News on Health and Fitness

As President Barack Obama pushes to overhaul the American health care system, the role of government is at the heart of the debate. In Europe, free, state-run health care is a given. The concept has been enshrined in Europe for generations. Health systems are built so inclusive that even illegal immigrants are entitled to free treatment beyond just emergency care. Europeans have some of the world's best hospitals and have made great strides in fighting ...

Canada has reported four new swine flu deaths, bringing to 31 the country's toll from the A(H1N1) virus. Two of the latest fatalities were reported Friday in Manitoba province, with the third confirmed in Ontario and the fourth in Quebec, which has recorded 14 swine flu deaths so far, making it Canada's worst affected province. The latest figures released by Canada's public health agency showed there are 8,563 laboratory-confirmed cases of the A(H1N1) infections throughout the country, including 661 cases that required hospitalization. Death ...

It might take Californians a puff or two to get their heads around an apparent contradiction recently enshrined in state law. The same marijuana smoke that doctors can recommend to ease cancer patients' suffering must soon come with a warning saying it causes the disease. State environmental regulators last month voted to place marijuana smoke on its list of hundreds of substances known to cause cancer. The decision could lead to warning signs in medical marijuana ...