The Dose

You may have heard you should throw out your black plastic kitchen utensils. That’s because it could be leaching harmful chemicals into our food. Tizazu Mekonnen, a professor of chemical engineering and Canada Research Chair in sustainable multiphase polymers, explains how black plastic in our home can be harmful to our health, and offers safer alternatives we can use. Click here for an important...

Doctors across Canada say they're seeing a spike in cases of walking pneumonia. It's a milder form of pneumonia that doesn't often lead to hospitalization, but can still lead to serious issues like meningitis and encephalitis. Dr. Caroline Quach, a microbiologist and pediatric infectious diseases specialist, explains what could be fuelling cases and how to protect against infection. For transcript...

Sex isn't always easy to talk about. And for women who have difficulties with orgasm and libido, it can be complicated if they haven't learned much about their genitals, or explored what turns them on. Lori Brotto, a professor and Canada Research Chair in women's sexual health at the University of British Columbia, says better sex starts with education and communication. For transcripts of The Dos...

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian men, with an estimated one in eight men expected to be diagnosed during their lifetime. John Lewis, a prostate cancer researcher and University of Alberta oncology professor, says better screening tools will help detect the disease more effectively in men. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit:  lnk.to/dose-transcripts . Transcripts of e...

While breast self-exams haven't been shown to reduce breast cancer mortality, Dr. Mojola Omole — a general surgeon, breast surgical oncologist and president of the Black Physicians' Association of Ontario — says women should still perform self-exams to know what is normal, and when to seek care. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit:  lnk.to/dose-transcripts . Transcripts of each episode will...

Human cases of rabies are not common in Canada, but experts say people still need to be cautious and avoid infection. Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases specialist at Toronto General Hospital and Dr. Scott Weese, a professor and veterinary internal medicine specialist at the Ontario Veterinary College, explain everything you need to know about rabies from the human, and the animal side. For...

While most people think of acne as a skin condition for adolescents, it can also develop in adults. Dr. Kerri Purdy, head of dermatology at Dalhousie University, explains some of the risk factors for acne (genes and hormones, not necessarily diet) as well as the latest treatments. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: lnk.to/dose-transcripts. Transcripts of each episode will be made available...

It's fall respiratory illness season and experts are once again urging Canadians to get vaccinated. Dr. Susy Hota, division head of infectious diseases at the University Health Network and Sinai Health in Toronto, breaks down the latest vaccines and treatments for influenza, COVID-19 and RSV, while also talking about how everyone can stay safe this season.  For transcripts of The Dose, please visi...

Whooping cough cases are on the rise across Canada and vaccination rates in some provinces aren't keeping pace. Dr. Cora Constantinescu, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist in Calgary, explains how whooping cough is distinct from other respiratory infections, and how children and adults can stay safe. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: lnk.to/dose-transcripts. Transcripts of each ep...

Iron deficiency is relatively straightforward to treat, yet a significant percentage of Canadian women and girls live with the condition. Dr. Michelle Sholzberg, a hematologist at St. Michael’s Hospital and director of hematology in the University of Toronto's department of medicine, explains how to diagnose iron deficiency and maintain our body's iron stores. For transcripts of The Dose, please v...

Experts know that men and women respond to heat differently, but we're still learning about how women respond to extreme temperatures. Dr. Amita Mahajan, an endocrinologist and clinical assistant professor at the University of Calgary, explains how extreme heat affects women's bodies and the role that hormones play in regulating their core temperatures. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: l...

Experts are warning Canadians about the risk posed by mosquitoes due to environmental factors like climate change. Dr. Sumon Chakrabarti, an infectious diseases specialist with Trillium Health Partners in Mississauga, Ont. explains what we need to know about mosquito-borne diseases, including West Nile Virus. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ 12,347 listeners this week. [Claim your free resources →]( freehea...

