Recent study revealed that an unhealthy lifestyle doubles the risk of stroke. University of East Anglia researchers analyzed data collected from 20,000 Men and women aged 40 to 79 with no known history of stroke. The study subjects were followed for 11 years.

Study subjects filled detailed health and lifestyle questionnaire and underwent a thorough health examination. Researchers gave one point for each of these habits- for not smoking, for drinking just one to 14 units of alcohol a week, for consuming five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, for being physically active.

Health minister Anbumani Ramadoss will have to answer the Supreme Court for his decision to close three public sector units manufacturing many life-saving vaccines. On January 15, 2008, the production licenses of Pasteur Institute of India (Coonor), BCG Vaccine Laboratory (Chennai) and Central Research Institute (Kasauli) were cancelled.

Recent survey revealed that failure of the Federal Government to renew funding for SunSmart campaigns will lead to death of 1900 Australians due to skin cancer. The study also revealed that despite the fact that money spent in SunSmart campaigns is profitable for the government in the long run still there is no funding commitment beyond this summer. Researchers said that every dollar invested in prevention campaigns produces a $2.32 saving to the health system.

Recent study showed that smoking before age 17 increases the risk of developing multiple sclerosis. Research team led by Joseph Finkelstein, MD, PhD, at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore studied data collected from 87 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

The study subjects were divided into three categories: nonsmokers, early smokers who started before age 17, and late smokers who started at 17 or later. Research team also studied factors like sex, race, age, marital status, education, income level, and region.

This Thursday the Ottawa Hospital announced the launch of the Emergency Department Reporting System at www. ontariowaittimes. com.

The local hospitals have also welcomed other provincial initiatives including the Wait Times Strategy, the Aging at Home Strategy, Tele-Health and Health-Care Connect, in an attempt to strengthen emergency wait time performance.

"Our government is creating an unprecedented level of transparency and accountability in hospital emergency care with the public reporting of time spent in the ER," said Health and Long-Term Care Minister David Caplan.