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Blood pressure dropped when pill taken at night: study: Taking a blood pressure pill at bedtime instead of in the morning might be healthier for some high-risk people.
Cancer report shows disparities between developing, developed countries: There will be more than 12 million new cancer cases and 7.6 million cancer deaths worldwide in 2007, the majority in developing countries, a new report says.
Pakistan reports first cases of bird flu: Authorities in Pakistan have announced that country's first reported cases of H5N1 avian flu in a cluster of family members which may have involved human-to-human transmission.
Harper announces more rigorous product safety law: The federal government on Monday announced a plan that will allow for greater product recall powers, stiffer fines for manufacturers and more product safety inspectors.
Ontario reactor restarts; isotope shipments expected within days: An Ontario nuclear reactor resumed operations Sunday and new supplies of medical isotopes will be ready for distribution within days to ease a worldwide shortage, the Atomic Energy of Canada says.
Committee to review Ontario health tax: The governing Liberals are starting the formal review of the $2.6-billion health tax even though Premier Dalton McGuinty has already ruled out abolishing the levy.
Don't expect antivenin for exotic snakebites: B.C. health officials: A Surrey man who nearly lost his finger after a bite from his pet cobra is now home recovering, but B.C. health officials are warning the province has no supply of antivenin for exotic snakebites.
Edmonton researchers to test LG health data cellphone: Health researchers in Edmonton are teaming up with Korean-based LG Electronics to fine-tune a hand-held device that transmits patients' home test results to nurses using a cellphone.
Ontario man faces dangerous offender status for HIV exposures: A dangerous offender hearing for an Ontario businessman who exposed numerous women to HIV has been postponed until Tuesday because his lawyer is ill.
P.E.I. still waiting for teen drug treatment location: Prince Edward Island's new Liberal government still isn't saying when or where it plans to put a promised teen drug treatment facility.
P.E.I. plans short-term for long-term beds: The P.E.I. Health Department is working on a plan to create more long-term care beds and it isn't waiting for the construction of new buildings.
At-home sleep apnea tests sanctioned by U.S. sleep authority: Portable tests to diagnose sleep apnea have been approved for home use by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
New sterilization technique for women to be reviewed by FDA: An advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is recommending approval of a new method of sterilization for women.
Alberta amputee program follows on U.S. rehab success: An Edmonton soldier who lost both legs in a suicide attack in Afghanistan has helped develop a program called Freedom Through Sport at the University of Alberta.
Ottawa mayor against crack pipe program despite hep C study: Research that found traces of the hepatitis C virus on a used crack pipe has not changed Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien's opposition to the city's former crack pipe program.
Donmar oregano recalled in Ont. for possible salmonella contamination: Canada's food watchdog is warning consumers that Donmar Rubbed Oregano may be tainted with salmonella.
N.B. should examine banning smoking in cars with kids: minister: New Brunswick should look at adopting a tough new smoking law like Nova Scotia's, says Health Minister Mike Murphy.
Canada must act on chronic health conditions, report warns: Canadians with chronic health conditions generally wait longer to see doctors and end up in emergency rooms more often than their counterparts in five other countries in a survey released Thursday.
Breast cancer patients can skip chemo, opt for lighter treatment: studies: Thousands of breast cancer patients each year could be spared chemotherapy or get gentler versions of it without harming their odds of beating the disease, new research suggests.
Increase folic acid dose to prevent birth defects, society urges: Women planning pregnancy should boost their intake of folic acid even more, according to new guidelines released Wednesday.
Merck vaccine recall doesn't affect Canada: official: Even though the U.S. is in the midst of a recall of over a million doses of a childhood vaccine because of the risk of contamination, Canadian parents need not be concerned, says Health Canada.
Turned down in Toronto, Vietnamese boy to get facial surgery in Boston: A 10-year-old Vietnamese orphan will travel to Boston in the new year to receive treatment for a large facial growth after he was turned away by a Toronto hospital.
Lipitor raises risk of brain hemorrhage while reducing overall stroke risk: study: Patients who have had strokes and are taking Lipitor to lower their cholesterol may be at increased risk of a brain hemorrhage, a new study finds.
Shared crack pipes spread hepatitis C, study says: A new Canadian study is providing evidence to support fears that the highly infectious and potentially fatal hepatitis C virus can be passed among crack cocaine smokers sharing their pipes.
