From blogs to news sites to WebMD, health information is everywhere on the internet. And while it is easy to believe there is conflicting information about diets or exercise routines, one would think information on serious conditions, such as Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis—a type of lung disease that can affect one’s ability to take in oxygen—would be accurate. Unfortunately, Dr. Chris Ryerson—along with co-authors Drs. Jolene Fisher, Darra O’Connor, Alana Flexman and Shane Shapera—found that’s not the case.

Hearing loss is a condition often associated with aging. In fact, it is estimated that 65 per cent of people over age 70 have significant hearing loss, which can cause difficulties socializing and going about daily activities. Hearing aids are currently the best solution for most hearing loss, but their cost may be deterring some patients from following through with recommendations to wear them. 

As a kidney transplant pharmacist, Cindy Luo ensures that kidney transplant patients take the correct medication and dose after surgery. Yet, despite pharmacists’ and clinicians’ best efforts, many transplant patients do not take their medications as prescribed, and go on to develop health problems that can put their new organ and overall health in jeopardy.

“Globally, medication non-adherence has been identified as a major contributor to the loss of kidney function after a successful transplant surgery.”

Sometimes the best way to learn is by doing. For Chinese-Canadians with diabetes who participated in a Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCHRI) cooking class study, the proof was in the pudding—especially if it was made with traditional ingredients.

“We know that people of Chinese descent are at higher risk of developing diabetes, and we wanted to communicate with them in a culturally appropriate way.”

People often associate the signs of Parkinson’s disease with tremors in the hands or feet, but patients can experience a range of symptoms, from stiffness to difficulty moving and changes in mood and cognitive function.

A degenerative neurological disorder, Parkinson’s slowly takes away the body’s ability to produce dopamine—a neurotransmitter chemical responsible for carrying signals between nerve cells in our brain. This means that movement is not the only function to suffer the effects of the disease.

Researchers from the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute have found that a widely prescribed drug for multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with longer survival for patients.

Vancouver, BC – Late-breaking results of a major trial testing atrial fibrillation treatments have just been presented at the European Heart Rhythm Association Congress by Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute scientist Dr. Jason Andrade. 

Office workers across Canada share a common problem—too much of their day is spent sitting at a desk. Sitting for long periods of time is associated with increased health risks, such as heart disease and obesity.  Now, with input from Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute scientist and kinesiologist Dr. Guy Faulkner, ParticipACTION Canada has launched a nation-wide workplace activity intervention to help people sit less and move more.