Have you been told by your health care professional that you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or type 2 diabetes and you need to do something to improve your "numbers?" If so, it is likely their recommendations were based on national clinical practice guidelines written by experts in cardiovascular health.
On the face of it, following guidelines seems a very reasonable approach. What could be the problem? Well, a recent evaluation of cardiovascular patient guidelines in the Journal of the American Medical Association reveals that only 12 per cent of the recommendations are based on randomized controlled trials (the highest level of evidence). In contrast, 54 per cent of the recommendations are based purely on opinion and consensus.
Let's try to not read too much into today's news that former gold medalist Donovan Bailey was arrested on March 28 for drunk driving. I'm not saying we shouldn't read into it because it's not a big deal that somebody drinks and drives. I'm saying we shouldn't read into it because he's a nobody now.
When I received the invitation to Cannes, I knew I had to make the most of it. I could go for the few days and sleep in a nice hotel, OR, I could stay at the elegant-sounding Parc Bellevue -- a mobile home trailer park 6km from the Palais des Festivals. I am staying at "Le Camping" -- as the Festival organizers call it -- because I have to, and lucky for me, I kinda want to.
Netanyahu's proposed coalition government strikes some as ominous, others as encouraging. Some see it as Israel preparing to do something about Iran and its developing nuclear weapons, whereas others sees it as a tool to pass mandatory military service for all -- Ultra-Orthodox Jews included.
After one particularly awful question, Zuckerberg broke down like a cartoon robot that simply could not compute. His eyes darted from place to place. He furrowed his brow and looked up after several moments of silence. 404 error. I had crashed Mark Zuckerberg.
The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food will present his preliminary findings on food security in Canada on May 16 in Ottawa. It's my hope that this will put child hunger squarely on the political agenda in Canada. We live in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, but hunger is something that we increasingly see among the families that bring their children to the hospital for medical attention.
This week in Egypt, in a joint statement medics and human rights organisations condemned the actions of the Freedom and Justice Party -the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood in raising a convoy providing mobile female genital mutilation services and vaginal inspections.
Doa'a Mheissin, a teenager from the Gaza Strip, has been blogging since she was 11 years old. This young woman may not look like a revolutionary, but in the years to come, she and girls like her could form the vanguard in the next chapter of the Arab Spring -- a much-needed gender revolution.
Wedding season is upon us. When thinking about wedding season -- most guests start thinking about their bank accounts, and how weddings can quickly drain any extra money that they do have. Depending on how well you know the bride or groom -- there is more than just the wedding to attend.
The Tories won the 2011 election by appealing to Canadians' pocketbooks, the NDP's rise can be attributed to the lack of a clear Liberal message, and Jack Layton's popularity from beyond the grave. But what are the Liberals supposed to capitalize on? Two words: the economy.
When the Second World War broke out, I was a young child living in London, England. My older sister and I were lucky to be offered shelter in a little old farm house for the duration of the war. I often looked back to these years on the Andrews' farm with fondness and gratitude -- especially because that's where I gained my deep appreciation for fresh, healthy food.
For nearly 20 years, Alan Greenspan was the most powerful banker in the world as chairman of the Federal Reserve Board until 2006. Here, Greenspan speaks with National Post Editor-at-Large, and Huffington Post contributor Diane Francis regarding the eurozone crisis.
I find myself disheartened by the direction that the conversion debate is unfolding in Israel and the Diaspora. While we cannot hope to be, nor should we strive to be, uniform in our views, we have an obligation to be united as one Jewish people. It makes no sense that Orthodox converts, including those looking to make aliyah (moving to Israel), face the possibility of seeing their fully halachic conversions retroactively annulled.
I've decided to make a bold move. I blotted out two hours from my schedule in the middle of the day. I set Outlook for "Out of Office" during these chunks of time and it took about two weeks for everyone who needs to schedule time with me to settle and react. Today I remembered to bring a comb. It's the little things you need to plan for.
Forty-nine bodies were found Sunday along a highway near Monterrey in Mexico; they were missing heads, hands and feet. Because I live in Mexico (if more than half a continent away from this slaughter), I've been asked to discuss just how this affects my life, and yours. The most pithy and annoying answer is: not at all.
In a recent article, Rex Murphy characterized affirmative action as "an inequity in itself," "hollow" and "false." I, on the other hand, think that the CBC commentator's call for a more open debate on affirmative action is important. Affirmative action is to our society what the CBC is to television and radio broadcasting in Canada.
I know that my readers get their vegan underthings in a tangle whenever we hate on soy over here. I know. I understand. It goes beyond dietary choices, and to animal rights and cries for compassion. I, personally, avoid soy on a daily basis. I have great reason for this. It is in absolutely EVERYTHING! Here's a list...
On Wednesday, Quebec's education minister resigned claiming she was no longer helping to solve the problems. Her admission is honest, introspective and poignant, but above all, it is something an adult would do. Conversely, as the protests continue, violence and vandalism has become increasingly commonplace as protesters become ever more uncompromising and antagonistic.
When was the last time you discussed Time Magazine around the dinner table? Probably last week, when they published the one with the mother and her older child... breastfeeding (shhh, not so loud). Why did Time run with such a controversial cover story? They need to sell magazines.
Richard Marceau, 2012.15.05