's Jonathon Gatehouse.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2EJ4bwR

Canadian probe ends into drug makers accused of stifling competition by generics

The Competition Bureau has ended its investigation into three name brand drug companies that are accused of hampering their generic rivals by restricting access to samples of their patented drugs needed for testing. The bureau concluded Celgene, Pfizer and Sanofi did not contravene the Competition Act.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2GzULFZ

Sudbury woman offers tips on staying sober during the holidays

The holidays are known for being a time of relaxation, kicking back, and having a nice glass of wine, but for some people, the latter part makes the holidays that much more difficult.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2rNMwvs

Coerced sterilization reports sparking concern in Canada's medical community

Reports detailing allegations of coerced and forced sterilizations of Indigenous women are "deeply concerning" and describe serious violations of medical ethics, the president of the Canadian Medical Association said Thursday.

from CBC | Health News https://ift.tt/2EDyxRH

Severe sensitivity to household chemicals leaves GTA man homeless for the holidays

Oliver Zhang only wants one thing for Christmas: a home that he can actually live in. The IT professional, in his late 40s, suffers from a disorder know to the medical community as Multiple Chemical Sensitivities/Environmental Sensitivities.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2EAvXe9

How these 'Golden Girls' beat the odds of loneliness

Loneliness is a growing epidemic in Canada. Over a million seniors say they're lonely. But more and more seniors are co-housing to solve the problem.

from CBC | Health News http://bit.ly/2AcKvO7

Chocolate milk has become an udderly divisive issue

Chocolate milk has become politicized in recent months with the discussion around chocolate milk restrictions in schools. And one expert argues the polarized debate might be harming public health advocacy.

from CBC | Health News https://ift.tt/2EGQsXG