Thursday, February 9, 2012

Health & Wellness

Bread ranks No. 1 and potato chips No. 10 on CDC ranking of dietary sources of salt

ATLANTA — Bread and rolls are the No. 1 source of salt in the American diet, accounting for more than twice as much sodium as snacks like potato chips and pretzels.

Female physicians urge provinces, territories to pay for HPV vaccine for boys

TORONTO — A group representing women doctors in Canada is calling on provincial governments to pay for HPV vaccine for boys.
The Federation of Medical Women of Canada said vaccinating girls only isn’t fair, and it isn’t using the vaccine to its maximum advantage.

Blood clot guidelines challenge ’economy class syndrome’; sitting is culprit: MDs

CHICAGO — Good news for budget-minded travellers: There’s no proof that flying economy-class increases your chances of dangerous blood clots, according to new guidelines from medical specialists.
Travellers’ blood clots have been nicknamed “economy class syndrome” but the new advice suggests this is a misnomer.

On World Cancer Day, the focus is on prevention of the disease

TORONTO — Today is World Cancer Day and this year’s theme is “Together it is possible.”
Every year cancer takes the lives of over seven million people worldwide, and World Cancer Day is designed to draw attention to the profound and universal impact of the disease.

Cognitive impairment, dementia common in seniors, proper diagnosis key to treatment

TORONTO — Perhaps it begins with recurring forgetfulness, a struggle to find words or maybe needing repeated reminders about an upcoming event. Or it may be that some everyday tasks, performed over a lifetime with unthinking ease, suddenly seem overwhelming.

Pfizer recalls 1 million birth control packs for error that could cause unintended pregnancy

WASHINGTON — Pfizer Inc. is recalling 1 million packets of birth control pills because of a packaging error that could leave women with an inadequate dose of the hormone-based drugs and raise the risk that they will get pregnant accidentally.

SAfrica recalls 1.35 million condoms handed out during ANC celebrations over claims of flaws

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — South Africa is recalling 1.35 million condoms given away at the African National Congress party’s centenary celebrations amid charges some broke during intercourse and others were porous, an official said Tuesday.

Excessive dose of antidepressant Celexa can cause heart problems: Health Canada

TORONTO — Consumers should avoid taking a daily dose of the antidepressant Celexa in excess of 40 milligrams, as higher doses can cause abnormal heart rhythms, the drug’s Canadian distributor says.
Lundbeck Canada said Monday that a research study found that doses of Celexa (citalopram hydrobromide) above 40 mg can affect electrical activity of the heart.

Carter Center gets $40 million pledge to wipe out Guinea worm disease

ATLANTA — The Carter Center on Monday announced it received $40 million in donations to help fuel its mission to eradicate Guinea worm disease, a debilitating parasite that once plagued millions of people across the developing world.

Obese teens more likely to be perpetrators and victims of bullying, study finds

KINGSTON, Ont. — Obese teens are on both sides of the bullying divide with a greater likelihood of being victims and perpetrators compared to their peers, a new study suggests.

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