Increase in concussions seen in Ontario's children

A study showed that concussions in Ontario's children significantly increased between 2003 and 2010.

The number of children and youth treated for concussions in both emergency departments and physician's offices in Ontario increased significantly between 2003 and 2010, with falls, hockey and skating injuries identified as the leading causes of pediatric concussion, according to a new joint study out of York University and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES).

The study," A population-based study of pediatric emergency department and office visits for concussions from 2003 to 2010," published in the journal Paediatrics & Child Health, analyzed all visits related to a concussion by school-aged youth (three to 18 years) in Ontario from 2003 to 2010.

"This study is the first to examine pediatric concussions evaluated in both emergency departments and physicians' offices," says York University Professor Alison Macpherson, the study's lead author. "By examining all of the pediatric concussions evaluated in multiple facilities, we were able to minimize the issue of under-reporting and obtain a more accurate number of concussions treated in Ontario."

Between 2003 and 2010, researchers found a total of 88,688 pediatric concussions were treated in either an emergency department or a physician's office, and there was a significant trend in both locations. The total rate of concussions per 100,000 increased from 466.7 to 754.3 (for boys), and from 208.6 to 440.7 (for girls) during the study period. The numbers also showed that over time more children were being evaluated in physician's offices than emergency departments.

When the sources of concussion were broadly examined, falls were found to be the most common cause of concussion in an emergency department, representing 34 per cent of all emergency department visits, followed closely by exposure to force (25.5 per cent) and motor vehicle collisions (12.3 per cent). When specific causes were examined in more detail, hockey and skating -- common sports in North America -- were the most common causes of concussions that were treated in an emergency department.

"Our findings reinforced that falls in general are the most common cause of pediatric concussions, and that evidence-based prevention initiatives to help reduce the incidence of concussion are warranted -- particularly in sports and recreation programs," says senior scientist and chief science officer at ICES, Dr. Astrid Guttmann, the study's senior author. "Sports-related concussions can be minimized by taking preventive action, such as reducing body checking in hockey or wearing a helmet while cycling."

Macpherson says that future studies can attempt to differentiate between the true incidence of concussions and an increase in those seeking a health evaluation due to increased awareness of concussion and subsequent health consequences.

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Better night's sleep can be due to income and education

A study from Canada shows a link between sleep quality, higher income, and higher education levels.

How do Canada's wealthy sleep at night? Better than most, it seems.

A new national survey finds 76 per cent of households whose incomes top $100,000 get six to eight hours of shut-eye every night - the highest proportion of any income group - while Canadians in one of the lowest-earning groups ($15,000 to $24,999) are likeliest to average fewer than six hours.

Statistics Canada's latest National Household Survey results pegged the median family income in 2010 at $76,000, while the median individual income was $29,878. Education also appears to buy more time in bed, with higher levels of schooling almost universally correlating with more hours of rest. When comparing Canadians with high school, college/technical, and university educations, the latter of the three groups was least likely to get fewer than six hours of sleep a night, and most likely to report enjoying six to eight hours, or more than eight hours.

Sophie Lamarche, an executive coach, said the results reflect the fact that higher-educated, higherearning workers tend to have more vacation days and benefits - which are linked to wellness - as well as the ability to delegate as necessary in order to maintain balance.

"It's a myth that the more you work, the more you're productive," said Lamarche, president of BarSo Group International in Montreal. But she also noted the importance of individuals finding their own rhythms.

"Just because the standard we all hear is eight hours, doesn't mean that's what will work for you; maybe it's nine, maybe it's seven."

Respondents in Manitoba/Saskatchewan and B.C. were likeliest to report six to eight hours a night (74 and 73 per cent, respectively), while the provinces that returned the highest reports of "good" or "excellent" sleep were actually Quebec (67 per cent) and Ontario (62 per cent).

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International poll shows differences in different country's sleep

An interesting poll by the National Sleep Foundation shows the differences in sleep in different countries around the world.

