Canadians favour fitness over finances when it comes to 2017 resolutions

SOURCE GoodLife Fitness

A major new study suggests that people living close to busy roads may have a higher chance of suffering dementia.

Research published in the medical journal Lancet indicates that as many as 11% of dementia cases among people living up to 100 meters from a highway with significant traffic could be due to vehicle emissions as well as other pollutants or traffic noise.

According to the Lancet, the researchers tracked all adults aged between 20 and 85 living in Ontario, Canada - approximately 6.6 million people - for over a decade from 2001 to 2012. The prestigious medical publication noted that ‘the risk of developing dementia reduced as people lived further away from a main road - with a 7% higher risk in developing dementia among those living within 50 metres, a 4% higher risk at 50-100 metres, a 2% higher risk at 101-200 metres and no increase in risk in those living more than 200 metres away’.

Lead author Dr Hong Chen, Public Health Ontario, Canada, was quoted in the Lancet as saying: “Increasing population growth and urbanization has placed many people close to heavy traffic, and with widespread exposure to traffic and growing rates of dementia, even a modest effect from near-road exposure could pose a large public health burden”.

Blueair, a world leader in indoor air purification technologies, believes that one immediate solution to contaminated air at home or work in urban areas with heavy traffic is to use an air purifier meeting high standards for removing airborne pollution such as those set by AHAM, the U.S. Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.

AHAM says room air cleaners that are certified through its Certification Program 'have been certified and verified by an independent laboratory, assuring consumers that the product will perform according to the manufacturer’s product claims for suggested room size'. The AHAM program also verifies the reduction of three common household particulates: tobacco smoke, dust and pollen, which are commonly referred to as the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR).

Walk or run your way to a smoke-free life

With the holiday season here, you may be thinking about New Year’s resolutions.

Whether your motivation is to get healthy or save money, to quit smoking for a loved one or for yourself, the important thing is to make the decision to quit.

Gary started smoking when he was just 13. Like many people, his annual New Year’s resolution was to quit smoking. And in 2016, he finally did it. How? By joining Run to Quit.

You may be thinking “I’m not a runner,” but Run to Quit is an innovative quit-smoking program that pairs the quitting expertise of the Canadian Cancer Society with Running

Room Canada’s Learn to Walk or Run 5 km clinics. And it offers cash prize incentives to remain smoke-free.

The step-by-step program has been shown to help smokers cope with discomfort and cravings through its simple and encouraging approach to cutting down and getting active.

Because Gary had quit before and then relapsed after having “just one” cigarette, he made a game plan to stay away from cigarettes until he was over the cravings.

For his strategy to work he had to change routines, such as not going outside with his colleagues for smoke breaks. “Instead, I would walk around the block or do something else.”

He used other tactics to become tobacco-free, including tracking his savings of $20 a week, which meant extra tickets to sporting events. Winning $1000 from Run to Quit was an added bonus.

Now Gary’s success is inspiring others to quit too. “I’ve talked to people at work and they’re going to join Run to Quit and make it part of their New Year’s resolutions this year.”

Available across Canada. For more information or to register visit runtoquit.com

Study Urges Public Health to Embrace Sunlight Benefits

TORONTO – Just weeks after research warned Canadians that vitamin D deficiency was costing Canadian healthcare $12.5B annually by leading to a higher risk of developing life-threatening illnesses, a new study from the US is supporting the Canadian research and challenging conventional sun exposure advice. The study calls for public health organizations to re-evaluate their current message of sun avoidance and to promote non-burning sun exposure for vitamin D and other health benefits.

The recently published study, written by one of the most qualified and diverse groups of researchers in the fields of pigment cell research, photobiology, melanoma research, dermatology and vitamin D, “The Risks and Benefits of Sun Exposure 2016” by David G. Hoel, Marianne Berwick, Frank R. de Gruijl and Michael F. Holick, has found that insufficient sun exposure is an emerging public health risk.

