Health and wellness

Alistair MacGregor, MP for Cowichan-Malahat-Langford, held a news conference in Ottawa on Oct. 25 calling on the government to support his Private Members Bill C-277, the National Strategy on Brain Injuries Act. (Citizen file photo)

Survivors call for national strategy for people with brain injuries

B.C. woman who lost her husband speaks to the need as B.C. MP brings case to Ottawa via Bill C-277

 

The AccessBC campaign for free prescription contraceptives started in Saanich in 2017. Six years later the motion passed. (Courtesy of AccessBC)

Grassroots group celebrates campaign that gave B.C. free contraception

A few friends complaining about expensive birth control turned into a provincial motion

 

Relatives of Maurice “Mo” Miller, Mary Miller-Duffy, his sister, center left, and Sue Duffy, her wife, embrace after seeing his body at NYU Langone Health in New York on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. For a history-making 61 days and despite a brief rejection blip, a pig’s kidney worked normally inside his brain-dead body. (AP Photo/Shelby Lum)

Pig kidney works a record 2 months in donated body, raising hope for animal-human transplants

Dozens of doctors and nurses silently lined the hospital hallway in tribute:…

Relatives of Maurice “Mo” Miller, Mary Miller-Duffy, his sister, center left, and Sue Duffy, her wife, embrace after seeing his body at NYU Langone Health in New York on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. For a history-making 61 days and despite a brief rejection blip, a pig’s kidney worked normally inside his brain-dead body. (AP Photo/Shelby Lum)
Suicide in teenagers is on the rise in Canada, and the magnitude of the problem is likely underestimated as some suicide deaths are counted as accidental. (stock photo)

B.C. pilot to use ketamine treatment for children facing suicidal thoughts

Dr. Quynh Doan is the senior executive director of B.C. Children’s Hospital Research Institute

Suicide in teenagers is on the rise in Canada, and the magnitude of the problem is likely underestimated as some suicide deaths are counted as accidental. (stock photo)
Principal Scientist Denise Cecil retrieves supplies while working at UW Medicine's Cancer Vaccine Institute Thursday, May 25, 2023, in Seattle. Vaccines under development at UW Medicine are designed to work for many patients, not just a single patient. Tests are underway in early and advanced breast cancer, lung cancer and ovarian cancer. Some results may come as soon as next year. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

The next big advance in cancer treatment could be a vaccine

The next big advance in cancer treatment could be a vaccine. After…

Principal Scientist Denise Cecil retrieves supplies while working at UW Medicine's Cancer Vaccine Institute Thursday, May 25, 2023, in Seattle. Vaccines under development at UW Medicine are designed to work for many patients, not just a single patient. Tests are underway in early and advanced breast cancer, lung cancer and ovarian cancer. Some results may come as soon as next year. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
FILE - This Tuesday, April 3, 2018 file photo shows a closeup of a beam scale in New York. High-dose oral versions of the medication in the weight-loss drug Wegovy may work as well as injections at paring pounds and improving health, including hard-to-treat people with diabetes, according to research released Sunday, June 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison, File)

No more needles? A daily pill may work as well as Wegovy shots to treat obesity

What if treating obesity could be as easy as popping an effective…

FILE - This Tuesday, April 3, 2018 file photo shows a closeup of a beam scale in New York. High-dose oral versions of the medication in the weight-loss drug Wegovy may work as well as injections at paring pounds and improving health, including hard-to-treat people with diabetes, according to research released Sunday, June 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison, File)
Photos of Mona Wang after a January 2020 wellness check and a still from surveillance footage of Const. Lacy Browning pushing her head into the ground with a boot. (Submitted)

Kelowna Mountie to be sentenced for assault stemming from UBCO wellness check

Lacy Browning was charged with assault after a 2020 arrest on UBC Okanagan campus

Photos of Mona Wang after a January 2020 wellness check and a still from surveillance footage of Const. Lacy Browning pushing her head into the ground with a boot. (Submitted)
Brandt Fralick portrait by Lia Crowe photography

Prime Time

Brandt Fralick’s rocky road to success

  • Jun 9, 2023
Brandt Fralick portrait by Lia Crowe photography
“Treatment strategies that can help lower post-meal glucose swings and rapid changes in glucose are crucial to managing this condition,” said researcher Dr. Barbara Oliveira (Omi Sido/Pixabay.com)

Low-carb breakfasts could be beneficial for managing Type-2 diabetes: B.C. study

Having a higher protein and fat breakfast can help manage blood sugar, the study says

“Treatment strategies that can help lower post-meal glucose swings and rapid changes in glucose are crucial to managing this condition,” said researcher Dr. Barbara Oliveira (Omi Sido/Pixabay.com)
Lorraine Jarvis cares for her husband John, who lives with Lewy Body dementia, and seeks practical advice from a support group for people caring for someone with the lesser-known form of dementia. Lorraine is being honoured at the IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s in Delta.

