The Dose

It's the time of year when many people like to raise a glass. But Canada's new guidelines say more than two drinks a week can raise your risk of some very common types of cancer. Addiction medicine specialist physician and UBC professor of medicine Dr. Evan Wood tells us what we should know about how alcohol can affect our health. (Guidelines here: https://www.ccsa.ca/canadas-guidance-alcohol-and-health )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 episodes of this podcast, click this link.

The menstrual cycle can cause many physical, mental and emotional changes — from cramps and bloating to mood changes and more severe symptoms. Dr. Alison Shea, an obstetrician gynecologist and reproductive mental health specialist, shares information about the cycle and how people who menstruate can handle those shifts.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 episodes of this podcast, click this link.

Emma LeBlanc, an audiologist specializing in hearing loss prevention and treatment, sheds light on alarming trends in hearing impairment, particularly among youth due to unsafe listening habits. She discusses the stigma surrounding hearing loss and the importance of early intervention, emphasizing regular hearing evaluations after age 30. LeBlanc explains the benefits and limitations of hearing aids, as well as the differences between traditional and bone conduction devices. Proactive measures like using earplugs and regular tests are highlighted as key strategies to safeguard auditory health.

Respiratory viruses are circulating in Canada, and hospitals are starting to fill up with young children and older adults. Dr. Lisa Barrett, an infectious diseases doctor and researcher at Dalhousie University, shares what you need to know, and tips for how to stay healthy. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: lnk.to/dose-transcripts. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

It's that time of year when sunlight is hard to come by. If you're prone to seasonal depression or the winter blues, this can be a tough time of year. But there are ways to deal with, and maybe even prevent the symptoms. This week, we speak with Dr. Raymond Lam is a professor of psychiatry at UBC, and an expert and researcher in seasonal mood disorders. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: lnk.to/dose-transcripts. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

Regular Pap tests will soon be a thing of the past in Canada, as they get replaced by more effective HPV tests to screen for cervical cancer. And soon, there will also be the option in some provinces to do your own free HPV test at home. Obstetrician gynecologist Dr. Kim Alexander explains why the switch is happening and how the at-home test will work. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: lnk.to/dose-transcripts. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

Antibiotics treat bacterial infections and save lives when used appropriately, but when they aren’t needed, they can cause adverse effects and other harms — including antibiotic resistance, a growing global health threat. Dr. Lynora Saxinger, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton, explains what conditions antibiotics do — and don’t — treat, why new antibiotics are limited and how resistance is affecting patients in hospital. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: lnk.to/dose-transcripts. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

Blood sugar levels can be affected by stress, sleep and a lack of exercise. But what role does food play when it comes to blood glucose? This week on The Dose, registered dietitian Anar Allidina talks about the role diet plays, how eating certain foods can help regulate your blood sugar and when to know it's time to see a doctor. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: lnk.to/dose-transcripts. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

Oral cold and cough medicine containing a popular decongestant was pulled from some U.S. pharmacy shelves this week. This comes after a panel of experts said phenylephrine is no better than a dummy pill at relieving congestion. But what actually works to treat cold symptoms? Family doctor and CBC Radio house doctor Dr. Peter Lin provides tips on how best to treat a cold or cough, and weighs in on popular home remedies. For transcripts of The Dose, please visit: lnk.to/dose-transcripts. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

It's RSV season and this year, seniors have the option to get a newly approved vaccine to protect against the respiratory virus. But the new vaccine comes at a cost to most seniors in Canada. Nurses and doctors are worried that cost will prohibit people from getting the RSV vaccine. This week on The Dose, we hear from Anne Summach, a nurse practitioner and assistant teaching professor in the University of Alberta’s nursing department.