The Dose

Parents have been dealing with a new challenge this cold and flu season: finding over the counter pain and fever medication for their kids. So this week on The Dose we’re asking: How should sick children and their parents cope with this medication shortage? Kelly Grindrod, a pharmacist and associate professor at the school of pharmacy at the University of Waterloo, has some tips for parents.

Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in Canada, but if caught early, many people have a good chance of surviving. But screening for it is key. Dr. Jill Tinmouth, lead scientist at the colorectal cancer screening program at Ontario Health and gastroenterologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, speaks with guest host Dr. Peter Lin about colorectal cancer screening.

A lot more kids are heading to emergency rooms with symptoms of RSV so this week we're sharing what you should know about RSV. Dr. Fatima Kakkar, an infectious diseases pediatrician at Montreal's Sainte-Justine Hospital, shares what parents should know about the virus.

Millions of Canadians are without a family doctor or primary care provider. Dr. Peter Lin, a family physician and a director of the Canadian Heart Research Centre, spells out ways people can take charge of their health when they're in between or searching for a primary care provider.

Jen and Neil are a happily married couple in their thirties. From the outside, life is picture perfect. But behind their smiles lies a heartbreaking secret: they can’t get pregnant. Join CBC journalist Jen White and her husband Neil Hyde in this intimate and informative eight-part series on their yearslong struggle with fertility — a journey filled with hormone injections, transvaginal ultrasounds, tears, anxiety, shame, laughter, and hope. Listen to more episodes at: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/1338-one-in-six

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian women and some experts want women to get routinely screened after they turn 40. Dr. Paula Gordon, a breast radiologist and a clinical professor in the University of British Columbia’s radiology department, breaks down how often women should be screened, how to be breast aware and why knowing your breast density matters.

This week on The Dose, we hear from one expert on what we know and don't know about the health effects of vaping and how it could help smokers quit cigarettes. David Hammond, a professor in the School of Public Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo, answers some of those questions and more.

Diet plays a significant role in our risk of getting cancer. But what foods are good, and what food and drink should we only eat in moderation? We’ll cover the latest research on cancer risk and red meat, alcohol, and sugar. All with the help of Rachel Murphy, assistant professor in the School of Population and Public Health at University of British Columbia and scientist at BC Cancer.

It's that time of year again: Time to get the annual flu shot. But this year, the influenza vaccines will roll out along with the bivalent shots and people have questions about timing of their vaccines. Dr. Brian Goldman spoke with Ashley Davidson, a pharmacist and owner of a Shoppers Drug Mart in Alberta.

A new, decade-long study published in the British Medical Journal suggests artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose could put us at greater risk of cardiovascular diseases. This study joins many others with similar unfavourable findings. Leslie Beck, a registered dietitian and columnist, breaks down the potential risks of the sugar substitutes.