More Canadians need to identify stroke emergency
Written by CBC News Online staff
http://www.cbc.ca Tue, 30 Dec 2003 19:53:42
OTTAWA - Stroke is a leading killer, but a new survey shows less than half of Canadian adults can recognize its signs.
A stroke is the sudden interruption of blood flow in or to the brain. Of 1,537 people who were interviewed across Canada, 50 per cent could describe it correctly.
John Anderson is a recovering stroke victim. He was 46 when the disease struck suddenly during a family night out at the movies.
"As he stood up, he just collapsed down between the seats," recalls his wife, Sharon Anderson. "He couldn't talk and the right side of his face was droopy."
The family immediately recognized the symptoms and called 911, but the survey suggests they are in the minority.
Only 48 per cent of Canadians aged 35 or older who participated in the survey knew the symptoms of stroke:
• Sudden weakness.
• Confusion.
• Impaired speech.
• Loss of balance.
• Severe headache.
• Loss of vision.
John Anderson credits the recovery to his wife's quick diagnosis. "At first I couldn't talk," he said. "Now I can do it. I can walk for miles, I want to run, and I'm very close."
The survey results surprised neurologists, who say lack of awareness can be fatal since stroke must be treated within three hours of the first symptoms.
Thirty-six per cent of Canadians said they wouldn't treat stroke symptoms as a medical emergency.
"If you don't know what it is you're feeling . then you're less likely to get help right away," said Dr. Antoine Hakim, CEO and scientific director of the Canadian Stroke Network.
One in five respondents knew hypertension or high blood pressure is the most important risk factor for stroke.
Along with traditional New Year's resolutions such as quitting smoking, eating healthier and exercising more, neurologists recommend people get their blood pressure taken.
The National Stroke Survey was carried out between Oct. 27 and Nov. 9. The results are considered accurate to within 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

McGuinty government alerts public to fitness club scams
TORONTO, Jan. 2 /CNW/ - If your New Year's resolution is to get fit, Minister of Consumer and Business Services Jim Watson reminds you to "pump up"
your consumer skills before joining a fitness club. "If you want to tighten your abs and keep your finances in shape, you'll need to shop smart when you choose a fitness club," Watson suggests.
Minister Watson reminds consumers who plan to join a fitness club to follow these tips:
• Read the contract. Clubs are required by law to offer month-to-month contracts, to protect your money in the event they close, and must limit contracts to one year.
• Inspect the club. Talk to members before you join. Make sure the hours suit your needs and the equipment is properly maintained.
• Remember the five-day cooling off period. You can cancel a contract with a commercial fitness club within five days of signing for any reason under Ontario's Prepaid Services Act. The cooling off period also applies to martial arts, dance lessons and instruction on talent and modeling.
Minister Watson hopes consumers will remember to shop smart. "Knowing about your consumer rights will help you keep fit physically and financially."
Consumers who want more information on fitness clubs should contact the Ministry of Consumer and Business Services at 416-326-8800 in Toronto, toll free at 1-800-889-9768 and on the Web site at www.cbs.gov.on.ca.

Top 10 Time Management Myths

1. We can manage time.
We cannot manage time. Nor can we save it. Time ticks away relentlessly in spite of our efforts to control it. We are provided with 24 hours of time each day to use as we like. The key is in how we use that time. We can use it wisely, or we can waste it, but we can never save it. At the end of the day, it's gone.

2. Time management involves getting more done in less time.
Some people may believe that, but effective time management refers to getting done fewer things of greater importance. We cannot possibly do everything we want to do, or all the things there are to do. But if we prioritize what there is to do, and focus on completing the priorities to the exclusion of everything else, we will be more effective.

3. "To do" lists help get things done.
"To do" lists do nothing to further a project or task. They simply remind us that they are not done yet. Scheduling time in your planner, as appointments with yourself, to work on the tasks helps get them done. "To do" lists are intentions; scheduled blocks of time are commitments.

4. People need a "Personal Organizer" or other time management system to get organized.
People are not organized because they use a time management system, they use a time management system because they are organized. Personal organization involves breaking old habits and forming new, effective ones. It is a state of mind as opposed to a state of the office. Some people are more organized using a 65-cent steno pad than others are using a 65-dollar organizer.

