Health & Wellness
 

Canadians healthier, outliving Americans Last Updated: Wednesday, April 28, 2010 | 8:02 PM ET Comments140Recommend114 | CBC News Universal health care seen as important factor in higher quality of life Click to read more http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2010/04/28/health-life-expectancy-canada-us.html Canadians tend to lead longer, healthier lives than Americans on average, say researchers who point to lack of universal health care in the U.S. as one reason. The study in Thursday's online issue in BioMed Central's journal Population Health Metrics was based on data from the 2002-03 Joint Canada/United States Survey of Health, which offered comparable data on the health of the population in both countries. 'I think that Canadians can look at these results and get some affirmation that the investments that they have made in reducing inequality and in having a health-care system with universality have paid off.' — David Feeny David Feeny, a dual Canadian/U.S. citizen and investigator at the Center for Health Research at Kaiser Permanente Northwest in Portland, Ore., and his U.S. colleagues calculated health-adjusted life expectancy, which takes into account not only mortality risk but also the health-related quality of life, such as being free of disability. The study's authors found a 19-year-old in Canada could expect to enjoy 2.7 more years of perfect health than a 19-year-old in the U.S. In this case, someone in perfect health would have a top score of 1.00 on the Health Utilities Index Mark 3. The index lowers an individual's score depending on their level of disability in eight areas: vision, hearing, speech, ambulation dexterity or ability to move, emotion, cognition, pain and discomfort. The lowest score is 0.00 for death. About two-thirds of the gap was because mortality rates in Canada are lower and the remaining one-third was thanks to lower rates of morbidity or disease in Canada —differences Feeny called "quite substantial" with policy implications on both sides of the border. "I think that Canadians can look at these results and get some affirmation that the investments that they have made in reducing inequality and in having a health-care system with universality have paid off," said Feeny, who worked for more than 30 years in Canada at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont., and the University of Alberta in Edmonton. "I think it underscores the need for additional vigilance on emerging issues such as child poverty in Canada that will eventually affect population health," he added. The survey itself did not say why Canadians are healthier, but the study's authors pointed to two major potential explanations: Differences in access to care between the "prenatal to grave" health service offered by provinces and territories compared with the non-universal American access that is typically through employee coverage or Medicaid or Medicare for those with low incomes and seniors. The higher degree of social inequity that is more pronounced in the U.S., particularly among seniors. What the U.S. team found is consistent with what most other studies have also concluded about the cost effectiveness and better outcomes in Canada, said Raisa Deber, a professor in the department of health policy, management and evaluation at the University of Toronto. Click to read more

Women under 50 'face stress risk' http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8663090.stm By Adam Brimelow | Health correspondent, BBC News Stress at work raises the risk of heart disease for women under 50, a study of more than 12,000 nurses suggests. Danish research in Occupational and Environmental Medicine concludes work pressure has a greater effect on young women than those in their 50s and 60s. It suggests other risk factors may play a bigger role in the development of heart disease for older women.  The British Heart Foundation says people facing stress at work should try to tackle it in a positive way.  There is a lot of evidence indicating that stress at work raises the risk of heart disease in men, but there has been much less research examining the impact on women. Risk profile In this study, the researchers asked more than 12,000 female nurses aged between 45 and 64 about pressure at work and tracked their health for 15 years up to 2008. “ If you feel under pressure you should try and tackle it in a positive way and get active during work hours ” June Davison, British Heart Foundation By then 580 nurses had been admitted to hospital with ischaemic heart disease, including 369 cases of angina and 138 heart attacks. After accounting for risk factors such as smoking and diabetes, the researchers found that those who described pressure at work as "much too high" were 35% more likely to have developed heart disease than those who were comfortable with the pressure. But when they broke the results down by age, they found it was only the women aged 50 and under who were affected significantly. The researchers from Glostrup University Hospital, in Denmark, say this could be down to a changing risk-profile in different age groups. "It seems as if the effect of work pressure has a greater impact on younger women," they said. "This is in agreement with findings from previous studies looking at age-specific effects in both men and women.  "The lower risk among the older nurses may be due to other risk factors that become relatively more important with increasing age." 'Worrying' June Davison, a cardiac nurse with the British Heart Foundation, said people who were stressed at work should talk to colleagues or managers about how to manage the pressures. "If you feel under pressure you should try and tackle it in a positive way and get active during work hours," she said. "Using the stairs and walking some of the way to work could help act as a stress buster and boost heart health too." Josie Irwin, head of employment relations at the Royal College of Nursing, said the paper raised important concerns. "Our latest employment survey found that 55% of nurses feel they are under too much pressure at work, making this research worrying reading," she said.  "We know that safe staffing levels are key to providing the best quality care for patients - this research also suggests under-staffing and excess pressure can have a damaging effect on nurses' health." Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/8663090.stm Published: 2010/05/06 00:29:23 GMT