Published in Dermato-Endocrinology, the report says that the current state of the science behind the risks and benefits of sun exposure suggests that public health advice should be changed to recommend that all men, women and children accumulate sufficient non-burning sun exposure to maintain their vitamin D blood levels at 75 nmol/L (30 ng/ml) especially in northern climates. The research goes further, reporting about the positive benefits of vitamin D and outlines how many other photoproducts produced by sunlight exposure are beneficial to our health.

In Canada, lab tests relied upon by doctors, consider the sufficient vitamin D blood level range to be between 75 to 150 nmol/L or higher in some provinces. Currently 65% of Canadians, or 2 out of every 3, do not meet the 75 nmol/L vitamin D blood level and have insufficient vitamin D levels.

“The results of our study show that to live a healthier life, it’s important for North Americans to increase their vitamin D levels through non-burning sun exposure,” says Dr. Michael Holick, Scientific Advisor for the Vitamin D Society and Professor of Medicine at Boston University Medical Center. “Insufficient sun exposure has become a major public health problem, demanding an immediate change in the current sun-avoidance public health advice. Generating vitamin D with non-burning exposure to the sun every day or under artificial UVB sources can help prevent the development of serious diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis and others. Remember that the UV index must be above 3 and your shadow shorter than you are to produce vitamin D from the sun.”

A new Canadian study reported that increasing vitamin D intake could spare 23,000 Canadians premature deaths annually and save Canada $12.5 billion in healthcare spending and associated costs. The study found that Canadians vitamin D levels have been dropping  due to lower sunlight exposure putting more people at risk of life-threatening illnesses.

“More and more research is being published urging individuals to increase their vitamin D levels through non-burning sun exposure,” says Perry Holman, Executive Director of the Vitamin D Society. We need to start looking at UV exposure differently and embrace the benefits while controlling for the risks of overexposure.”

Canadians can get their vitamin D levels checked by their physicians, or online, through a simple 25(OH)D blood test to ensure they aren’t deficient.

About the Vitamin D Society:

The Vitamin D Society is a Canadian non-profit group organized to increase awareness of the many health conditions strongly linked to vitamin D deficiency; encourage people to be proactive in protecting their health and have their vitamin D levels tested annually; and help fund valuable vitamin D research. The Vitamin D Society recommends people achieve and maintain optimal 25(OH)D blood levels between 100 – 150 nmol/L (Can) or 40-60 ng/ml (USA).

To learn more about vitamin D, please visit www.vitamindsociety.org

Ending Homelessness Among People with Mental Illness Using a Housing First Approach is Sustainable

 A Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) sustainability study, released today, finds that nine out of 12 programs implemented during the MHCC's ground-breaking At Home/Chez Soi Research Demonstration Project on mental health and homelessness have made the transition from research to real world.  At Home/Chez Soi used a Housing First approach with participants offered immediate access to housing of their choice through rent subsidies and access to mental health services and supports, all without preconditions.

The sustainability study provides unique insight into what is needed to ensure innovative research is translated into mainstream services.  This study tracks the Moncton, Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver programs after the At Home/Chez Soi project ended in 2014.

"Today we celebrate what we've learned that will help address people's needs," said Louise Bradley, MHCC President and CEO, at the report launch in Moncton.  "This sustainability study is a valuable roadmap.  It tells us what is working well and flags what still needs to be done to ensure Housing First becomes a mainstream option to serve some of Canada's most vulnerable people."

At Home/Chez Soi demonstrated that Housing First works to rapidly end homelessness for people experiencing mental illness—within months instead of years—the majority staying housed with an improved quality of life and connection to their community.  It also proved that this approach is a sound investment, with every $10 invested in Housing First services resulting in an average savings of $9.60 for participants with high needs and $3.42 for participants with moderate needs.

Although all programs experienced some reduction in funding during the shift from research to real world, participants continued to receive client-centred services and supports from multi-disciplinary teams.  In some locations the level of support was reduced and key positions such as housing coordinators were lost.

"Housing First in Canada has shown significant uptake since the end of the At Home/Chez Soi project, but those gains will remain fragile unless we address the funding and policy issues that are barriers to adopting a Housing First approach as a mainstream solution to homelessness and mental illness," says Dr. Tim Aubrey, Co-Principal Investigator of the Moncton site and a member of the At Home/Chez Soi National Research Team.

