June 2015 - Page 3 of 3

A new meta-analysis suggests a positive link between depression and low back pain, which could lead to more effective treatments for pain. According to the analysis, patients who suffer from depression have an increased risk of developing new episodes of low back pain; furthermore, patients with more severe depression have a correspondingly greater risk. The meta analysis included data from 11 different studies; the combined data showed that those with symptoms of depression had a 60% higher chance of also experiencing new back pain, compared to patients who do not suffer from depressive symptoms. Some of the studies even revealed that patients with low levels of depression still had an increased risk of pain episodes, almost 50% higher. And among the studies that did include the severit...

A new law in Ontario now prohibits the sale of e-cigarettes to anyone under 19, thereby making e-cig sales just as restricted as regular cigarettes. Additionally, it is now illegal to smoke e-cigarettes in public places where smoking has been prohibited under Canadian federal law. The official legislation is called the Making Healthier Choices Act, and it addressed several health issues, including the concern that more teens have taken up smoking as e-cigarettes have become more accessible. In the U.S., e-cigs have become popular alternatives to smoking regular tobacco -- between 2008 and 2012, sales of e-cigarettes increase from 50,000 to 3.5 million. The trend hasn't caught on quite so quickly in Canada, but Canadian officials have been much quicker to address concerns over whether e-...

Month: June 2015

Analysis: New Link Between Depression And Back Pain

Canadian Legislation Tightens Restrictions on Sales of E-Cigarettes