There are a lot of fads, blogs and strong opinions, but then there’s SCIENCE. Science Vs is the show from Gimlet that finds out what’s fact, what’s not, and what’s somewhere in between. Science VS looked at the class of weight loss drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists a year ago, and they've only gotten more popular — and more controversial. We’re hearing that these kinds of drugs can be tough on...

Whether it’s travelling abroad, or being active outdoors, summer can increase risk of injury, burns and bites. Emergency physician Dr. Shaneka Kulasingham walks us through common summer medical emergencies, how to avoid them and what to do if you end up needing help. She also gives tips on what to pack in a first-aid kit. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit:lnk.to/dose-transcripts. Transcrip...

As Canadians spend more time outdoors, enjoying yet another warm summer, experts are warning about anaplasmosis — a tick-borne disease that's slowly on the rise. Heather Coatsworth, chief research scientist of field studies in the National Microbiology Laboratory, explains what we need to know about anaplasmosis, as well as offers tips on how to avoid tick bites. For transcripts of The Dose, pleas...

As the Edmonton Oilers head into Game 3 of the Stanley Cup finals, Dr. Brian Goldman speaks to the team’s mindfulness coach, George Mumford . He talks about the work he’s doing with the Oilers to keep them focused, and how anyone can tap into mindfulness to achieve their goals. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: lnk.to/dose-transcripts. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by...

Almost two-thirds of Canadians have experienced a traumatic event in their lifetimes. For some people, exposure to trauma can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. Margaret McKinnon, a professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioural neurosciences at McMaster University, explains how we can better process trauma. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: lnk.to/dose-transcript...

Sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections are on the rise around the world, including in Canada. But there are easy steps we can take to prevent the spread of SBBIs. Nolan Hill, a training centre facilitator at the Centre for Sexuality in Calgary, explains what you need to know. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit:  lnk.to/dose-transcripts . Transcripts of each episode will be made ava...

Dry eye disease affects millions of Canadians, and more and more young people are being diagnosed. Among the risk factors is increased screen time. What is dry eye disease and what can you do about it? Ophthalmologist Dr. Johanna Choremis shares what you need to know. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: lnk.to/dose-transcripts. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next...

We’re all looking for ways to avoid cognitive decline, whether it’s by doing word puzzles or staying fit. So what actually helps keep our brains healthy? Dr. Steven Laureys, neurologist and Canada Excellence Research Chair in neuroplasticity at Laval University, shares what you need to know.  For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: lnk.to/dose-transcripts. Transcripts of each episode will be ma...

For the millions of Canadians who suffer from migraines, new medications approved in Canada over the last five years have changed the game. Neurologist Dr. Elizabeth Leroux shares what you need to know about how to prevent and treat migraines.  For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: lnk.to/dose-transcripts . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. For more episo...

Canadians on average consume nearly half of their calories from ultra-processed foods. These are foods with added textures, colours and flavours that often contain high levels of salt, sugar and fat. Université de Montréal associate professor Jean-Claude Moubarac explains how ultra-processed foods can affect our physical and mental health, and how we can better tailor our diets. For transcripts of...

While we tend to think rest is the key to recovering from an injury, physicians recommend keeping the body moving, if possible, but at a lower intensity. Sport medicine physician Dr. Laura Cruz explains why "motion is lotion" and provides some low-impact exercises that can help our bodies more easily recover. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: lnk.to/dose-transcripts. Transcripts of each e...

H5N1 is in the news again, and this time it has spread to cattle in several U.S. states. It has even infected a dairy worker in Texas. Global health epidemiologist Raywat Deonandan explains how avian flu is spreading, how transmissible it is, what vaccines are available, and why we shouldn't be too worried just yet. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: lnk.to/dose-transcripts. Transcripts of...

Timely access to dental care doesn't just help improve your oral hygiene, it can also help maintain your overall physical wellbeing. Canadian Dental Association president Heather Carr explains why a healthy mouth translates into a healthy body, and how we can best protect our oral health. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: lnk.to/dose-transcripts. Transcripts of each episode will be made a...