Some policies have already been adjusted nationally, provincially and locally.  In 2014, the federal government revised the Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) to focus a significant portion of these funds on the development of Housing First.  In Moncton, the At Home/Chez Soi experience with the service model led to an expansion of services with plans to implement mental health teams across New Brunswick, something new to the province. In Winnipeg, Housing First has been expanded across the city.

"Strong leadership and partnerships at the federal, provincial, municipal and community levels as well as across health and housing sectors have been crucial to the continuation and expansion of the Housing First programs begun under At Home/Chez Soi," said Louise Bradley.  "Long-term collaboration between all these partners is essential for people to benefit."

Reports:

• The At Home/Chez Soi Project: Cross-Site Report on the Sustainability of Housing and Support Programs Implemented
• The At Home/Chez Soi Project: Sustainability of Housing & Support Programs Implemented at the Moncton Site
• The At Home/Chez Soi Project: Moving Evidence into Policy The Story of the At Home/Chez Soi Initiative's Impact on Federal Homelessness Policy in Canada

More on At Home/Chez Soi:   http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/at-home

THE MENTAL HEALTH COMMISSION OF CANADA
The Mental Health Commission of Canada is a catalyst for change. We are collaborating with hundreds of partners to change the attitudes of Canadians toward mental health problems and to improve services and support. Our goal is to help people who live with mental health problems and illnesses lead meaningful and productive lives. Together we create change. The Mental Health Commission of Canada is funded by Health Canada.
www.mentalhealthcommission.ca | strategy.mentalhealthcommission.ca

The Wild North - Versatile Winter Wear - @the_wildnorth

The seasons are changing and with that we now need outerwear. Especially here in Toronto, Canada. Our seasons are so unpredictable we find ourselves needing a variety of coats. We also want to keep in style and up to date in fashion and also have versatile and functional winter coats that is a truly made-in-Canada Company.

A lot of time I find myself leaving the house in the morning, heading to the gym and then having to go to a meeting. I need outerwear that can fit all of my daily events and I have found it in The Wild North. I have a coat for every possible weather scenario now and I feel beautiful in the styles and comfortable in each and every coat.

A few facts about the company that I love:

1. They Live in Harmony with the Environment - As a truly made-in-Canada company, they choose to source our material, such as wild fur, from Canadian northern communities because they strongly believe in protecting our habitat from industrial forest clear cutting. They also support local industry and advocate outdoor activities to encourage people living a fulfilling lifestyle that is in harmony with nature.
2. They want you to live A Free-Spirited Winter Season - They believe in bringing one piece winter outerwear and accessory with timeless design and superior quality on your Christmas trip, skiing in Whistler and visiting Vancouver city along the way. I love that they create versatile and functional winter wear fashion lines that inspire you to fully experience the winter season and not have to hide indoors, including some of the most breathtaking views the snowy weather brings.
3. Their winter fashion is unlike any other company out there. The focus on the European trend driven, these simple, yet sophisticated looks are made with finest material, quality fabric, and high-fill-power down insulation. Keeping you warm and comfortable for the weather. They create contemporary and luxurious pieces that bring fashion back in winter. You will be glad of the change of season when you have fun wearing with different outfits from going to concerts, fine dining, and a long walk along the Harbourfront.

Another reason I fell in love with this company is that their coats are also light resistant so that they won't fade, water resistant at grade 4, which means that water slightly sticks to the upper surface of the fabric.. On top of this they use their fabric can withstand significant contact with minimal colour transfer and there will be minimal colour change over time with perspiration. I have had many coats in the past fail to meet these standards and I was having to continually replace them because of these faults.

My three favorite coats that I want to share with you are:

Lila Classic Winter Jacket

I love the weight of this coat. I find it easy to wear when I am getting in and out of my truck. It isn't big and bulky nor is it heavy. Its so warm I would wear it on any cold wintery day without ever second guessing. The coat is down-filled with a convenient two-way zipper, inset knit cuffs and removable fur trim hood, the Lila Classic Winter Jacket provides protection from the elements, with a classic modern style. Designed with a flattering fit, this medium length women’s winter jacket has a wool and silk blend outer shell that is exquisite to the touch! My favorite feature of this coat is the hidden pocket on the inside that perfectly fits my Iphone Plus.

