Madely Health Headlines Commentary for May 26, 2010
A primer on heat-related illness as Ottawa experiences its first heat wave of the season Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadSource:
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Archive
Category: Prevention and Screening A primer on heat-related illness as Ottawa experiences its first heat wave of the season Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadWe have discussed on past editions of Sunday House Call how we tend to think of heart attacks and stroke when considering the effects of cardiovascular disease. What should be included as well is peripheral arterial disease or PAD; a serious condition that causes significant morbidity and poor quality of life. Edmonton researchers at the [...]
As the focus of attention turns to the H1N1 outbreak that is now occurring across the country, the public faces an array of information sources that will influence their opinion about vaccination. There have been many claims and critiques about the H1N1 vaccine and it has become a springboard to envelop other vaccines and vaccination [...]
With the H1N1 flu season upon us, the need to provide credible evidenced-based information to the public is an essential in order to answer questions and concerns. Dr. Isra Levy, the City of Ottawa’s Chief Medical Offer of Health and Dr. Nadine Sicard, Associate Medical Offer of Health and member of the National Advisory Committee [...]
Original broadcast date: September 27, 2009 The advent of the PAP test in the 1960’s, a screening test to detect abnormal cells of the cervix that might lead to cancerous change, has had a tremendous positive impact on women’s health. There are various recommendations on when to start screening, how often to screen and what [...]
Original broadcast date: September 13, 2009 A recent poll commissioned by The Arthritis Society reveals that almost two out of three Canadians struggling with arthritis believe that physical activity poses the risk of aggravating their symptoms. This percentage was considerably higher than the general population who responded at just under 1 in 2, as indicated [...]
Original broadcast date: August 30, 2009 Major trauma from severe injuries can have a devastating impact on the lives of the individual, their friends and family. A report by released July 30, 2009 by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), reviewed the principle causes of these injuries in Ontario. Alcohol was involved in at [...]
Original broadcast date: June 21, 2009 It is a jungle of medical information out there on TV, radio, newspapers and journals. Reports appear daily espousing or refuting the latest finding to cure our ills and prevent disease. The contradictions abound and foster confusion for the public and health practitioners alike. It is creating a situation [...]
Original broadcast date: May 31, 2009 How sensitive and specific are blood tests for food allergies? Are children’s diets being overly restricted on the basis of these tests? A study abstract published in the February 2009 edition of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology sought to answer these questions. Dr. David Fleischer, M.D., Division [...]
Original broadcast date: May 18, 2009 What are abdominal aortic aneurysms? What simple tests can be done to screen for them and what age group is most susceptible? What new surgical approaches are available to treat them? Dr. Prasad Jetty, assistant professor at the University of Ottawa and a vascular surgeon at the Ottawa Hospital [...]
Original broadcast date: April 5, 2009 To what extent do our lifestyle choices influence our stroke risk? This question was asked in a study recently published in the British Medical Journal. Dr. Phyo Myint, Clinical Senior Lecturer in Ageing and Stroke Medicine at the University of East Anglia and Consultant Physician in Care of the [...]
In an editorial by Dr. Noni MacDonald and the Globe and Mail’s Andre Picard entitled “A plea for clear language on vaccine safety”, a case is made for plain English and more direct language when discussing and interpreting research findings and clinical recommendations. As outlined in his book “Bad Science” in a recent interview on [...]
Bad Science
Mar 29Alternative Medicine, Book Reviews, Debunking Pseudoscience, Food, Food Science, Food Science, Health Policy, Health Policy, Health Statistics, History of Medicine, Nutrition and diet, Nutrition Science, Pharmacology, Prescription Drugs, Prevention and Screening, Pseudoscience, Psychology, Radio Interviews, Science, Technology, Toxicology, Vaccine research, Vaccines
Original broadcast date: March 29, 2009 If there is one quote that epitomizes the plethora of ideas expressed in physician and Guardian columnist Dr. Ben Goldacre’s book bad science, it is this from paleontologist, evolutionary biologist, and historian of science, Steven Jay Gould: “ When people learn no tools of judgment and merely follow their [...]
Original broadcast date: March 1, 2009 How do older drivers know when to turn in their keys? What are some of the physical factors that contribute to this decision? This life-changing decision is a flashpoint for debate about the impact of health upon the 30 million elderly drivers in the US and three million in [...]
Original broadcast date: February 15, 2009
What is the state of cancer care in Canada? What are we doing right and what needs more attention? The Cancer Advocacy Coalition of Canada (CACC) released its annual Report Card on Cancer in Canada on Feb 10, 2009. It is authored by oncologists and cancer patients across the country and highlights inadequacies, ills and disconnects within the system, and offers recommendations for improvements.