The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) released its first international poll today, the 2013 International Bedroom Poll, comparing sleep times, attitudes, habits and bedtime routines of those in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan between the ages of 25 and 55 years old.

Japan and the United States report the least amount of sleep. Japanese and Americans report sleeping about 30 to 40 minutes less on workdays than those in the other countries surveyed, averaging 6 hours and 22 minutes and 6 hours and 31 minutes of sleep, respectively. Two-thirds of Japanese (66%) say they sleep less than 7 hours on work nights, compared to 53% of Americans, 39% in the United Kingdom, 36% of Germans, 30% of Canadians and 29% of Mexicans. One in five from the United States (21%), Japan (19%) and the United Kingdom (18%) report sleeping less than six hours a night during the work week, about twice the rate of the other countries (11% Mexico, 10% Germany, 7% Canada,)

Perhaps to compensate for less sleep, about one-half (51%) of both Japanese and Americans have taken at least one nap in the past two weeks. Every country reported sleeping in on weekends, with an average of an extra 45 minutes of sleep on days they do not work.

"As the first international public opinion poll on sleep, the National Sleep Foundation 2013 Bedroom Poll makes an important contribution to the field," commented Namni Goel, PhD, Research Associate Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and a member of the NSF 2013 International Bedroom Poll expert panel. "Although we know that everyone sleeps, the rather remarkable cultural differences within this universal experience have not been adequately explored. It is NSF's hope that this initial poll will inspire more research on this critical yet understudied topic."

Less than one half of people in most countries are sleeping well every night

Less than one- half of people in Mexico (48%), the United States (44%), Canada (43%), the United Kingdom (42%) and Germany (40%), and slightly more than one-half in Japan (54%) say they get a good night's sleep every night or almost every night on work nights or week nights.

One-fourth of those in the United Kingdom (27%), the United States (25%) and Canada (23%) say they rarely or never get a good night's sleep during the work week. Notably, one in ten in the United Kingdom (11%) say they never get a good night's sleep on work nights, twice the percentage of the other countries surveyed.

Despite slightly higher reported sleep satisfaction, almost one-third of Japanese (31%, about twice the rate of all other countries surveyed,) say they rarely or never woke up when they needed to during the work week, suggesting more sleep is desired.

"It is important to look at cultural differences in sleep, and not always to assume a U.S. focus," says Jan Born, PhD, Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Tübingen, Germany and a member of the NSF 2013 International Bedroom Poll expert panel. "Sleep is deeply inter-connected with health and performance, but it is often overlooked by researchers. This poll shows intriguing cultural variations on how we tackle this nightly, biological ritual.

"What makes a great bedroom? The answer may surprise you

Roughly nine out of ten in Mexico (92%), Germany (90%) and the United Kingdom (86%) and threefourths in the United States (78%), and Canada (78%) agree they feel more relaxed if their bedroom has a fresh, pleasant scent. Moreover, the majority of nationalities surveyed (65%-79%) agree they take steps to make sure their bedrooms smell the way they want.

"Studies have shown that scent plays a powerful role in relaxation and memory-building," says David Cloud, National Sleep Foundation CEO. "Having a pleasant scent and a relaxing bedroom routine can contribute to a good night's sleep. No matter what your nationality, you will spend about a third of your life in bed. Fresh air and a pleasant scent are great ways to improve your sleep experience."

More than one-half of Mexicans meditate or pray before bed; one-third of people in the United Kingdom sleep naked

The poll found some intriguing cultural differences in the bedtime rituals and habits of the six countries. For example, more than one-half of Mexicans (62%) and nearly half of Americans (47%) meditate or prayin the hour before sleep.

Four in ten (43%) of those in the United Kingdom drink a soothing beverage such as tea before bed and almost one-third (30%) of the country reported sleeping naked.

Perhaps the most common bedtime experience is television. At least two-thirds (66%-80%) of people in all countries surveyed watch TV in the hour before bed.