Winterberry Multiple Wear Medium To Short Jacket

My favorite thing about this coat is that it is multipurpose and you can actually wear it three different ways! You can wear it together or each separately. It's the perfect fall coat because here in Toronto the weather can be one way in the morning and another way in the evening. Its also great if I am attending a dinner party after work and need to dress up. The removable external short jacket has a 100% wool shell with genuine leather sleeves. Inner medium length vest has a 100% wool shell lined with 3M ThinsulateTM insulation.

Bellflower Black Medium Length Winter Jacket

This coat is gorgeous and so warm! I love the detachable hood and its stylish for any event. It is also extremely light and comfortable. The blue accent on the fur is an eye catcher and adds just the right hint of colour to the coat. It is definitely a classic winter jacket with 100% wool shell and leather panels draped over the shoulders lends itself to classic elegance.

The jacket consists of elements that will keep you warm in extreme weather. Elements like Tibetan lamb wool hair, which covers the inside of the hood, down fill insulation, and an adjustable belt allow for heat retention.

Give True North a follow on their social media channels and stay warm this winter with one of their amazing coats!

Facebook: www.facebook.com/thewildnorthapparel

Twitter: www.twitter.com/the_wildnorth

Instagram: www.instagram.com/the_wildnorth

New Canadian investments in ALS research reflect growing knowledge about the disease and increasing likelihood of effective treatments being developed

ALS Canada and Brain Canada award $4.5 million in research funding; nearly $20 million
invested in ALS research in Canada since 2014's Ice Bucket Challenge

The ALS Society of Canada (ALS Canada), in partnership with Brain Canada, today announced $4.5 million in funding for nine new ALS research projects. This means that since the Ice Bucket Challenge became a social media phenomenon in 2014, nearly $20 million has been invested in Canadian ALS research at a time when it has the potential to make the greatest impact.

ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a disease that gradually paralyzes the body, leaving people without the ability to move, talk, swallow and eventually breathe. Most people die within two to five years of being diagnosed with ALS because the disease has no effective treatment or cure. However, ALS research has advanced to a point that many ALS research experts believe effective treatments are now a matter of 'when' not 'if.'

"We hear often from people and families living with ALS that the promise of research discovery is something they can be hopeful about. The challenge is that research takes time, which is exactly what people living with ALS don't have – and why the Ice Bucket Challenge has been such a game-changer," said Tammy Moore, CEO of ALS Canada. "Because of the increased funding that the Ice Bucket Challenge has made available, we have been able to make more significant research investments than ever before. We are grateful to Canadians who donated to the Ice Bucket Challenge, to our ALS Society partners across the country and to Brain Canada and the federal government's Canada Brain Research Fund for making this research investment possible."

"Brain Canada's partnership with ALS Canada has enabled greater investment in ALS research, which will in turn accelerate progress towards the development of effective treatments," said Inez Jabalpurwala, President and CEO, Brain Canada Foundation. "In addition, the discoveries that will result from this research funding have the potential to inform how we approach other neurodegenerative diseases with similar underlying mechanisms."

The nine projects include two large-scale, multi-year team initiatives – one of which is using stem cell technology to better understand and potentially treat ALS, while the other is studying in a new way the gene most commonly linked to ALS development – and seven smaller studies that enable investigators to explore out-of-the-box research.

"Five years ago, the breadth of ALS research we are funding today would not have been possible simply because we didn't know enough about the disease to be able to ask the kinds of questions that today's researchers are investigating in their work," said Dr. David Taylor, Vice President of Research at ALS Canada. "The fact that we now have the ability to explore ALS from different angles reflects the growing body of knowledge about the disease and the increasing likelihood of effective treatments being developed."

