Study results put the joy back into staying healthy, reports the Harvard Health Letter

BOSTON—Can you have your health and enjoy yourself, too? A growing body of research suggests you can.

Never has high living looked quite so healthful as it has lately—even if it is high living on a leash. The permission to indulge in some pleasures almost always comes with a reminder about doing everything in moderation, reports the April 2009 issue of the Harvard Health Letter. Here are some not-so-guilty pleasures:

Alcohol: Moderate alcohol consumption protects against heart disease and stroke. Drinking increases “good” HDL cholesterol, reduces blood clotting factors, and may make blood vessels less vulnerable to atherosclerosis.

Chocolate: Chocolate improves blood flow through the arteries that supply the heart and the brain. There’s also evidence associating consumption of dark chocolate with lower levels of C-reactive protein, a marker for inflammation.

Coffee: Coffee drinkers may be less likely than coffee abstainers to have heart attacks, suffer strokes, or develop diabetes. Research also suggests that a coffee habit could be good for your brain, lowering your risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and Alzheimer’s.

Sex: Research has suggested that frequent sexual intercourse (twice a week) is associated with reduced heart attack risk. Sexual activity also revs up metabolism, may help regulate menstrual cycles, and gives the immune system a boost.

Sleep: A good night's sleep is good for health. “Short sleepers” put on more pounds than people who sleep seven to eight hours a night. Subpar slumbering has been linked to diabetes, heart attacks, and even early death. When you stay awake for long stretches, it wreaks hormonal havoc; levels of the stress hormone cortisol go up, and your appetite gets out of whack.

Social life: Studies have linked social networks to good health, while social isolation and loneliness are associated with cognitive decline and high blood pressure.

Read Full-length Article: "Putting the joie de vivre back into health"

Also in this issue:

• The Whipple procedure for pancreatic cancer
• Are multivitamins still a good bet?
• Calorie cutbacks and memory gains
• Omega-3s and bleeding

The Harvard Health Letter is available from Harvard Health Publications, the publishing division of Harvard Medical School, for $29 per year. Subscribe at www.health.harvard.edu/health or by calling 877-649-9457 (toll-free).

EMIS Appoints National Sales Manager for Canada

April 6, 2009 – EMIS Inc., the Canadian operation of EMIS Group (Leeds, UK) announced today that Ron Hughes, a veteran of the healthcare software industry in Canada has joined the organization as National Sales Manager. Based in Vernon, British Columbia, Ron will be responsible for continuing to build the EMIS sales team in British Columbia, Alberta, and elsewhere as the company continues its growth.

While the role Mr. Hughes will fulfill is national in scope, his initial focus will be in BC where the company is a solution provider under the Physician Information Technology Office (PITO) program.

EMIS Inc. is the Canadian subsidiary of The Egton Group based in Leeds, United Kingdom and launched its Canadian operations in 2005.

In a news release EMIS notes that its’ corporate principal of improving the health of individual patients, and the population as a whole through advanced knowledge garnered by empowering physicians to collaborate.

For more information contact Heather Linkletter, Vice President, Sales & Marketing (866) 443-3647. Heather.Linkletter@emis.ca

National Research Council invests in EHR

April 3, 2009 CAMBRIDGE, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - April 3, 2009) - The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), announced today a contribution to MedShare Inc. from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) to support an innovative research and development project. "The Government of Canada is committed to building a competitive advantage for the Canadian private sector and supports these leading edge technology solutions," said Minister Goodyear. "This investment in the development of advanced technologies, taking place right here in Cambridge, can one day make the lives of the sick and the elderly much more manageable in their homes." MedShare is a software company that provides mobile health record solutions to meet the needs of North American home health care agencies. This initiative will receive a grant of up to $284,500 under the IRAP program and allow the company to explore a new solution for the management of electronic health records for the home care sector. The technology will ultimately be delivered to clients by one of MedShare's health care delivery partners. The Industrial Research Assistance Program is a Government of Canada initiative that provides business advice, access to competitive business information, contacts, networks and potential financial support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for their innovation-based projects. NRC-IRAP customizes solutions to some 8,000 SMEs annually. The program brings together a diverse network of organizations, services, funding and programs to help firms develop and utilize technologies within all industrial sectors across the country. "NRC-IRAP has been working closely with MedShare to help the company achieve global recognition and develop its projects to achieve real commercial success," said NRC President Dr. Pierre Coulombe. "Providing assistance to MedShare demonstrates NRC's commitment to investing in research priorities such as health and wellness." "At MedShare, we are experiencing rapid growth in our electronic medical record (EMR) solutions, which required a fundamental reengineering of the EMR platform," says Barry Billings, President and CEO of MedShare Inc. "With the assistance of NRC-IRAP, the next generation of MedShare Enterprise Server will support up to the estimated 1.5 million patients currently receiving home care in Canada." About MedShare MedShare uses leading edge mobile technology to fundamentally transform the delivery of home health care services yielding better medical outcomes and improved operational results. Better medical information results in improved health outcomes, reduced paper burden, and more time available for client care - improving the efficiency and profitability of home health care agencies. About NRC and NRC-IRAP Recognized globally for research and innovation, the National Research Council (NRC) is a leader in the development of an innovative, knowledge-based economy for Canada through science and technology. Working directly with clients, NRC-IRAP's field staff of 240 industrial technology advisors support corporate innovative research and development and assist them while they become commercialization-ready with their new products and services. NRC-IRAP views SMEs as the strategic backbone of the Canadian economy and is committed to working with them while they realize their full potential and turn knowledge and innovation into strategic opportunities, jobs and prosperity for all Canadians. For more information (media only), please visit NRC-IRAP's Web site www.irap-pari.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/main_e.html. CONTACT INFORMATION: National Research Council Canada Media Relations 613-990-6091 media@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca or Office of the Honourable Gary Goodyear Minister of State (Science and Technology) Gary Toft Director of Communications 613-943-7599 INDUSTRY: Government - International, Government - Local, Government - National, Government - Security (law enforcement, homeland etc), Government - State