Health articles

What does it mean to have an addiction? How do you know if you or a loved one may be addicted to something? Where can you get help? Learn more about addiction and ways to help you or a loved one overcome it.

The quality of your sleep depends so much on the quality of your sleep environment.

An average Canadian spends 316 hours per year commuting to and from work – more than 39 eight-hour workdays! But all those hours aren't empty – they're full of health hazards.

Have you used a herbal remedy to relieve a headache, or tried massage to relieve stress? If so, you're not alone. Studies show that more than 70% of Canadians have used some form of alternative or complementary medicine. Read on for more information about complementary medicine and tips on safety.

Dreams are fascinating and enigmatic. What can psychology and science tell us about what – and why – we dream?

Many Canadians suffer from eating disorders. Eating disorders have a major impact on the lives of affected individuals and their loved ones. Eating disorders can result in serious health problems. We've put together facts on these disorders, how to recognize them, and how to help someone who might be suffering from one.

Everyone enjoys a little shopping, a stroll in the mall, or discovering a great sale – it's a harmless pick-me-up that makes us all feel good. But how do you know when some harmless retail therapy is turning into a shopping addiction?

Grieving a loss can be scary and unpredictable. Emotions and reactions vary depending on the person, but there are common signposts along the road to recovering from loss.

An estimated 2% to 3% of the general population suffers from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that seems to be related to the amount of sunlight that you are exposed to. If you have episodes of depression that recur at the same time every year, for more than 2 years, you may have SAD.

It seems like everyone wants to be famous… but some people have problems that stand in their way. We look at two physical conditions that could keep a person from singing beautifully for an audience of millions.

You must remember this: As time goes by, certain aspects of memory may decline. Age-related memory changes are a normal part of aging, but memory loss is not necessarily inevitable and there are things you can do to help or improve your memory.

We're not all TV action heroes – fortunately! But we all have stress and crises in our lives, and we all could find ourselves in life-threatening situations. How do we get through it all alive and intact?

If you're like many Canadians, you consider your family doctor to be one of the most valuable resources you have when it comes to managing your health. But knowing how to talk to your doctor can help you get the most out of this vital relationship.

Integrative medicine – what does it mean? Is it dangerous? Find out how to know what's right for you.

Meditation is often recommended as a way of reducing stress and even improving health. Find out what it involves.

"It's easy to quit smoking – I've done it a dozen times!" If you can stay off cigarettes right up to when that nicotine craving hits, but then you're reaching frantically for that pack of smokes, Dr. Norman H. Edelman, chief medical officer of the American Lung Association, has some information you'll want.

Sleep appears so simple: lie down, close your eyes, and doze. But sleep can be a complicated matter!

Only about 17.5% of Canadians get enough regular physical activity. But it's easier than you may think. Read on for exercise and nutrition tips to stay active and fit.

Most people, at some point in their lives, have temporary fascinations, fixations or "obsessions" with people, places, or things. But for approximately 2% of Canadians, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) transforms their lives into a constant series of unwanted thoughts and repetitive behaviours that they cannot control.

Pain is an unfortunate part of life. Even though everyone encounters it, our experience, sensitivity, and tolerance to pain vary greatly. One person may suffer from small aches while another will tolerate walking on a broken ankle. Still, everyone needs pain relief now and then. Let’s take a look at some of the conditions that may cause you pain and what you can do to find pain relief.

Like good nutrition and exercise, adequate sleep is part of a healthy lifestyle. Sleep deprivation is an unrecognized cause of many problems, including accidents, illness, and poor job performance. It affects many people, and it's on the rise. Find out how your sleep habits could be affecting you, and what you can do to get a good night's sleep.

Primary health care is the real "workhorse" of the health care system. It can improve health and quality of life by providing more efficient, better-coordinated care. It can also help build a more sustainable health care system for the future.

Feeling stressed? Most of us feel pressured by the demands of daily life. But sometimes too much stress can make you sick. Reducing stress can help improve your overall health and energy. Find out how to simplify your life, get support, and use relaxation techniques to fight stress.

What is primary health care? How can it help build a better health care system for you and your family? Find out more about primary health care and how it's evolving.

All is calm? All is bright? Holiday stress can turn the jolliest among us into absolute Scrooges, and the winter blues can give anyone the "grinches."

Autism is a diagnosis many parents fear, but if your child has autism, it can be treated and managed better if it is diagnosed sooner. However, the road from suspicion to diagnosis can be a frustrating one. Find out more about autism, its signs and symptoms, and what to do if your child is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.

In Canada, hundreds of people are injured every day on the job. What can you do to stay safe and healthy at work?

Yoga: the word may bring to mind pictures of people holding seemingly impossible poses – but it's about more than just flexibility. The ancient art of yoga endures in our modern world for many good reasons.