The Dose

Since people began getting sick from COVID-19, there’s been concern about having enough medical supplies of all kinds, including ventilators for very ill patients. While no one wants to be in a position where we need a ventilator, many of us don't know the risks that come with being placed on a breathing machine. And as we learn more about how to treat the coronavirus, some preliminary evidence suggests that in some patients ventilators have done more harm than good. Dr. Reuben Strayer has seen this phenomenon up close. He’s an emergency physician and associate medical director at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, where COVID-19 has taken hold. He himself has COVID-19, and as an expert on managing critically ill patients with airway and breathing problems, he is the perfect expert to answer the question "What do I need to know about ventilators in light of COVID-19?"

Dr. Goldman answers questions about the coronavirus from kids across Canada, with the help of Tai Poole, host of the CBC podcast Tai Ask Why, and Matt Galloway, host of CBC Radio's The Current

Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, we’ve heard a lot of talk about coronavirus tests. But how do tests for such a new virus work and what do the results really tell you? If your test comes back negative, what do you do? And what kinds of tests will help us in the future, when we want to know about potential immunity to the virus? Infectious disease specialist Dr. Jeffrey Pernica joins host Dr. Brian Goldman to dispense a dose of expert insight into all of these questions.

This week: How to don and doff a face mask safety. What are the best materials for a homemade mask? Who really needs a mask? How can I clean my mask? Do I need to worry about getting takeout? Should I really wipe down every single grocery item? All that and more as Dr. Brian Goldman talks to 'the germ guy' Jason Tetro on The Dose.

COVID-19 is hitting seniors hard across Canada. Several long-term care homes have suffered deadly outbreaks, including a nursing home in a small Ontario town that lost more than a dozen seniors in just a few days. Whether they live in long-term care facilities or in their own homes, COVID-19 threatens not only the lives of older Canadians, but also their emotional health as they face crushing isolation, unable to see their loved ones. Geriatrics specialist Dr. Samir Sinha joins host Dr. Brian Goldman to give us all a dose of advice on how to help seniors get through this pandemic.

Dr. Susy Hota, the Medical Director for Infection Prevention and Control at University Health Network in Toronto joins Dr. Brian Goldman to answer 10 questions on COVID-19.

Many people battling substance use disorders and addictions are especially vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic. The emotional stress can leave some people struggling to avoid relapse. Physical distancing to prevent the spread of the virus can make it difficult to access critical addiction recovery supports and services. Dr. Peter Selby from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health offers insight into what's needed to help people suffering from addiction make it through this crisis.

In this new COVID-19 reality, we’ve been talking a lot about how to protect our physical health and slow the spread of the coronavirus. But there's also been an enormous toll on our mental health. This week on The Dose, Dr. Peter Selby, chief of medicine for the Psychiatry Division at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), joins host Dr. Brian Goldman to talk about how we can manage our anxiety and stay mentally healthy through this unprecedented time.

Dr. Goldman and infectious disease specailist Dr. Isaac Bogoch separate fact from fiction: Will Ibuprofen worsen COVID-19 symptoms? Is it true that children and young people don't get severe cases of COVID-19? Is there a difference between people who get very sick and those who have mild cases? Can you reduce your chances of getting COVID-19 if you have a chronic condition? How can you tell the difference between a cold or flu and COVID-19? Are there more symptoms than just respiratory issues? If you get COVID-19 and get better, are you immune? Why is the self-isolation period 14 days long? Should you self-isolate if someone you know is getting tested and have symptoms? How long does the virus live on surfaces and is there a difference between hard and soft surfaces? Plus a bonus look at this week's White Coat, Black Art on new drugs being touted as treatments for COVID-19

There have been stories circulating suggesting a connection between blood pressure medication and how people fare if they get COVID-19. Dr. Nadia Khan, president of Hypertension Canada, clears up some misinformation and tells Dr. Brian Goldman when we really need to worry about high blood pressure — and what to do about it.