5. A "Quiet Hour" is a great time management tool.
A "quiet hour" is a figment of time management writers' imaginations. There is no such thing as a "quiet hour". We can reduce interruptions, but never eliminate them. To be effective we must learn to work in spite of the interruptions. Frequently, interruptions are not time wasters, but opportunities arriving at inopportune times.

6. Keeping a time log to determine where your time is going, is the place to start.
A time log should be done last, not first. All we need is more paperwork and interruptions when we're already inundated with them! We should get organized first, adopt effective habits, schedule time properly, put into practice time-reducing techniques and procedures, and once we have the time, keep a time log to effect further refinements.

7. It's more efficient to stick to one task until it's completed.
It may be more efficient, but it's not more effective, for seldom will you have time to finish it. It's more effective to break large projects into small one or two-hour chunks and work at them for a brief period each day. Working on priorities involves frequent brief sprints, not occasional marathons.

8. Time is money.
Time is more than money, it's life. You can always get more money, but you can never get more time. It's an irreplaceable resource. When time's gone, you're gone.

9. The biggest time wasters include telephone interruptions, visitors, meetings and rush jobs.
These are not time wasters, they are time obligations -- they come with the job. The biggest time wasters are self-imposed, such as procrastination, making mental notes, interrupting ourselves, searching for things, perfectionism, and spending time on trivial tasks. We are our own worst enemies. Being effective involves managing ourselves, not placing the blame on others.

10. We should have one planner for the office, and a separate planner for the home.
We should have one planner, period. We are only one person, sharing our lives with people and activities at work, at home, at school, etc. Since we only have one life, we should only have one planner. Both business and personal activities should be scheduled in the same planner so business activities don't take precedence over personal and family activities.

Dispelling the Myths about Alzheimer Disease
Educating Canadians a priority during Alzheimer Society's Awareness Campaign
TORONTO, Jan. 5 /CNW/ - Have you always thought that cooking with aluminum pots and pans can cause Alzheimer Disease? Do you believe Alzheimer Disease can be prevented by exercising and maintaining a healthy diet? Are you ignoring excessive memory loss because you think you are too young to have Alzheimer Disease? Many Canadians think the same way, judging from the questions the Alzheimer Society receives on a daily basis. January is Alzheimer Awareness Month in Canada and this year's Awareness Campaign looks to dispel the myths surrounding Alzheimer Disease.
"The majority of Canadians are aware of Alzheimer Disease but the disease is still surrounded by a number of myths which cause confusion and misunderstanding," says Stephen Rudin, executive director of the Alzheimer Society of Canada.
Alzheimer Disease was discovered almost 100 years ago, yet a great deal is still not known about the disease that currently affects over 238,000 Canadians. Although much has been written, misinformation abounds regarding what causes the disease, who can develop it, prevention and much more.
As increasing numbers of Canadians are expected to develop Alzheimer Disease and related dementias in the coming years -- 750,000 by the year 2031 - - the importance of educating Canadians about the disease becomes crucial.
"People need to understand the facts about the disease," says Dr. Jack Diamond, scientific director of the Alzheimer Society of Canada. "There are no quick fixes, nor absolute ways to prevent it. However, there are lifestyle choices that may lower susceptibility to risk factors and thereby delay onset of the disease. We want people to get past the myths associated with
Alzheimer Disease and make informed decisions."
As part of Awareness Month, the Society has created a new brochure Alzheimer Disease: Dispelling the Myths highlighting ten commonly held misconceptions about the disease. The ten myths related to family history, age, cures, causes and characteristics are refuted with the "reality". The myths also address quality of life for the person with Alzheimer Disease and
treating people with dignity and respect. The brochure, along with more detailed information about the myth topics, is available from local Alzheimer Societies.
The 2004 Awareness Campaign was made possible through the generosity of our partner sponsor Pfizer Canada Inc., program sponsors Manulife Financial and Joey's Only Seafood Restaurants, and support from Shoppers Drug Mart.
The Alzheimer Society is a not-for-profit health organization dedicated to helping people affected by Alzheimer Disease. The Society provides support and educational programs for people with Alzheimer Disease, their families and caregivers, and promotes public education. The Society also funds research into finding the cause and cure for the disease and into improved methods of caregiving. Please visit www.alzheimer.ca for more information about the
Society and Alzheimer Disease.