Health

HALIFAX - Lettuce used at KFC and Taco Bell outlets is the likely source of a recent outbreak of gastro-intestinal illness caused by E. coli bacteria in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario, a health official said Friday.

Dear Dr. Roach: I am a 61-year-old male. Most of the hair around the outside and front of my legs has disappeared. My family doctor sent me to have the blood pressure in my legs checked and get a testosterone test, both normal.

TORONTO - She has treated more than 5,000 people over the last decade who have struggled with obesity, but wrestling since childhood with personal weight issues, Dr. Ali Zentner became her own first patient.

After decades of qualms about lung cancer screening, the American Cancer Society says there now is enough evidence to recommend it, but only for current and former heavy smokers ages 55 to 74 and after a frank talk about risks and benefits.

Dear Dr. Roach: I have had several blows to my head. I read somewhere that this could cause dementia. I am 72 years old and am concerned. Should I be? Anon.

While a journey of a thousand miles starts with one step, getting fit enough to run or walk 10 kilometres in three months can start with a Times Colonist 10K running clinic.

TORONTO - The number of nurses has been rising in Canada, says a new report, but associations that represent the profession say their distribution is uneven across the country, leaving patients in some areas with inadequate access to care.

NEW YORK, N.Y. - From the Rocky Mountains to New England, hospitals are swamped with people with flu symptoms.

TORONTO, Cananda - Letting kids pick what they'd like to eat from a range of healthy choices will go far to ensure they have a balanced diet and make mealtimes more enjoyable, says a Toronto dietitian.

Dear Dr. Roach: When I was 39, I had a total hysterectomy. The doctor put me on hormone-replacement pills — first strong, then gradually weaker ones. Now I am on a patch, estradiol derm 50.