Too young for knee replacement?

TORONTO May 19, 2013 from Don't Fall by Will Gage

“You’re too young for a knee replacement. Come see me again in 10 or 11 years.” Have you heard this before? Or has one of your loved ones heard this? You may not be aware, and your physician might not be aware, that the demographics of knee and hip replacement patients are changing. Patients are getting younger. The fastest growing age group for knee and hip replacement surgery is between 45 and 54 years of age. What is going on? Joint replacement patients are getting younger and younger

According to the Canadian Joint Replacement Registry, which is managed by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), over the past decade, the number of joint replacement surgeries in Canada has increased by about 100% – that is, the number of people getting joint replacement surgery has doubled. These statistics are consistent with results from around the world. And the world over, knee and hip replacement patients are getting younger and younger. Over this same period of time, the average age of joint replacement patients has decreased by a couple of years. However, the fastest growing group of patients has been between the 45 and 54 years of age. This group has grown by almost 200% - that is, the number of people getting joint replacement surgery has almost tripled in the past 10 years. The number of patients between 55 and 64 years of age has grown almost as much.

What is joint replacement?

Joint replacement is a surgical procedure to treat moderate and severe arthritis – most commonly, osteoarthritis. The most commonly replaced joints are the knee and the hip, but the elbow and shoulder joints can also be replaced. In effect, the ends of the two bones that meet to form a joint are removed and replaced with an artificial surface – an implant. For instance, for the knee joint, the end of the tibia – the main bone of the lower leg – and the end of the femur – the thighbone – are removed using a saw. The surgeon will use a “jig” or template to make sure that the cut ends of the bones are the right shape for the implant. Then, instead of having the cartilage at the ends of the bone meet to form the joint, the new implanted surfaces meet. The #1 reason for having joint replacement is to treat the pain of really bad osteoarthritis. Potential benefits of joint replacement surgery

The pain and discomfort associated with moderate and severe knee or hip arthritis can be debilitating. It becomes difficult to walk – forget about jogging. Staying active becomes incredibly challenging, because everything hurts. Having the joint replaced almost always results in reduced pain, reduced inflammation and swelling, improved range of movement at the joint, greater mobility, and improved quality of life. If you ask a patient why they elected to have their knee replacement done, these are the reasons that they’ll most likely give you. However, there are other potential benefits – or more to the point, threats avoided. We all know that a sedentary lifestyle is a threat to your health. A sedentary lifestyle can lead to weight gain and obesity; diabetes; high blood pressure and heart disease; and stroke, to name just a few potential problems. And severe joint pain can make you sedentary. Joint replacement surgery typically reduces your pain, allowing you to become more active again, and effectively avoid and reduce your risk of all of these other problems. I, and others, have often thought that joint replacement surgery might be the best thing a person can do for their heart, let alone their knee.

...read more at DontFall.ca.

Understanding how the heart works

Your heart is an amazing powerhouse that pumps
and circulates 5 or 6 gallons of blood each minute
through your entire body.

...a Slideshow from Medicine.net

To understand heart disease, you must first know how the heart works. The heart is like any other muscle, requiring blood to supply oxygen and nutrients for it to function. It beats about 100,000 times a day, pumping blood through your circulatory system. The cycle of pumping blood throughout your body carries fresh oxygen to your lungs and nutrients to your body's tissues. Blood also takes waste, such as carbon dioxide, away from your tissues,. Without this process, we could not live.

What is heart disease?

Heart disease begins when cholesterol, fatty material, and calcium build up in the arteries. When this occurs in the arteries that supply the heart, this buildup, or plaque, causes the arteries to narrow, so that oxygen delivery to the heart is reduced. The reduction in oxygen delivery to the heart can create chest pain, also called angina.

The link between heart disease and heart attack

When plaque builds up to the point that it ruptures, it causes a blood clot to form in the coronary artery. The blood clot blocks blood from flowing to the heart muscle, leading to a heart attack. In a worst-case scenario, sudden cardiac arrest or fatal rhythm disturbance can occur.

What are the heart disease symptoms in women, seniors, and people with diabetes?

For many women, seniors, and people with diabetes, pain is not a symptom of heart disease at all. Instead of experiencing discomfort, they often have symptoms of malaise or fatigue.

read more and view the slideshow at Medicine.net

OPP urges residents to dispose of unused prescription meds

Police and Medical Officials Working Together
to Combat Prescription Drug Abuse

ORILLIA, Ontario, May 10, 2013 /Canada NewsWire/ - Saturday, May 11 is your opportunity to quickly and easily dispose of old and unused prescription medications that you may have in your home. The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is making locations available across the province for residents to drive up and drop off medications that they no longer need.

