For years, doctors have recommended taking Aspirin every day to help prevent heart attacks and stroke. Cardiologist Dr. Sonia Anand says that advice is still correct, but it only applies to certain patients. She cautions against taking too much Aspirin, because acetylsalicylic acid can increase the risk of bleeding in the stomach and brain.

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 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its childhood vaccination schedule, cutting back the number of immunizations from 17 to 11. Infectious-diseases specialist Dr. Caroline Quach-Thanh says Canada’s schedule hasn’t changed, but she worries the U.S. move could create confusion and fuel vaccine hesitancy here.

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.

Scromiting is a term popping up on social media that combines screaming and vomiting. It refers to cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, a painful condition that can affect long-term cannabis users. Dr. Kirk Magee, an emergency physician at the QE2 Health Sciences Centre in Halifax, says he’s seeing more patients with the condition — and that stopping cannabis use is the only effective treatment.

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.

If you're dragging yourself into the office every day, you might be tired — or you might be experiencing burnout. Michael Leiter, professor emeritus of psychology at Acadia University and co-author of The Burnout Challenge, explains that burnout isn’t a personal failing, but a signal of deeper organizational issues. He shares how to recognize the signs and what you can do if you think you're affected.  

A U.S. federal vaccine advisory panel has voted to drop its long-standing recommendation for universal hepatitis B vaccination at birth. In Canada, most infants don’t receive the vaccine until two months of age, with some exceptions. It can all be a bit confusing. So Dr. Lynora Saxinger, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of Alberta Hospital, explains what Canadians should know about when to get vaccinated for hepatitis B.

Researchers say a shingles vaccine could slow the progression of dementia and lower the risk of dying from it. Earlier this year, they produced the strongest evidence yet that the vaccine might reduce the risk of getting dementia in the first place. Dr. Nathan Stall, a clinician scientist and geriatrics lead at Sinai Health explains why shingles may be linked to cognitive decline and how a shingles vaccine could help.

A new variant of H3N2 may mean a more severe flu season in Canada, and this year's flu vaccine may not be quite as effective against it. Dr. Stephanie Smith, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of Alberta Hospital, explains what you should watch for this flu season, why you should still get vaccinated, and how else you can protect yourself.

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.

Canadians are some of the biggest users of antidepressants in the world, yet many people taking them aren’t sure when, or whether, they can safely stop. Dr. Ishrat Husain, head of the Mood Disorders Service at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, explains how long antidepressants should be used, how to taper safely, and what patients need to know before making a change. 

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.

With roughly five billion people flying each year, in-flight medical emergencies happen more often than you’d think. One recent study found they occur about once every 212 flights. Dr. Vincent Poirier is an emergency physician and a senior medical advisor for Air Canada and Air Transat. He explains the most common medical incidents, how airlines handle them, and what passengers should know.

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.

E-scooter injuries are on the rise in Canada, including in children. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, between 2022 and 2024, hospitalizations involving e-scooters for kids between five and 17 years old increased by 61 per cent. And growing research is examining e-scooter injuries. Dr. Daniel Rosenfield, a pediatric emergency physician at SickKids, says no one under the age of 16 should ride an e-scooter.

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.

A new Health Canada-approved drug called lecanemab has been shown to slow early-stage Alzheimer's disease. Neurologist Dr. Sharon Cohen, who participated in phase three trials for the drug, explains why lecanemab is such a big deal.

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.