A research team led by Dr. Guy Rouleau of McGill University and the Montreal Neurological Institute has been awarded $2.2 million to study motor neurons and astrocytes created from people living with different forms of ALS via stem cell technology. Dr. Rouleau and his team, which includes other collaborators at McGill University and the Montreal Neurological Institute as well as Université de Montréal and Université Laval, will study the biology of these stem cells to determine if their characteristics in the laboratory can represent different forms of human disease and further develop them as a potential screening mechanism for therapeutics. The tools and tests created in this project will be valuable for both Canadian and global ALS researchers as new resources to understand the disease and find new ways to treat it.

A research team led by Dr. Janice Robertson of University of Toronto has been awarded $1.6 million to understand whether the most common genetic abnormality in ALS, which occurs in the C90RF72 gene, causes or contributes to the disease through a loss of the gene's normal biological function. The majority of the research community is focusing on how the genetic abnormality in C9ORF72 might lead to an extra, toxic function, but in this five-year study, the team – which includes other collaborators at the University of Toronto as well as Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, McGill University and the Montreal Neurological Institute, and the University of British Columbia – will comprehensively analyze the potential damage to motor neurons lacking C9ORF72, and examine if both loss and gain of function mechanisms combine to cause ALS. This knowledge could fundamentally alter how therapeutics are developed for common forms of ALS as well as frontotemporal dementia (FTD), which often occurs with ALS.

Other projects that have been awarded $100,000 each in funding are:

• Dr. Gary Armstrong at the Montreal Neurological Institute and McGill University is using a state-of-the-art technique in genetic manipulation to create new zebrafish models of ALS for the most prominent genetic cause of the disease, which relates to mutations in the C9ORF72 gene.
• Dr. Neil Cashman at the University of British Columbia is using a unique fruit fly model to study whether a key toxic ALS protein can leap between neurons to explain spread of disease throughout the body.
• Dr. Charles Krieger at Simon Fraser University is studying a substance called adducin that is critically linked to health at the site of connection between motor neurons and muscle, in order to understand whether this substance might represent a target for treatment to slow the progression of ALS.
• Dr. Éric Lécuyer at Université de Montréal is using a unique set of scientific tools to comprehensively analyze the contents of key structures in ALS called stress granules.
• Dr. Marlene Oeffinger at the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal is studying structures called paraspeckles to understand their content and how they function, as well as how they are altered in neuronal cells that have ALS-causing mutations.
• Dr. Alex Parker at the Université de Montreal is undertaking a study to understand how probiotics slow down the progression of ALS symptoms in worms.
• Dr. Lisa Topolnik at the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université Laval will study how certain neurons called interneurons, which connect to motor neurons in the brain, might be implicated in the early stages of ALS.

All of the research projects  were selected through a competitive peer review process, regarded as the international benchmark of excellence in assessing projects for research funding. The peer review process engages a panel of international experts in ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases in evaluating and ranking all proposed research projects based on their scientific merit and on the potential to most quickly advance the field of ALS research in order to develop effective treatments. All aspects of the peer review process are executed in full partnership with Brain Canada, whose funds are provided through a partnership with Health Canada known as the Canada Brain Research Fund.

Approximately 1,000 Canadians are diagnosed with ALS each year. At any time, there are approximately 2,500 to 3,000 people living with the disease in Canada, and the average cost of caring for one person with ALS is between $150,000 and $250,000. Every day, two to three Canadians will die of ALS.

About Canada's ALS Societies
ALS Societies across Canada fundraise on a regional basis to provide services and support to people and families living with ALS and to contribute to the funding of the ALS Canada Research Program. The ALS Canada Research Program funds peer-reviewed research grants and fosters collaboration amongst Canadian researchers, helping to nurture new ideas and build capacity. ALS Societies advocate federally, provincially and locally on behalf of people and families living with ALS for better government support and access within the healthcare system.

About Brain Canada and the Canada Brain Research Fund 
Brain Canada is a national non-profit organization headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, that enables and supports excellent, innovative, paradigm-changing brain research in Canada. For more than one decade, Brain Canada has made the case for the brain as a single, complex system with commonalities across the range of neurological disorders, mental illnesses and addictions, brain and spinal cord injuries. Looking at the brain as one system has underscored the need for increased collaboration across disciplines and institutions, and a smarter way to invest in brain research that is focused on outcomes that will benefit patients and families. Brain Canada's vision is to understand the brain, in health and illness, to improve lives and achieve societal impact.