- Dr. Kong Khoo, MD FRCPC, Kelowna based Medical oncologist, clinical assistant professor, University of British Columbia and Vice Chair, Cancer Advocacy Coalition of Canada
Original broadcast date: January 25, 2009 So you are set to travel south for a winter escape vacation. Since many also book these vacations on a last minute basis, they tend to forget that there are some health issues that need to be considered. One such issue is malaria. Dr. Jay Keystone, MD, MSc (CTM),. [...]
Original broadcast date: January 11, 2009 Recent reports from the Canadian Alzheimer’s Society state that the number of Canadians who will develop Alzheimer Disease will double in 25 years to 1.3 million people. They are urging more funding for research to find a means to treat and perhaps prevent the changes that occur within the [...]
New research presented June 13 at EULAR 2008, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Paris, France, from the Institute of Environmental Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden suggests that dietary factors such as the intake of oily fish can reduce the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis whereas work stress and smoking will increase the [...]
The Lung Association is calling for universally accessible smoking cessation supports for all smokers living in Canada. This recommendation is based on the results of its new report entitled “Making Quit Happen: Canada’s Challenges to Smoking Cessation”. Dr. Anthony D’Urzo, MD, MSc, BPHE, CCFP, FCFP, Family Physician and Director of Primary Care Lung Clinic, Toronto [...]
Lung Association calls for universally accessible smoking cessation supports Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadOriginal broadcast date: March 30, 2008 The PAP test has been in existence for over 60 years. It is a screening test for cervical cancer and has the potential to detect precancerous changes, as well as to detect early stage disease and decrease cancer mortality. Although this test is credited with reducing cancer mortality, researchers [...]
Original broadcast date: March 23, 2008 A comprehensive, clinical nomogram tool, the Sunnybrook Prostate Cancer Risk Calculator – the first to use all known risk factors for prostate cancer – is available online to help men determine individual prostate cancer risk in consultation with their primary care physician. A nomogram is a statistical model to [...]
Original broadcast date: March 23, 2008 We are repeatedly reminded that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Canada. Yet, why is it that even after a heart attack, many people do not get around to filling that doctor-ordered prescription? A new study published in the journal Circulation from Ontario’s Institute for Clinical [...]
Original broadcast date: March 9, 2008 Ovarian Cancer is one of the most lethal cancers afflicting about 2300 Canadian women a year. A major contributing factor to its poor prognosis is that there is no effective means to screen for the disease. In January 2008, researchers from the University of Guelph reported that they have [...]
Original broadcast date: February 10, 2008 When it comes to Canadians’ knowledge about malaria and the transmission of the disease, there are some areas that need attention according to a Leger Marketing Survey conducted between November 6, 2007 and November 11, 2007 Dr. Jay Keystone, M.D., M.Sc. (CTM), FRCPC Director of Medisys Travel Health Clinic [...]
Original broadcast date: January 27, 2008 This week the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommended “individual infants and their families are likely to benefit from immunization with the pentavalent rotavirus vaccine. The Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians supports this recommendation. Dr. Vincent Grant, Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Alberta Children’s Hospital and [...]
In a keynote speech delivering the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Lecture at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress 2007, obesity expert Dr. Jean-Pierre Després stated that we need to change how we look at obesity, stop obsessing on weight and BMI and, above all, redefine the proper clinical use of weight loss drugs. “Some obese [...]
As cancer research continues apace, there is a growing understanding of the genetic abnormalities that are intimately involved in the pathophysiology of the disease process. Understanding the mechanism of the disease allows clinical research to develop targeted treatments to better control or eradicate the tumours. A new diagnostic test created at the University of Alberta [...]
Several months ago we talked with Dr. Paul Ridker about his study of heart disease risk markers in women that contributed to the development of the Reynolds Risk Score using C-reactive protein as a marker or indicator of the ten-year risk of developing a heart attack. Research into the prevention of cardiovascular disease continues apace. [...]
We sometimes hear about tragic reports of children drowning in swimming pools during the summer months. What should parents do to ensure their child can be a kid and enjoy the summer swimming season? The 11th Annual Safe Kids Week this year is focusing on drowning, the second leading cause of death of Canadian children, [...]
Cancer treatment success depends on early diagnosis. Lung cancer, unfortunately for many, is discovered too late. Various imaging technologies have been used to try to detect early lung cancer with some success and new detection methods are under development. In a recent study, US scientists have developed a genetic test, the results of which are [...]