Majority of Canadian mothers struggle to balance work and family http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2010/03/c7394.html?view=print Survey reveals self-employment appeals to one-in-three moms, but few actually do it TORONTO, May 3 /CNW/ - Conflicting priorities, limited time or inadequate resources may be reasons that an overwhelming 63 per cent of Canadians know a mother who finds it difficult to maintain a work/family life balance. An eBay Canada survey released today found Canadian mothers are struggling to "have it all." According to the survey of more than 1500 Canadians, 32 per cent of women have put their career on hold after having children. Thirty-three per cent of Canadians know a mother who has or would like to start her own business in order to spend more time at home with her children, but the survey reveals only 14 per cent of Canadian mothers have started their own business or considered self-employment. The survey also found self-employment appeals to mothers living in Western Canada more than it appeals to mothers in the east. Forty-two per cent of Canadians living in the Prairies, Alberta or British-Columbia know a mother who has or would like to start her own business compared with one-in-four Canadians living in Atlantic Canada (25 per cent) or Quebec (27 per cent) who say the same. Nearly one-in-five mothers in the Prairies, Alberta and British Columbia earns an income selling items online (15 per cent). Tiffany Lemay, a stay-at-home mom from Victoria, British Columbia, knows first-hand the struggles mothers face when deciding whether to return to work. After her first maternity leave ended in 2004, Tiffany saw eBay as a gateway to a small business that wouldn't compromise her time spent with the family. Deciding what to sell was easy: As a passionate collector of fairy memorabilia since her teens, Lemay sourced reputable suppliers and created a business selling unique and whimsical pieces to Canadian and international fairy aficionados. Today, she is an eBay PowerSeller (eBay ID: hopeinvictoria), selling more than 5,000 fairies and fantasy items every year. What started out as a part-time business is now her primary source of income. "Deciding whether to put your career on hold after having children is probably one of the most difficult decisions a mother has to make," said Lemay. "eBay gave me the opportunity to start a small business while still being at home with my kids, selling what I love online and in the comfort of my home." Lemay, who was recently inducted into the eBay Canada Hall of Fame in the Mom Entrepreneur category, offers these tips for starting an online home-based business: Convert your passion into cash. Think about and define your passion, then look for related products you can turn into a source of income. Research, research, research. Determine who is selling the same or similar products, if the current market can benefit from additional competition, and what different aspects you can bring to the market or how you can improve the experience so that buyers will be attracted to your merchandise. Source both local and international suppliers to buy in bulk at a discount. Set-up an eBay account. Selling on eBay enables you to instantly access the world market. About the survey The online survey was conducted for eBay Canada by Leger Marketing, the largest Canadian owned marketing research company. The survey was conducted between April 12 and April 15, 2010 using a national random sample of 1542 respondents from Leger Marketing's Web panel. This method simulates a probability sample which would yield a maximum margin or error of +/- 2.5%, 19 times out of 20. About eBay Canada Founded in 1995 in San Jose, Calif., eBay Inc. connects millions of buyers and sellers globally on a daily basis through eBay, the world's largest online marketplace, and PayPal, which enables individuals and businesses to securely, easily and quickly send and receive online payments. We also reach millions through specialized marketplaces such as StubHub, the world's largest ticket marketplace, and eBay Classifieds sites, which together have a presence in more than 1,000 cities around the world. In Canada, eBay was visited by nearly 8.3 million Canadians in March 2010. (comScore Media Metrix). For further information: For media inquiries, contact: Elisabeth Napolano, Environics Communications for eBay Canada, enapolano@environicspr.com, (416) 969-2705; Nazia Khan, Environics Communications for eBay Canada, nkhan@environicspr.com, (416) 969-2781