The Canada Brain Research Fund is a public-private partnership between the Government of Canada and Brain Canada, designed to encourage Canadians to increase their support of brain research, and maximize the impact and efficiency of those investments. Brain Canada and its partners have committed to raising $120 million, which is being matched by Health Canada on a 1:1 basis for a total of $240 million.  For more information, visit www.braincanada.ca. 

SOURCE ALS Canada

Medtronic the first to offer complete portfolio of full-body MR conditional neurostimulation systems for chronic pain in Canada

Medtronic Specify^TM SureScan^TM MRI Surgical Leads Rounds Out Exclusive Portfolio Designed for Access to Full-Body MRI^*

BRAMPTON, ON, Nov. 8, 2016 /CNW/ - Medtronic Canada, a subsidiary of Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT), announced the Health Canada licence and the first Canadian implants of the new Specify™ SureScan™ MRI surgical leads, which are indicated for use as part of Medtronic's implanted neurostimulation systems (also known as spinal cord stimulation, or SCS) for chronic pain. In 2013, Medtronic introduced the first implantable neurostimulation systems for use in the treatment of chronic, intractable back and/or limb pain that are licenced for full-body Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans under specified conditions. The licencing of Specify SureScan MRI surgical leads establishes Medtronic as the only company in Canada with a full portfolio of SCS systems licenced by Health Canada for full-body MRI.* This means physicians in Canada can now offer a Medtronic full-body MR Conditional SCS system best suited for their patients regardless of the type of neurostimulator (rechargeable or non-rechargeable) or lead type (percutaneous or surgical).

"The majority of patients implanted with SCS devices will need MRI studies in the future, and until now they have either undergone other more invasive examinations or had the SCS device explanted. Physicians and patients can now approach this therapy with the confidence that their ability to access future diagnostic procedures won't be lost. This innovation has raised the bar in the delivery of neuromodulation for treatment-refractory neuropathic pain" said Dr. Mohammed F. Shamji MD, PhD, FRCSC, neurosurgeon at the Krembil Neuroscience Centre at Toronto Western Hospital.

"An important development in the field of neuromodulation is the availability of MRI conditional devices. These devices allow for patients to undergo routine MRIs and continue to benefit from neuromodulation therapy - a previously unmet need for many of our patients. Our team is pleased that we can now offer this technology as a potential treatment option." said Dr. Suneil Kalia, MD, PhD, FRCSC, neurosurgeon at the Krembil Neuroscience Centre at Toronto Western Hospital.

Back pain is estimated to affect 8 out of 10 people at some point during their lives.¹ For some people, noninvasive options, such as medication and physical therapy, provide adequate relief; others may require surgery, nerve blocks, or medical devices, such as spinal cord stimulators or drug pumps. Spinal cord stimulators are medical devices implanted under the skin that send mild electrical pulses to an area near the spine. These pulses disrupt the pain signals traveling between the spinal cord and the brain, offering patients effective pain relief and improved function.²

"The use of MRI as a diagnostic tool has grown significantly. Studies show that 82 percent of patients implanted with a SCS are expected to need an MRI within five years of receiving their implant.³ Medtronic appreciates the opportunity to offer physicians the only full portfolio of SCS systems in Canada that allow patients access to full-body MRIs, facilitating optimal patient care and timely interventions," said Sandrine Moirez, senior business director of the Restorative Therapies Group at Medtronic Canada. "Medtronic remains committed to the advancement of spinal cord stimulation therapy overall and continues to drive technological advancements to ensure greater access to MRIs across many of our implanted Medtronic systems, such as pacemakers, ICDs and deep brain stimulation systems."

While the benefits of neurostimulation therapy are well documented, some individuals with an SCS system have traditionally been limited when receiving MRI scans, as the scans produce electromagnetic fields that can damage the device or cause injury to the patient. These patients have the option of undergoing computerized tomography (CT) scans, which work well for imaging bones and other hard materials, but are less effective in examining soft tissue. In some cases, people needing an MRI have had the system explanted prior to imaging.