China shuts down maker of tainted leukemia drug, arrests executives: China's food and drug safety agency has revoked the license of a company responsible for making tainted leukemia drugs blamed for causing leg pains and partial paralysis among dozens of patients.
Bursaries should keep dentists rurally rooted: Wiseman: A new student bursary program should entice more dentists to work in small communities in N.L., the health minister says.
Back-breaking baby labour led to evolution of women's spines: Women's spines have evolved over thousands of years, allowing them to carry babies for nine months while providing a great deal of strength and flexibility, researchers say.
Merck recalls 1 million children's vaccines: Merck & Co. is recalling about a million doses of a childhood vaccine, after testing showed a sterilization problem in a Pennsylvania factory.
MPs pass bill to restart urgent isotope production: The House of Commons passed emergency legislation late Tuesday night to reopen an Ontario nuclear reactor that produces most of the world's supply of critical medical isotopes.
Employees' flu fears could be alleviated through pandemic planning: survey: Having a flu pandemic plan in place would make good economic sense for some employers in case a costly flu outbreak hits Canada, a newly released survey suggests.
Sears phasing out products containing PVC: Sears said Wednesday it plans to phase out products and packaging containing polyvinyl chloride, citing associated health and environmental concerns.
Tories face more heat over handling of isotope shortage: Ottawa's decision to restart an Ontario nuclear reactor that produces most of the world's supply of medical isotopes is drawing praise from physicians, but also some fierce criticism.
China launches drug recall system: China launched a countrywide recall system Wednesday that shifts responsibility to companies to recall harmful drugs.
Chicagoans cry fowl over proposed backyard chicken ban: Chicago city council will vote on a proposal to ban chickens from backyards, a former barnyard denizen that is pecking its way into cities as part of a growing organic food trend.
Family argues taking 84-year-old off life support is against their faith: A legal battle is raging in Manitoba between doctors who want to take an 84-year-old man off life support and his family who says pulling the plug would be tantamount to murder according to their religious beliefs.
B.C. watchdog 'appalled' by loss of health records sent from N.B.: British Columbia's information and privacy commissioner David Loukidelis has received a commitment from the Health Ministry that it will no longer accept the transfer of unencrypted data, a policy the commissioner said left him "appalled."
Smoking increases diabetes risk, study review finds: People who smoke — versus those who don't — have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, suggests a new study.
Alberta mumps clinics halted after allergic reactions: Alberta has suspended its provincewide mumps inoculation campaign after five people suffered serious allergic reactions.
Large-scale study definitively links Avandia, heart risk: authors: The research is in and it points to an increased risk of heart failure, heart attacks and death among patients taking diabetes drugs like Avandia, its authors say.
FDA investigates public reaction to requested sale of anti-cholesterol drug: The U.S. government is questioning whether too many of the wrong people will take cholesterol-lowering Mevacor if it's sold without a prescription, days before Merck & Co. makes its third try to move the drug over the counter.
Survey reveals doctors unsure in blood cancer diagnoses: GPs aren't as adept as they should be at identifying the signs, symptoms and types of tests needed to diagnose blood cancers, a new survey finds.
Medicare records of 485 N.B. residents vanish: The medicare information of 485 New Brunswickers has gone missing, Health Minister Mike Murphy told the legislature Tuesday.
Taking antibiotic with interferon could help MS patients: study: Taking a common antibiotic along with standard interferon treatment may be effective in helping some people with multiple sclerosis, a small preliminary study suggests.
Jeopardy's Trebek hospitalized with heart attack: Canadian-born Jeopardy host Alex Trebek is undergoing tests in a Los Angeles hospital after having a minor heart attack Monday, a spokesman for the game show said Tuesday.
U.S., China sign deals to improve food and drug exports: The United States and China sparred over intellectual property protections and signed agreements on safeguarding the quality of food and drugs exports to the U.S. Tuesday at the start of a series of contentious economic meetings.
Doctor shortage closes clinic: A weekly walk-in clinic in western P.E.I. has been forced to shut down until at least the new year.
Manitoba college closes applications to nurses looking to upgrade skills: The waiting list for nurses who want to upgrade their skills at Manitoba's Red River College has become so long that the school is no longer accepting new applications from them.
Autistic mouse may offer clues about condition, treatments: Scientists have created an "autistic mouse" after replacing a normal gene in its body with a mutated one.
