The Dose

As ticks and tick-borne diseases rise across Canada due to warmer weather, experts are warning about two invasive species: the lone star and Asian longhorned ticks. Entomologist Jade Savage, creator and director of the eTick monitoring platform, says authorities are closely tracking them. In the meantime, she gives practical steps we can take to reduce the risk of tick bites.

For our episode on anaplasmosis, an emerging tick-borne disease in Canada, click 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.

From seasonal allergies to infections, red eyes can have many causes. University of Calgary ophthalmologist Dr. Helen Chung talks about what’s behind eye redness, when drops can help, and when 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. For more episodes of this podcast, click this link.

Toronto and Hamilton are experiencing outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease, a serious type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. Infectious diseases physician Dr. Isaac Bogoch says it spreads through natural, as well as artificial water systems, like cooling towers, hot tubs, and plumbing, so it's important that buildings are up to code.

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.

Three people have died after a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship, and several others are seriously ill. While hantaviruses are typically carried by rodents and rarely infect humans, health officials are investigating the cases. Infectious diseases specialist Dr. Zain Chagla explains what you need to know about hantavirus and how to avoid infection. 

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.

Psychedelics are a hot topic, and a drug called ibogaine is receiving attention after a recent shoutout from U.S. President Donald Trump. University of Calgary psychedelics researcher Leah Mayo explains what ibogaine is, and why limited high-quality research has her hesitant to recommend it.

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.

Erectile dysfunction is commonly thought of as a sexual health issue, but experts say the condition can reveal a lot about men's health. Dr. Dean Elterman, a urologist at the University Health Network in Toronto, says ED can be connected to a host of other health problems including diabetes and heart disease.

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.

Some private clinics in Canada are offering whole-body MRIs that can run thousands of dollars. They claim these scans can detect a range of issues, and can find cancers in the early stages. Dr. Iain Kirkpatrick, the head of radiology at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, explains what a whole-body MRI can - and can’t - tell you about your 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.

Young female athletes are considerably more likely to tear their anterior cruciate ligaments, or ACLs, than young men. Dr. Marie-Lyne Nault is an orthopedic surgeon and researcher specializing in pediatric sports medicine in Montreal. She explains why the risk is higher, and how women and teens can significantly reduce the risk of a tear.

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.

Meningococcal disease is a rare but potentially lethal bacterial infection. Two young people died in a recent outbreak in the U.K. Infectious diseases specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch explains what you need to know about this disease and how to 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.

Psilocybin, the active compound in magic mushrooms, shows promise for treating depression and other mental health conditions. Dr. Joshua Rosenblat, a psychiatrist and researcher at the Krembil Brain Institute at UHN, explains the latest research and its potential for future treatments—though it's still illegal in Canada.