How to access free dental care for children 17 years old and under, if they are eligible through the government’s Healthy Smiles program. The program is designed for lower-income families in need of support. How it works Healthy Smiles Ontario is a government-funded dental program that provides free preventive, routine, and emergency dental services for […]

Asthma is a very common chronic (long-term) lung disease that can make it hard to breathe. About 2.4 million Canadians aged 12 and older have asthma1. Over 1.9 million Ontarians have asthma, including one out of every five children3. If you manage your asthma well, it doesn’t have to limit what you can do. With […]

Most people have been affected by what’s commonly known as food poisoning at some point. Understanding the causes of foodborne illnesses is an important step to help prevent them. What are foodborne illnesses? Foodborne illnesses are caused by eating food contaminated with harmful microorganisms. The majority of cases are caused by bacteria. Viruses, parasites, moulds […]

Eighty-eight years ago in London, England, the era of antibiotics began with Sir Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin. The modern miracle of antibiotics brought about significant improvements to the medical system and has saved millions of lives. Today, we rely heavily on these drugs to treat deadly infections, make surgical procedures possible, and reduce infections […]

Each form of arthritis has its own particular risk factors, some of which we cannot change i.e., non-modifiable risk factors and others that we can control i.e., modifiable risk factors. Some of the most common risk factors for the development of arthritis include: Non-Modifiable Risk Factors Age: Arthritis can develop at any age. The risk […]

How MedsCheck helps you take your medication safely. If you qualify for MedsCheck, you can set up a free meeting with your pharmacist to discuss: • what medications you are taking • how they work together and possible side effects • how to avoid bad interactions • how to use inhalers, needles, etc. Your pharmacist […]

Learn how you can receive government-funded physiotherapy services to help you recover from illness, surgery or injury. If you are a senior, you may benefit from exercise classes designed to keep you healthy, active and independent. Eligibility for government-funded physiotherapy Step 1: find out if the government will pay for your treatment The information below […]

Scientists have eight more reasons for you to watch what you eat. A review of more than 1,000 studies has found a link between excess weight and eight new types of cancer. They include cancers of the: • Stomach • Liver • Gall bladder • Pancreas • Ovary • Thyroid • Meningioma brain tumors • […]

Being overweight or obese isn’t a cosmetic problem. These conditions greatly raise your risk for other health problems. Overweight and Obesity-Related Health Problems in Adults Coronary Heart Disease As your body mass index rises, so does your risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). CHD is a condition in which a waxy substance called plaque (plak) […]

Second-hand smoke is also dangerous Even if you yourself don’t smoke, you can still get sick or die from tobacco. When you breathe the smoke from another person’s cigarette, it can be as bad as smoking cigarettes yourself. • Secondhand smoke exposure is the number two cause of lung cancer (smoking is the number one […]