"In recent studies, 24 per cent of surveyed teens admitted misusing prescription medications at least once within the previous year, with most of the teens taking the medication from home. The OPP fully supports this program as just one more way to reduce the threat to public safety." - Commissioner Chris Lewis, Ontario Provincial Police.

The misuse and abuse of prescription medications has become a public safety issue for communities and police services across the country, who are working together to draw attention to this public safety concern by participating in the Prescription Drug Drop Off Day on Saturday, May 11, 2013.

The OPP has over fifty locations across the province ready to accept unwanted or expired medications to keep them away from individuals whom they were never intended for. The abuse of prescription medications can lead to incidents of overdose and in some cases, death.

Between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 11, residents can simply drive to any of the designated locations and anonymously drop off unwanted drugs. Police and medical officials urge you to do your part to combat this serious public health threat. Prescription Drug Drop Off Day is a one-day initiative sponsored by the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP).

For a list of participating OPP detachments near you, visit opp.ca or contact your local OPP detachment.

New health program promises to slow down your aging processes and prevent chronic disease;

Nobel laureate Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn
shares telomere link in Toronto May 15-16

TORONTO, May 8, 2013 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Executive Health Centre today officially launches its innovative Telomere Performance Program that focuses on the Nobel Prize winning science of telomeres. This one-of-a-kind health action plan includes a new test of telomere length that reveals a person's true health status and biological age.

"Telomere Science has come of age," says Dr. Elaine Chin, Founder and Chief Medical Officer, Executive Health Centre, leaders in personalized medicine. "Thanks to scientists like Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn (winner of the 2009 Nobel Prize in Medicine and one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People), we now have a solid understanding of what telomeres are telling us. We know how to manage lifestyle, hormones, and disease risk factors to preserve telomere length and we can measure them to track improving health. Our telomere-based program is an exciting step forward for personalized preventive health care."

Dr. Chin hosts Dr. Blackburn's speaking engagements in Toronto, May 15-16.

Quoted on ABC, Dr. Blackburn said the discovery of the telomerase enzyme

"sort of translates into a fountain of youth; the number of years of healthy living is related to telomere length. We don't think clocks will be turned back, but it is a question of whether we will extend our health span."

Chin's team has incorporated Blackburn's research into its Telomere Performance Program, which augments the Centre's established and recognized health programs.

"We're confident our clients will be the first to realize the benefits of their 'built in health warning system' - their telomeres," says Chin.

"Telomere testing at Executive Health has been insightful for our clients in further personalizing their health action plans and motivating them to continue to improve their health," says Chin.

Now the Centre has launched www.StoppingtheClock.ca so more people can be aware of what their telomeres can tell them about their health and their future.

About Executive Health Centre

The Executive Health Centre is one of the leading preventative health care clinics in North America. By applying advanced diagnostics and integrative health counselling, Dr. Chin and her team help health-aware individuals, executives and professionals achieve peak health for peak performance.

10% Growth in Number of Registered Organ and Tissue Donors in Ontario

ServiceOntario Initiatives, Registration Drives Credited With Increase

TORONTO, May 1, 2013 /Canada NewsWire/ - Between April 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013, 245,886 Ontarians registered their consent to organ and tissue donation, bringing the total number of registered donors in the province to 2.6 million people. One out of every six registrations was completed at www.BeADonor.ca, where it takes two minutes to register consent or check your registration status.

"Over the past few years Ontario has worked hard to develop a world-class organ and tissue donor registration system," said Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long Term Care. "As of February this year, everyone who is renewing a driver's license or Ontario photo ID card is asked to register consent, in addition to those renewing their health cards. It has never been easier to be a hero - please take two minutes to register or check your consent status at www.BeADonor.ca."

Donor registration rates vary widely by community across Ontario and are highest in Northern Ontario. While overall registration rates in the Greater Toronto Area continue to lag behind those in the rest of the province, most communities, including Woodbridge (17 per cent), Vaughan (17 per cent), the city of Toronto (13 per cent), Markham and Thornhill (13 per cent) have reported more than a 10 per cent increase in the number of registered donors in the last year.

"Workplace registration drives run through www.BeADonor.ca have shown the impact and importance of community leadership in increasing registered donors," says Ronnie Gavsie, President and CEO of Trillium Gift of Life Network. "To date, successful drives have been run by hospitals, police forces, university students and workplaces, with the top five inspiring 7,500 visits to online donor registration. I'd like to challenge all community leaders to help us save more lives by launching a registration drive in their own workplace."

Quick Facts:

...The overall rate of registered donors in Ontario edged up slightly in the last quarter to reach 23 per cent.

...As of March 31, 2013, there were 1,468 people in Ontario waiting for the gift of a lifesaving organ transplant.