HIV infection rates are a major public health problem especially in Africa. Treatment with retroviral medications is expensive and not available in many regions of the continent. Prevention is of great importance if the spread is to be curtailed. According to final data from two National Institute of Health-funded studies conducted in Uganda and Kenya [...]
Routine male circumcision could reduce a man's risk of HIV infection Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadOne of the challenges has been to accurately predict a person’s risk of heart attack and stroke. Various risk calculators have been developed based on 50 years of research. With each revision of the tools used to calculate heart disease and stroke risk, new evidenced-based information is added to improve its accuracy and prevent disease. [...]
It is estimated that 80 to 160 million adults take antioxidants in the form of Vitamin A, E and beta-carotene. The premise is that antioxidants will prevent cellular damage from environmental sources maintain their health and thus lead to a longer life. A new study published in the February 28, 2007 issue of the Journal [...]
With the growing awareness of the cumulative effects of x-ray radiation, new imaging technologies are being developed to reduce the exposure risk. A new imaging device called SoftScan has recently been approved by Health Canada for breast cancer detection. SoftScan is a non-invasive and painless optical imaging technology, which enables the characterization of breast tumours [...]
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommended this week that all Canadian girls and women aged 9 to 26 should be routinely vaccinated to protect them against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer. The vaccine is only the second anti-cancer vaccine developed, the other being the Hepatitis B vaccine. What [...]
More men are asking for PSA screening as a means of detecting prostate cancer. What are the prostate cancer screening guidelines? Is there a point in a man’s life when screening should stop and where the detection of prostate cancer does not benefit the patient? A study published in the Nov. 15 issue of the [...]
A majority of Canadian boomers are expecting to travel in the coming years, and they are not traveling to just spend time on the beach. Choosing more exotic locales and travel experiences means that more preparation is needed to prevent illnesses caused by tropical diseases. What are the diseases that are tracked and for which [...]
With the beginning of flu shot season there are questions being asked about the effectiveness of universal vaccination programs. Is there evidence to support the widespread use of the vaccine as part of public health policy? In the October 28, 2006 edition of the British Medical Journal, Dr. Tom Jefferson, co-ordinator of the Cochrane Vaccines [...]
Up to now lung cancer screening has not been effective. Repeated studies have shown that annual chest X-rays were not sensitive enough to pick up early-stage ling cancer. A study published in the October 26, 2006 edition of the NEJM reported that lung cancer can be detected at its very earliest stage in 85 percent [...]
What is one to make of the recent and troubling appearance of infectious and toxin producing bacteria in our North American food supply? It is an illustration how quickly food-borne illnesses can spread and the importance of food safety. How common and how easy is it to contaminate food on an industrial scale? Rob Mancini [...]
Despite rapidly increasing rates of type 2 diabetes and the fact that heart disease remains the leading cause of death, the majority of Canadians are still unaware of many of the risk factors that put them at increased risk of developing these diseases. According to the Canadian results of the second annual Shape of the [...]
The automobile has always been more than just as a means of transportation for many people, often a sign of independence, power, individualism and control. It is why it is so difficult for people who must confront the day when they are no longer competent to drive to relinquish their keys. What system of evaluation [...]
Identifying patients whose driving ability will likely be impaired by early stage dementia Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadEvery year, usually during the flu shot season, questions arise about the need for vaccination especially of healthy young people. People question whether it reduces the risk of infection and its complications. What seems to be lost in the discussion is the health effects of the flu on specific age groups, in particular young children.
A study, entitled “The Underrecognized Burden of Influenza in Young Children.” Published in the July 6, 2006 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine looked at this very issue and presented compelling data. To discuss influenza virus and the results of the study I pleased to introduce
- Dr. Katherine Poehling, M.D., M.P.H. Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Division of General Pediatrics Pediatric Acute Care Clinic (PACC) at Monroe Carrell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
Many people use antibacterial soaps in their bathrooms and kitchens, they carry hand sanitizing gels and wipes when they’re away from home, and their grocery stores have even gotten into the act, offering wipes for the cart handles. There are concerns that the use of these products could lead to increased bacterial resistance and health [...]
Do hand sanitizers increase bacterial resistance and health problems? Play Now | Play in Popup | DownloadA recent study by researchers in emergency medicine at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center found parents use baby gates and bath thermometers less than 25 percent of the time. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that primary care physicians discuss The Injury Prevention Program (TIPP™) with parents during the four to six month check-up. [...]