Additional benefits of the Medtronic Spinal Cord Stimulation Therapy include:

• Technology that is proven to significantly relieve pain for the long term⁴ and help patients get back to the everyday activities they enjoy.²
• The opportunity for patients to "test drive" spinal cord stimulation with an external stimulator for a 3 to 10 day trial period during which they can assess how well the therapy relieves their pain during daily activities before committing to long-term therapy.
• RestoreSensor™ SureScan MRI systems feature Medtronic's AdaptiveStim™ technology, which adjusts stimulation automatically. Patients no longer have to use their programmer to make manual adjustments every time they change position.
• Personalization that empowers patients to manage their own pain therapy by adjusting their stimulation within pre-set limits.

About Medtronic
Medtronic Canada (www.medtronic.ca), headquartered in Brampton, Ontario is a subsidiary of Medtronic plc, which is among the world's largest medical technology, services and solutions companies — alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people around the world. Medtronic is proud to employ over 1,600 people in Canada, serving physicians, hospitals and patients across the country. The company is focused on collaborating with stakeholders around the world to take healthcare Further, Together.

Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.

References
¹ Web site: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/backpain.html Accessed: February 10, 2016
² Kumar K, Taylor RS, Jacques L, et al. Spinal cord stimulation versus conventional medical management for neuropathic pain: a multicentre randomized controlled trial in patients with failed back surgery syndrome. Pain. 2007;132:179-188.
³ Desai MJ, Hargens LM, Breitenfeldt MD, Doth AH, Ryan MP, Gunnarsson C, Safriel Y. The rate of magnetic resonance imaging in patients with spinal cord stimulation. Spine. 2015 May 1;40(9):E531-.
⁴ Kumar K, Taylor RS, Jacques L, et al. The effects of spinal cord stimulation in neuropathic pain are sustained: a 24-month follow-up of the prospective randomized controlled multicenter trial of the effectiveness of spinal cord stimulation. Neurosurgery. 2008;63(4):762-770.
^* Under specific conditions. Refer to Instructions for Use.

SOURCE Medtronic of Canada, Ltd.

CONTOUR® NEXT and Max Domi Scoring for Diabetes

Partners team up to mark Diabetes Awareness Month and raise money for JDRF

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Nov. 9, 2016 /CNW/ - Ascensia Diabetes Care Canada Inc. ("Ascensia") and CONTOUR^® NEXT are teaming up with professional hockey player Max Domi to "SCORE for Diabetes" during Diabetes Awareness Month.  Throughout the month of November, for every point scored by Domi, Ascensia will donate $1,000.00¹ to JDRF, the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research.

"Getting support from my team is a huge part of how I manage my diabetes on and off the ice," says Domi. "Every single goal I score is special. This month I get to celebrate the two things I am most passionate about, diabetes and hockey, every time the puck crosses the goal line."

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, a celebration focused on raising awareness for all forms of diabetes, its signs and symptoms, and gaining support for critical research toward preventing, better treating and curing all forms of the disease.²

"Lives are changed by raising awareness and funding research towards finding a cure for T1D and its complications," says Dave Prowten, President and CEO, JDRF Canada. "We are thrilled to be working with Ascensia and Max Domi to raise money throughout National Diabetes Awareness Month, and look forward to getting some goals in the net."

As the team progresses throughout November, the action can be followed off the ice through social media @Contour_diabetes and #scorefordiabetes.

Through their ongoing partnership, Max and Ascensia have also introduced CONTOUR^® NEXT's Powered by Accuracy 16 Reasons Contest to continue to educate all Canadians about diabetes.  Fans can also go to poweredbyaccuracy.ca and enter 16 reasons why they deserve to see Max play live. Fans can enter for a chance to win the grand prize of a trip for four to Edmonton, Alberta to attend the January 16, 2017 game.³

"As a company, we are dedicated to improving the health and lives of people with diabetes, and understand the vital role played by further scientific research and increased public awareness," says Russ Newsome, Region Head of North America, Ascensia. "We are thrilled to be working with all of these partners to not only raise money for the JDRF in Canada, but also to celebrate the power of the team that supports diabetes management."