...Northern Ontario has the highest rates of registration in the province, with three suburbs of Sudbury (Hanmer, Lively and Garson) reporting donor registration rates of over 50 per cent.

...The number of registered organ and tissue donors in the GTA grew slightly faster than in the rest of Ontario (12 per cent vs. 10 per cent) from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013, but it continues to lag behind the provincial average, with an overall registration rate of 14 per cent.

...Woodbridge and Vaughan are the only two communities in Ontario with registration rates of less than 10 per cent.

...One donor can save up to eight lives and enhance the lives of up to 75 more through the gift of tissue.

...Many Ontarians mistakenly believe they are registered donors because they have signed a paper donor card. Donor cards are not effective, as they are not always available when needed. Register online at www.BeADonor.ca.

Trillium Gift of Life Network is a not-for-profit agency of the Government of Ontario responsible for planning, promoting, coordinating and supporting organ and tissue donation for transplantation across Ontario and improving the system so that more lives can be saved.

Scouts Canada appoints North America's renowned tracker and wilderness expert as Chief Scout

Terry Grant Brings a Wealth of Skill and Expertise to Scouting in Canada

Ottawa, April 22, 2013 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Board of Governors for Scouts Canada announced today the appointment of Terry Grant as the organization's new Chief Scout, a two-year term honourary position.

As Chief Scout, Grant will represent Scouts Canada nationally and internationally, attend events, in particular Jamborees and national award ceremonies, plus interact with youth, parents and leaders.

"I'm honoured to be appointed Chief Scout and as a former Scout myself and as a contributor to Scouts Canada in the past, "I feel I have lots to share," said Grant. "I look forward to meeting current members and talking to youth across Canada about the excellent opportunities that Scouting offers."

Grant is best known as the star of the reality hit series, Mantracker, where he demonstrated the almost-lost art of tracking. Grant, a 25-year veteran of the Foothills Search and Rescue Team, is an expert in utilizing clues such as footprints, probable path and other signs of human presence to track prey.

As a consultant he has worked with the British Military Chiefs to provide basic ground and track awareness training and is one of the few 'civilians' who have been invited to the K-9 Training Facility for the Edmonton Police Service. Grant is a popular speaker, appearing at functions hosted by law enforcement, private groups, fundraisers and schools.

"We believe that Terry is a great role model for all our members. He is committed to fitness, the outdoors and the environment," said Andrew Price, Chief Commissioner and Chair of the Board of Governors of Scouts Canada. "With his demonstrated ability to lead and motivate people and his understanding and commitment to Scouting, Terry is the perfect candidate."

Taking its lead from the U.K., Scouts Canada elevated the Governor General from the position of Chief Scout to that of Patron Scout and began the search for a high profile Canadian, who as Chief Scout, would inspire youth and engage them in the Scouting Movement.

Full Terry Grant biography

Video message from Terry Grant to Scouts Canada members

About Scouts Canada

Scouts Canada is the country's leading co-ed youth organization with more than 100,000 members nationwide. Scouts Canada offers programming for children and youth aged 5-26 in more than 19 languages, reflecting Canada's multicultural landscape and communities. Kids in Scouts have fun adventures discovering new things and experiences they wouldn't discover elsewhere. Along the way, they develop into capable, confident and well-rounded individuals, better prepared for success in the world. For tens of thousands of children and youth across Canada, Scouts is the start of something great. For more information visit Scouts.ca.

Canadian Human Rights Commission Launches Online Complaint Tool - New website aims to improve service to Canadians

OTTAWA, April 8, 2013 /Canada NewsWire/ - Starting today, people who believe they have suffered discrimination will have easy online access to a tool to determine if they have grounds for a complaint under the Canadian Human Rights Act.

The Canadian Human Rights Commission has launched an online complaint assessment tool, an interactive, self-service questionnaire that helps people determine if a discrimination complaint is valid and should be formally filed.

According to its Annual Report for 2012, last year the Canadian Human Rights Commission received over 19,000 inquiries and over 1,500 complaints.

The complaint assessment tool is just one of the new features of the Commission's redesigned website, launched today. The redesign, grounded in a "people first" philosophy, improves accessibility and usability and delivers critical information to all the Commission's audiences with the fewest possible clicks.

The web redesign reflects a greater emphasis across government on electronic delivery of information. With its complaint assessment tool, new e-learning projects and tools for employers, and the Human Rights Maturity Model, which provides employers the opportunity to self-evaluate workplace human rights performance online, the Commission is tailoring the delivery of its services to the needs of the public. Newly launched social media initiatives complement this effort.

The Commission is among the first departments and agencies in the federal government to unveil websites that conform to new Treasury Board standards for usability and accessibility.

You can follow the Commission on TWITTER: @CdnHumanRights.