Delta couple shares their story to help other British Columbians affected by dementia

Key Alzheimer Society of B.C. fundraiser in communities across the Lower Mainland on Sunday, May 28

  • May 1, 2023
Lorraine Jarvis cares for her husband John, who lives with Lewy Body dementia, and seeks practical advice from a support group for people caring for someone with the lesser-known form of dementia. Lorraine is being honoured at the IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s in Delta.
This image provided by Mattel, Inc., Tuesday, April 25, 2023, shows its first Barbie doll representing a person with Down syndrome. Mattel collaborated with the National Down Syndrome Society to create the Barbie and "ensure the doll accurately represents a person with Down syndrome," the company said. (Mattel, Inc. via AP)

Mattel introduces first Barbie with Down syndrome

Toy company Mattel revealed its first Barbie doll representing a person with…

This image provided by Mattel, Inc., Tuesday, April 25, 2023, shows its first Barbie doll representing a person with Down syndrome. Mattel collaborated with the National Down Syndrome Society to create the Barbie and "ensure the doll accurately represents a person with Down syndrome," the company said. (Mattel, Inc. via AP)
The puppy yoga fundraiser takes place Thursday, May 18. (Karma Healing at Whonnock Lake/Special to The News)

Puppies to power Lower Mainland yoga fundraiser

Money raised to go to non-profit Power To Be

The puppy yoga fundraiser takes place Thursday, May 18. (Karma Healing at Whonnock Lake/Special to The News)
Kelly Gillies at her Sona Wellness. Photograph by Darren Hull

Secrets and Lives with Kelly Gillies

Loving working in a wellness space

  • Apr 10, 2023
Kelly Gillies at her Sona Wellness. Photograph by Darren Hull
Duncan’s Kyle Mockford has struggled for the past 10 years with a serious brain injury after he was assaulted in Victoria. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

‘I want to shine a light’: Brain-injured B.C. man advocating to change lives

Duncan’s Kyle Mockford finally bouncing back after assault 10 years ago, lobbying for change

Duncan’s Kyle Mockford has struggled for the past 10 years with a serious brain injury after he was assaulted in Victoria. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
Dr. Mehul Sharma (L) and Dr. Stuart Turvey (R) helped discover the variant in the STAT6 gene which causes severe allergies, including food and drug allergies, ezcema and more.

B.C. researchers lead global discovery of gene variant behind severe, life-altering allergies

A variant in the STAT6 gene causes allergies, including food and drug allergies, eczema and more

Dr. Mehul Sharma (L) and Dr. Stuart Turvey (R) helped discover the variant in the STAT6 gene which causes severe allergies, including food and drug allergies, ezcema and more.
FILE - A man walks by Pfizer headquarters, Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, in New York. Pfizer will spend about $43 billion to buy Seagen and broaden its reach into cancer treatments, the pharmaceutical giant said Monday, March 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

Pfizer buys Seagen for $43B, boosts access to cancer drugs

Pfizer is spending about $43 billion to reach deeper into new cancer…

FILE - A man walks by Pfizer headquarters, Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, in New York. Pfizer will spend about $43 billion to buy Seagen and broaden its reach into cancer treatments, the pharmaceutical giant said Monday, March 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
(Black Press Media Creative)

Mexico vows not to budge on US corn dispute

Mexico’s president vowed Tuesday not to back down in a dispute with…

(Black Press Media Creative)
IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR WEIGHT WATCHERS - At a WW GOOD wellness festival powered by Weight Watchers "WW" on the Santa Monica Pier on August 11, 2018, Los Angeles residents engage in a movement and meditation series ("LIFTED") led by Celebrity Fitness Instructor Holly Rilinger. WW International, better known as WeightWatchers, is buying telehealth platform Sequence, giving its members access to a program that offers prescriptions to obesity medications. Shares of WW International Inc. jumped nearly 12% before the market open on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. (Matt Sayles/AP Images for Weight Watchers)

WeightWatchers gets into prescription weight loss business

WeightWatchers soared Tuesday after the company said it was getting into the…

IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR WEIGHT WATCHERS - At a WW GOOD wellness festival powered by Weight Watchers "WW" on the Santa Monica Pier on August 11, 2018, Los Angeles residents engage in a movement and meditation series ("LIFTED") led by Celebrity Fitness Instructor Holly Rilinger. WW International, better known as WeightWatchers, is buying telehealth platform Sequence, giving its members access to a program that offers prescriptions to obesity medications. Shares of WW International Inc. jumped nearly 12% before the market open on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. (Matt Sayles/AP Images for Weight Watchers)
(Black Press Media Creative)

Former Theranos exec seeks to avoid lengthy prison sentence

Former Theranos executive Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani returned to federal court Friday in…

(Black Press Media Creative)