For more information on how you can get involved and help raise awareness for diabetes in your community, please contact your local JDRF office.  Help JDRF continue to raise awareness about and fund type 1 diabetes research http://www.jdrf.ca/T1DLooksLikeMe/.

About Ascensia Diabetes Care
Ascensia Diabetes Care is a global specialist diabetes care company, dedicated to helping people living with diabetes. Our mission is to empower people living with diabetes through innovative solutions that simplify and improve their lives. We use our innovation and specialist expertise in diabetes to develop high quality solutions and tools that make a positive, daily difference for people with diabetes.

Home to the world renowned CONTOUR^TM portfolio of blood glucose monitoring systems, our products combine advanced technology with user-friendly functionality that help people with diabetes to manage their condition. We are committed to continued research, innovation and development of new products and solutions. As a trusted partner in the diabetes community, we collaborate closely with healthcare professionals and other partners to ensure our products meet the highest standards of accuracy, precision and reliability, and that we conduct our business compliantly and with integrity.

Ascensia Diabetes Care was established in 2016 through the sale of Bayer Diabetes Care to Panasonic Healthcare Holdings Co., Ltd. Ascensia Diabetes Care products are sold in more than 125 countries. Following the close of the transaction in all countries, Ascensia Diabetes Care will have around 1,700 employees and operations in 38 countries.

For further information please visit the Ascensia Diabetes Care website at: http://www.ascensiadiabetes.ca/en/home/.

CONTOUR™ is a registered trademark of Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG.

¹ Up to a maximum of $30,000.00
² http://www.jdrf.ca/t1dlookslikeme/
³ NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of Canada who have reached the age of majority as of the date of entry. Enter by completing all required fields in Contest entry form on www.poweredbyaccuracy.ca. Limit one entry per person. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received.

SOURCE Ascensia Diabetes Care

Canadian Company Announces Virtual Medical Consultations Anytime Anywhere

A Canadian telehealth company launches virtual medical consultations for episodic care that can be accessed from the privacy of home, office or hotel room.

MyCare MedTech Medical Clinic is utilizing advanced communication technology to connect a patient to a licensed medical provider through its innovative service, GOeVisit.

GOeVisit can diagnose, treat and prescribe for more than 30 non-emergency conditions, from common illnesses like cough, colds and flu, to general medical concerns, minor injuries and pediatric care.  GOeVisit uses the same technology most people are already using daily, turning a computer, smartphone or tablet into a private, face-to-face medical consultation platform.

"GOeVisit is unique as it is the only service of its kind in Canada offering 24/7 and 365 access to medical practitioners from wherever a client lives, works or travels," said Dr. Raj Attariwala, Medical Director of AIM Medical Imaging in Vancouver and Medical Director of GOeVisit. "Virtual care is exploding, and GOeVisit is at the forefront, using proprietary Virtual Practice Guidelines to ensure clients receive an accurate consultation and treatment plan. The Virtual Practice Guidelines are well established and proven by multi-national corporations to help patients and parents quickly make appropriate health related decisions."

GOeVisit can provide prescriptions for non-controlled medications through its national prescription drug service. Using the Virtual Practice Guidelines (VPGs), GOeVisit providers may recommend over the counter medications or home therapies as alternatives to prescriptions. Use of VPGs has proven to reduce prescriptions by as much as 67%, an important alternative to the over prescription of medication, particularly antibiotics.

"Canadians are ready to take control of their healthcare," says Liz Bryant, Chief Operating Officer of MyCare MedTech Inc., "and want alternatives to waiting for non-emergency care.  Two thirds of Canadians surveyed want to access care the way they access so many other services: through technology.  GOeVisit makes that possible."

About MyCare MedTech Inc. 
MyCare MedTech Inc. is a Canadian telemedicine company with offices in Calgary, Alberta and Vancouver, BC. For more information, visit www.goevisit.com