Can red wine compound improve brain power? http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/health1/can-red-wine-compound-improve-brain May 3rd, 2010 - 4:20 pm ICT by IANS - London, May 3 (IANS) Can Resveratrol, the so-called miracle molecule found in red wine, peanuts and an obnoxious plant called Chinese Giant Knotweed actually improve your brain function? Scientists at Northumbria University, Britain have published a study which concludes that a relatively modest dose of this compound in the form of one or two capsules may just do that. Subjects were administered one capsule of a supplement called Biotivia Bioforte Resveratrol containing 250 mg of the trans-Resveratrol isomer in each dose. In previous studies of Resveratrol, the compound has been shown to have potent anti-aging properties in animals, as well as the ability to protect cells against a remarkable range of diseases. Resveratrol seems to perform much the same function in animals the same way it does in plants; that is, act as the organism’s immune system. The supplement’s ability to activate certain genes called sirtuins was discovered by David Sinclair at Harvard about three years ago and since that time has been the subject of hundreds of studies and trials. Albert Einstein Medical School, for example, has applied to present the results of its trial on diabetes patients to the American Diabetes Association Science Meeting in June. In the Northumbria study, Bioforte Resveratrol increased the brain blood flow in the human subjects while they were performing mental tasks by a substantial amount. The effect seemed to be turned on by the increased demand caused by the cognitive tasks being performed by the student subjects. This implies that the effect of Resveratrol on cerebral blood flow is activated on demand when the brain is called upon to perform a challenging mental task, says a Northumbria University release. These findings have been published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Why do obese kids attract bullies? http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/sci-tech/why-do-obese-kids-attract-bullies_100357559 May 3rd, 2010 - 2:27 pm ICT by IANS - Eunice Kennedy Shriver Washington, May 3 (IANS) Obese children are more likely to be bullied regardless of gender, race, socio-economic status, social skills or academic achievement, says a new study. “Physicians who care for obese children should consider the role that being bullied is playing in the child’s well-being,” said study leader Julie C. Lumeng, assistant professor in paediatrics and communicable diseases, University of Michigan’s (U-M) C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. Childhood obesity and bullying are both pervasive public health problems. Obesity among children in the US has risen to epidemic proportions with 17 percent of six to 11-year-olds estimated to be obese. Besides, parents of obese children rate bullying as their top health concern. Past studies have shown that obese children who are bullied experience more depression, anxiety and loneliness. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between childhood obesity and being bullied in third, fifth and sixth grades. While studies on bullying and obesity in children have been conducted before, none had controlled for factors such as socio-economic status, race, social skills and academic achievement. Further, this study is unique in that it specifically looks at the age range when bullying peaks - ages six to 9, said an U-M release. Researchers studied 821 children who were participating in the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. These findings will be published in the June issue of Paediatrics.

Insurance Bureau of Canada launches national program to assist Canadians when disaster strikes HALIFAX, May 3 /CNW/ - Canadians who are suddenly forced to cope with extreme weather events such as windstorms, wildfire and torrential rains, as well as other disasters, will now have quick access to on-site insurance-related information, thanks to a new national program launched today by Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) as part of Emergency Preparedness Week. In consultation with provincial authorities, IBC will deploy its Community Assistance Mobile Pavilion (CAMP) to disaster sites that have significant insured damage, to help Canadians with their insurance questions. CAMP will be set up at emergency shelters and community centres where individuals are gathered and will be staffed by trained insurance industry personnel. "People forced from their home because of a disaster may not have their insurance information with them and that's where CAMP can help," said Don Forgeron, President and CEO of IBC. "They may not have the name and phone number of their insurance representative. And they may not know exactly what their policy covers. For example, does it cover the cost of hotel accommodation after they are forced from their home? It's important to know this information quickly." IBC has had experience providing this sort of assistance at disaster sites in the past. In 2009 alone, IBC representatives were on hand to talk with victims of wildfires in Nova Scotia, tornadoes in Ontario and hailstorms in Alberta. "Whenever we have attended these events, disaster relief agencies have welcomed our participation and we have received gratitude from disaster victims," said Forgeron. "With CAMP, we're really formalizing this service and taking it to the next level." CAMP is one of a number of initiatives introduced by Canada's home, car and business insurers to help Canadians prepare for, and cope with, disasters as we continue to adapt to climate change. About Insurance Bureau of Canada Insurance Bureau of Canada is the national industry association representing Canada's private home, car and business insurers. Its member companies represent 90% of the property and casualty (P&C) insurance market in Canada. The P&C insurance industry employs over 110,000 Canadians, pays more than $6 billion in taxes to the federal, provincial and municipal governments, and has a total premium base of $39 billion. To view news releases and information, visit the media section of IBC's website at www.ibc.ca. For further information: Ellen Woodger at (416) 483-2358 or Pete Karageorgos at (416) 362-2031 ext. 4329