Although many immigrants move to Canada in search of a better life, a new study finds immigrants to this country are healthier than the Canadian-born population.
But the more time immigrants live here, the more their health declines.
The Canadian Community Health Survey released Thursday by Statistics Canada indicates immigrants report fewer chronic health conditions, lower rates of depression and less alcohol dependence than the Canadian-born population.
For instance, about 59 per cent of immigrants report having a chronic health condition, whereas that number is 65 per cent for Canadian-born residents.
The survey shows that the longer immigrants live here, the more their health resembles that of the Canadian-born population.
"Over time, immigrants tend to emulate other Canadians' health-related behaviours, such as smoking and dietary patterns," the report says.
For diabetes, high blood pressure and cancer, there were no significant differences between the groups.
The survey, based on data gathered in 2000 and 2001, factored in age, sex, education, marital status and income.
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Thanks and regards.
Biomed

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"Change before you have to" : Jack Welch

There may be two reasons for this...

1. Mental health. You work for years in a dead end job in a country which refuses to recognize you. You have no social life , no satisfaction at work , you lose your self esteem. This triggers a host of problems.

2. Attitude towards health problems. In India we are trained not to make a big fuss about any health problem. We go to work even if our back hurts. a 100 degree fever is not reason enough to see a doctor (just swallow a crocin!) Here people are encouraged to see doctors at the first sign of trouble , free healthcare , free prescription drugs , generous sick leave and a social attitude which does not belittle a sick person. So the locals REPORT their health problems whereas we HIDE them.

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free healthcare , free prescription drugs
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Could you please tell me where do you get free prescription drugs?
Hope you did not mean Medical Benefits at work place.........and even if it is so, you pay for that too!

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Sanjeev Manocha, MBA
Real Estate Sales Representative
Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR)

Re/Max West Realty Inc, Brokerage
96, Rexdale Blvd., Toronto

Mobile: 416-843-7600
Office: 416-745-2300
http://www.manocharealty.com" rel="nofollow">LINK

Quote:

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Attitude towards health problems. In India we are trained not to make a big fuss about any health problem. We go to work even if our back hurts. a 100 degree fever is not reason enough to see a doctor (just swallow a crocin!) Here people are encouraged to see doctors at the first sign of trouble , free healthcare , free prescription drugs , generous sick leave and a social attitude which does not belittle a sick person. So the locals REPORT their health problems whereas we HIDE them.

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Canada...another name for struggle in life!

I was talking about the locals AND the desis who moved here prior to 1995. Not the unlucky non-IT guys who landed here after 1995! ;-)
(That's another topic for discussion! What was the year that things started getting bad for Desi immigrants to Canada?)