B.C. smokers lit up phone lines calling 8-1-1 this week to get help quitting.  A total of 7,107 nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) orders were taken during the first week of the Province’s smoking cessation program coming into effect Friday, Sept. 30.  The vast majority of smokers who called HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 to register for […]

Now that fall is upon us, it is time to bolster the system for the winter.  I’ve already seen the start of viral flus, so, this will help prevent and minimize the typical viral and bacterial flus common at this time of year.I try to remind folks that having one cold or flu per year is a good thing; it helps to re-train and ...

A team of diverse partners in the Kootenay region taking action to reduce the cosmetic use of pesticides has been recognized with a prestigious national award from the Canadian Cancer Society.  The award, called the Circle of Distinction, recognizes team effort between Canadian Cancer Society volunteers and staff and their ...

The Liberal government must act now to address the growing crisis for developmentally disabled British Columbians by putting an immediate stop to further group home closures and beginning a review of how Community Living B.C. is being run, say the New Democrats. “The Liberals’ chronic failure to effectively manage CLBC has come at the expense […]

Canadians are pushing themselves to the brink of their physical and financial health, says Canada’s Vital Signs 2011, the annual report card on quality of life from Community Foundations of Canada. National obesity rates and personal bankruptcy numbers continue to rise unabated – and although Canada’s youth unemployment rates haven’t reached the epic proportions of […]

In any given room, even the most sterile scientific cleanrooms, there are dust particles in the air and coating every surface. If allowed to go uncleaned, the dust will accumulate to eventually cover every surface. But what exactly is the dust in the air and on our tables and shelves? A chemistry research team at […]

Of all our sensory organs, the sense of smell is often overlooked. While visual, auditory, and tactile perception are important, the olfactory sense also plays a subtle yet meaningful role in our daily lives. The animal brain has an amazing ability to recognize and associate smells entering the nostrils. However, according to a research study […]

Nelson will host six flu clinics this fall as the IHA’s public health nurses across Interior Health are gearing up for the launch of this year’s influenza (flu) vaccination campaign beginning Oct. 11. The first Nelson clinic goes Nov. 2 (9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) at the Prestige Inn and then Nov. 9 (same time) […]

Kootenay Lake Hospital Foundation is committing $65,100 to the purchase of equipment to establish the new retinology clinic.  This equipment includes a slit lamp, an indirect ophthalmoscope, an ophthalmology chair, two procedure chairs and a retinal camera with adapter. The equipment will be paid for with excess funds generously donated towards the CT scanner campaign. […]

Patients who took sleep tests in Kelowna between 2007 and 2011 may need to be re-tested or re-diagnosed, says Interior Health Authority (IHA) review released this week. Interior Health contacted 13 patients who underwent polysomnography testing at the Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) Sleep Lab and will be reviewing a further 980 cases given potential concern […]