"This groundbreaking poll suggests that chronic sleep deprivation is a significant global health problem," says Russell Rosenberg, PhD, Director of Research and Investigator at NeuroTrials Research, NSF Immediate Past Chairman and member of the NSF 2013 International Bedroom Poll expert panel. "The National Sleep Foundation International Bedroom Poll compels us to conduct more research and devise unique solutions to get everyone to take sleep seriously. Relax, turn off the mobile phone and TV, and create a more pleasant bed time routine. Setting the stage for good sleep can change your life."

National Sleep Foundation Healthy Sleep Advice

To improve your sleep, try the following sleep tips:

• Exercise regularly. Vigorous exercise is best, but even light exercise is better than no activity. Exercise at any time of day, but not at the expense of your sleep.
• Go to sleep and wake at the same time every day, and avoid spending more time in bed than needed.
• Use your bedroom only for sleep to strengthen the association between your bed and sleep. It may help to remove work materials, computers and televisions from your bedroom.Save your worries for the daytime. If concerns come to mind, write them in a "worry book" so you can address those issues the next day.
• If you cannot sleep, go into another room and do something relaxing until you feel tired.
• If you are experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness, snoring, or "stop breathing" episodes in your sleep, contact your health care professional for a sleep apnea screening.

Further information:http://www.sleepfoundation.org/sites/default/files/RPT495a.pdf

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Health Canada approves BOTOX® as prophylactic treatment for chronic migraine

Chronic Migraine sufferers in Canada now have an option to prevent the onset of headaches that occur over 15 days a month and leave patients debilitated. Health Canada has approved BOTOX® (onabotulinumtoxinA) manufactured by Allergan, Inc. as a prophylactic (preventive) treatment for headaches in adult patients with Chronic Migraine who suffer from headaches 15 days or more per month, lasting four hours a day or longer.¹

"This is an important clinical advancement benefiting patients in Canada who suffer from Chronic Migraine," says Stu Fowler, President & General Manager, Allergan Canada. "Until now, patients have had to rely on temporary, short-term means of coping with chronic headache pain. The approval of BOTOX® as a preventive treatment for Chronic Migraine now offers neurologists, as well as headache and pain specialists a new, clinically-proven way to manage this debilitating condition."

Based on global estimates, over 270,000* Canadians who are 18 years of age and older are Chronic Migraine sufferers, costing the Canadian economy roughly $1,800** per patient, per year in healthcare spending towards healthcare provider visits, emergency department visits, diagnostic testing and headache-specific medications.^2,3

"Chronic Migraine is vastly under recognized and under-diagnosed in Canada, as it is around the world," says neurologist Dr. Jonathan Gladstone, FRCPC, Vice President of the Canadian Headache Society and Director of the Gladstone Headache Clinic in Toronto, Ontario. "The reality is that patients with chronic headaches frequently receive their care primarily from allied-health professionals and are often unaware of the available treatment options to mitigate their migraines. Many migraineurs bounce around the healthcare system without an appropriate diagnosis and/or treatment plan and unfortunately, as a result, they often end up missing work, school, family, recreational and social functions."

In addition to direct healthcare costs, lost productivity and lost work days (absenteeism) account for major sources of indirect costs associated with migraine.⁴ In a self-reported study of the impact of migraine on work, 28 per cent of migraine sufferers reported working fewer hours as a result of their headaches, 24 per cent chose less demanding work because of their headaches, and 8 per cent actually changed their employment as a result of their headaches.⁵ In Canada, the cost of migraine in the workplace is approximately $500 million annually.⁴

"Chronic Migraine causes great disability in people who are affected by this condition, and can reduce a patient's quality of life in proportions that the average person can't even fathom," says Valerie South, Executive Director, Headache Network Canada. "Access to new treatment options, like BOTOX®, that fill the current gap in care is critical to these patients, who suffer with pain for at least half their lives."

Read more: http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/876909/health-canada-approves-botox-as-prophylactic-treatment-for-chronic-migraine