Heartburn drugs Prilosec, Nexium do not raise heart risk: FDA: Patients who suffer from heartburn are not at increased risk for heart problems as a result of taking Prilosec or Nexium, according to a review released Monday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Mormon fasting heart-healthy, study says: New research suggests that Mormons' habit of fasting may be helping their hearts.
Depressed heart attack patients at higher risk of death: People who suffer a heart attack and become depressed have a much higher risk of dying than non-depressed heart attack survivors, suggests new research.
Noisy toys damage kids' hearing, group warns: Toys louder than 85 decibels can cause hearing damage in children, a hearing expert warned Monday, and called on the government to change its current standards.
2nd gene plays part in onset of breast cancer in high-risk women: U.S. researchers say they have discovered a new genetic reason why women with the BRCA1 gene run a high risk of breast cancer.
Monday, Dec. 10: Most stressful day of the year, U.K. survey finds: Pressure levels are soaring, according to a U.K. survey that suggests today is the most stressful day of the year.
Premier may be softening on no smoking bill: Premier Dalton McGuinty says smoking in cars carrying kids is "reprehensible" and says he's open to the idea of supporting legislation to ban it.
St. John's doctor found guilty in sex-for-drugs trial: Sean Buckingham has been convicted on 12 of 18 counts following a two-month trial on drug trafficking and sexual assault charges.
N.B. minister promises new $85M psychiatric hospital: New Brunswick Health Minister Mike Murphy has promised Tuesday's capital budget will include $85 million for a new psychiatric hospital in Campbellton.
Manitoba nurses head south to further educations: A group of nurses in Manitoba is heading south of the border next month to upgrade their skills — something they say they'd have to wait years to do here at home.
Sniffing out likability, one person at a time: Scientists have discovered that others' perceptions of a person's scent can make it or break it for them socially.
Staying slim improves survival after breast cancer diagnosis: study: Breast cancer patients might have a powerful incentive to avoid gaining weight: better odds of surviving the disease.
Mountain Equipment Co-op halts sales of plastic containers with BPA: Mountain Equipment Co-op has become the first major Canadian retailer to pull products, such as plastic containers, containing bisphenol-A, according to a report.
Mom's healthy eating habits pass on to baby: study: Women who eat healthy foods while pregnant and lactating could already be giving their offspring a taste for what's good for them, a new study suggests.
Metromint flavoured water recalled for possible contamination: Canada's food watchdog is warning consumers certain bottles of Metromint Flavor Water, distributed across the country, may be contaminated with a micro-organism that can cause vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramps.
Isotope shortage delays hundreds of health tests: Hospitals in Halifax expect to run out of radioactive injections for critical medical tests on Friday.
Ontario private member's bill would ban smoking in cars with kids: A private members bill introduced in the legislature Thursday could make Ontario the first province to ban smoking in cars containing young passengers.
Hospital apologizes for treatment of francophone couple: The Saint John Regional Hospital has apologized to a francophone couple from Campbellton, N.B., who complained they had trouble getting medical service in French.
Laid-off workers face increased premature death risk: study: A new paper by two American economists suggests people who lose their jobs may be at risk of premature death.
Digital coaching gets the feet moving, exercise study finds: Fitness research shows that when a computer talks the talk, even couch potatoes can be persuaded to walk the walk.
Patients go to plan B due to isotope shortage: The shortage of radioactive isotopes due to the temporary closure of an Ontario nuclear reactor is leading patients scheduled for diagnostic tests to make other plans.
Jackie Chan promotes condom use in Chinese AIDS campaign: A nationwide video campaign, with a clip from movie star Jackie Chan, was launched Thursday to promote condom use and raise awareness of AIDS in China.
Shortage of isotopes used in medical tests could stretch into January: A countrywide shortage of radioactive isotopes could become more critical following news that the Ontario nuclear reactor that produces them could be shut down until mid-January.
Petitions call for Avastin coverage: The Nova Scotia government is once again being urged to pick up the costs of the cancer drug Avastin.
Women's groups call for national protocol on MD licences: A Newfoundland and Labrador women's group wants a Canada-wide system for dealing with physicians who have sex with their patients.
Elderly Calgary couple dies, 9 sickened by carbon monoxide poisoning: An elderly Calgary couple has died and nine others were sent to hospital Wednesday in an apparent accidental case of carbon-monoxide poisoning.
Patient's death prompts call for public inquiry into Ontario's first public-private hospital: Anger over wait times at Brampton Civic Hospital is growing and NDP Leader Howard Hampton says he wants a public inquiry.