The Dose

Doctors say walking is one of the most meaningful things you can do to improve your health because it delivers a powerful range of physiological, cognitive and mental health benefits. So much so that Dr. Jane Thornton actually prescribes walking to her patients.

Infectious disease specialist and virologist Dr. Samira Mubareka says the presence of seemingly more infectious coronavirus variants in Canada is a public health emergency and existing public health rules around social distancing, masks, and hygiene may have to be tightened.

As kids' screen time soars during pandemic, experts say there could be serious long term physical, mental and emotional consequences - but treating tech like nutrition can help parents: consume healthy tech, limit junk tech, and eliminate the toxic.

Considering taking some time off from alcohol? Addictions specialist Dr. Peter Selby says booze breaks like "Dry January" are a good idea, especially in light of a new study showing Canadians are binge-drinking during the pandemic.

The largest immunization rollout in Canadian history has begun with the arrival of the first doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. This milestone raises many questions, from why different people get the first shots in different provinces to concerns about potential allergic reactions or adverse side effects when our turn finally comes. Plus, there's already a lot of misinformation out there. Dr. Caroline Q...

The longer we live with COVID-19, the more clear its toll on our mental health becomes. Now we're dealing with yet another emotional challenge: a holiday season unlike any other, when most Canadians are being asked to hunker down within our own households to prevent the spread of the virus. Plus, it's winter, when many people feel down even in "normal" times. There's hope for sure -- a COVID-19 va...

The stress of COVID-19 has left a lot of people lying awake at night. Before the pandemic, insomnia already affected a significant proportion of Canadians. Now the number of people suffering from lack of sleep has skyrocketed. But Célyne Bastien, a psychology professor specializing in insomnia at Laval University and president of the Canadian Sleep Society, says there are things we can do to help...

Across Canada there is a patchwork of inconsistent conclusions on whether or not schools are contributing to the exponential spread of COVID-19, leaving many parents and teachers confused. Amy Greer, Canada Research Chair in Population Disease Modelling, joins The Dose host Dr. Brian Goldman to provide some clear, science-based answers.

There are now two COVID-19 vaccine candidates that look very promising. Late-stage clinical trials suggest they may be more than 90 per cent effective. The Canadian government has signed deals with both manufacturers, so if they’re approved by Health Canada, experts say they should be available to us sometime next year. But a new vaccine naturally raises lots of questions, from its safety profile...

COVID-19 cases continue to rise across Canada -- and so does the sense of urgency felt by health-care providers and public health officials. It’s become clear to many that at this point, the only way to stop the virus from choking the health-care system is to bring in tough restrictions to reduce contact between people. Physicians in Alberta recommend a short, sharp lockdown -- known as a “circuit...

Throughout the pandemic, Ontario and Quebec have consistently had the highest number of infections in the country. But now, Canada’s unexpected COVID-19 hotspot is Manitoba. After seeming to successfully keep the virus at bay during the first wave, things have taken a disastrous turn for the worse. Health-care workers have called on the Manitoba government to take urgent action, saying the pandemi...

There’s been a lot of talk about gyms lately. A COVID-19 outbreak that infected dozens of people was recently tracked back to a fitness studio in Hamilton, Ont., even though the operators had taken precautions. At the same time, several gym owners in COVID hot spots argue that not all fitness facilities pose the same risk. Plus, we know exercise is key to physical and mental health during these st...

COVID-19 has turned every aspect of our lives upside down. Right now, there’s a burning question on the minds of countless kids and parents across the country: Is Halloween still happening? Public health guidelines vary depending on where you live and have sparked a lot of discussion on social media. Pediatric infectious diseases specialist Dr. Caroline Quach helps us make sense of this tricky iss...

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, public health officials say getting a flu shot is more important than ever this year. The flu and COVID are different diseases caused by different viruses, so why does it matter? Just in time for flu season, infectious disease specialist Dr. Danuta Skowronski joins us on The Dose to explain -- and to set the record straight on some common misconceptions.

We’re heading into Thanksgiving weekend in the midst of a resurgence of COVID-19 in Canada. Many of us are craving a gathering with the people we love, but we’re also in a critical phase of this pandemic -- and the decisions we make about gathering with others now have big consequences. Infectious diseases specialist Dr. Lynora Saxinger talks us through the risks and offers her insight on how we c...

Although the majority of people recently infected with COVID-19 have been younger adults, the virus has already made its way back into long-term care and retirement homes, with about 100 active outbreaks and counting across Canada. Dr. Samir Sinha, director of geriatrics at Sinai Health and University Health Network in Toronto, returns to The Dose with guidance on how we can use what we've learned...

As many experts feared, the number of COVID-19 cases is rising after flattening out during the summer. The biggest climb is among people under 40, especially adults who are 20-29 years old. The reasons this is happening are more complex than you might think. Infectious disease epidemiologist Ashleigh Tuite explains why and delves into what this means for all of us, no matter what our age.

The number of new COVID-19 cases has been rising in several parts of Canada and health experts are worried. But what do these daily and weekly totals really mean? What's a "reproduction number" and why is it important? Epidemiologist Dr. David Fisman, one of Canada's top experts on the mathematics of infectious disease, joins us on The Dose to explain what these numbers say about how COVID-19 will...

Dr. Lynora Saxinger, an infectious diseases specialist and associate professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, answers questions about how you can return to work safely.

Dr Nisha Thampi, medical director of infection prevention and control at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, answers the question: How can I send my kids back to school safely for them and for us?

Dr. Brian Goldman and infectious disease expert Dr Susy Hota explain how masks work and how best to use them.

Addressing emotional roots of comfort eating key to losing weight gained during the pandemic

Dr Prabhat Jha, Director of the Centre for Global Health Research, at St Michael’s Hospital, and Professor of epidemiology, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto answers questions about contact tracing.

A lot of things have changed since our lives went into lockdown almost four months ago. Almost every part of Canada is cautiously reopening businesses and services, people are starting to resume contact with a limited number of friends and family through social bubbles or social circles -- and the prevailing public health advice is to wear masks when we can't physically distance from others. All o...

When the coronavirus pandemic hit North America governments and infectious disease experts advised the public to stay home and stay physically distant from anyone not in their household. Those restrictions have made it challenging for single folks to find a way to connect with new friends and potential sexual partners. From sex and foreplay to kissing and holding hands, the pleasures of touch have...