bh in BRIEF Diabetes and its complications cost the Canadian health care system an estimated $13.2 billion… By 2010… the associated costs on the health care system will [be] more than $15.6 billion a year… Diabetes is a contributing factor in the deaths of approximately 45,000 Canadians each year. Canadian adults with diabetes […]
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1. "Our model predicts that a mild pandemic would reduce annual GDP [Gross Domestic Product] growth by 2 percentage points from what it would otherwise be. A severe pandemic, similar to the 1918 Spanish flu [2.5% of those infected died], would reduce global GDP growth by 6 percentage points." Translation: In Canada, this would […]
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OsteoarthritisJoint Degeneration Rheumatoid ArthritisInflammed liningdestroying cartilage Arthritis is too often thought of as a disease that strictly affects older Canadians, and those with a lifetime of wear and tear on their joints. However, arthritis acts through different mechanisms, and there are other characteristics, causes, co-existing conditions, and various treatments. Osteoarthritis (OA) is […]
Read MoreIs obesity the new smoking? It seems everywhere we turn, there is cause for worry, because the facts are stark and the message blunt. Most of us, and our kids, need to drop some weight to live better and longer. As we become more aware of the effects of excess weight, the better able we […]
Read MoreWhat is Mental Illness? The 9th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD9) category called "Mental Disorders" includes psychoses, such as schizophrenia, with neurotic disorders, such as depression. Alcohol- and drug-related issues are also included. Even though insurance companies refer to "mental and nervous"conditions, Diseases of the Nervous System are separate and less […]
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Much has been written about disability management, but little has changed. In private disability insurance, so-called "mental/nervous" claims, mostly depression, have become the prime cause of long-term disability. For Workers' Compensation plans, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the most common claim and, Ontario accounts for over 40% of all lost-time claims and claim […]
Read MoreMost companies’ experience with mental health issues at work is, well, depressing. There are many reasons – complexity, ignorance, stigma, poor diagnosis and treatment are chief among them. However, depression impairs productivity by affecting absence, disability rates and costs, and creating presenteeism for those who remain at work. Depression is the leading cause of long-term […]
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