Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Montreal's Drug Risks, Yukon Doctor Agreement, and Smartphone-Hemorrhoid Link

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Montreal's Drug Risks, Yukon Doctor Agreement, and Smartphone-Hemorrhoid Link · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

• 0:00
  Hello and welcome to Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow, where we cover the latest in medical and health news from around the world, powered by
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  artificial intelligence.
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  I'm your host, Dr.
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  Chi-Ming Chow, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at the University of Toronto.
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  In today's episode, we're diving into some pressing health issues that are making
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  headlines.
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  Let's begin with a concerning development in Montreal's drug supply.
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  Public health officials are raising alarms about the increasing presence of animal
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  sedatives in illicit drugs.
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  Over the past few weeks, Montreal Public Health has noted recurring exposures to medetomidine
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  and, though less frequently, xylazine among individuals who use drugs.
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  These substances are typically used as sedatives in veterinary medicine, possessing
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  analgesic and muscle-relaxant properties.
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  The issue becomes particularly dangerous when these animal sedatives are combined with other
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  depressants, such as opioids or benzodiazepines.
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  This combination significantly amplifies the risk of overdose.
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  During an overdose, individuals may experience slowed heartbeat, low blood pressure,
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  respiratory depression, significant drowsiness, and even respiratory arrest.
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  There is also a risk of hyperglycemia, which is elevated blood sugar levels.
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  One major challenge in addressing these overdoses is that naloxone, a drug that can
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  reverse the effects of opioids, does not work on medetomidine or xylazine.
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  Therefore, if an overdose is suspected, it's crucial to administer naloxone and call 911 for
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  immediate medical intervention.
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  Hospital care may be needed to manage cardiac or respiratory effects if naloxone does not
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  quickly resolve the situation.
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  Moreover, the consistent use of these animal sedatives can complicate the treatment of
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  opioid addiction.
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  Traditional opioid addiction treatments may become less effective, necessitating
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  adjustments in medication.
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  Withdrawal symptoms can include high blood pressure, a fast heart rate, and agitation.
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  As such, Montreal Public Health is urging healthcare professionals to be more vigilant
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  about this emerging issue.
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  Let's shift our attention up north to the Yukon, where a new development could change the
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  landscape of healthcare in the territory.
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  Recently, the Yukon Medical Association and the territorial government signed a crucial
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  agreement that aims to attract more doctors to the region.
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  This agreement, which will be in place until March 2028, is designed to provide new
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  incentives for family physicians to set up practices in the Yukon and manage larger
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  rosters of patients.
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  Dr.
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  Derek Bryant, the president of the Yukon Medical Association, emphasized the importance
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  of this agreement in addressing the national physician shortage.
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  He noted, "There's a national physician shortage.
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  Every jurisdiction is trying to essentially chase after and get physicians." With this new
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  deal, the Yukon hopes to stand out by offering modernized recruitment incentives that could
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  give it a fighting chance in the competitive landscape of physician recruitment.
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  Dr.
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  Bryant believes that once doctors experience the Yukon and its unique environment, they may
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  fall in love with it, just as the current residents have.
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  The memorandum of agreement includes various incentives aimed at making it easier for
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  doctors to establish themselves in the Yukon.
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  For instance, physicians who have the capacity to take on more patients will be rewarded for
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  managing larger practices.
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  Additionally, the agreement provides more overhead support for physicians, streamlining
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  the process so that doctors can spend more time focusing on patient care rather than the
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  business side of their clinics.
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  Dr.
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  Bryant explained that the agreement also includes compensation for administrative work
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  done outside of clinic hours.
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  This is part of an effort to make the Yukon a more attractive place for physicians to work.
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  The negotiations with the territorial government focused heavily on recruiting
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  doctors, and the new incentives are seen as a significant improvement in this area.
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  For example, doctors can now receive an annual bonus for the first five years they agree to
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  practice in the Yukon, a move aimed at encouraging them to put down roots and continue
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  practicing in the territory beyond their initial service agreements.
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  The Health Minister, Tracy-Anne McPhee, expressed optimism about the new agreement,
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  stating that it demonstrates practical steps being taken to strengthen the healthcare system
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  in the Yukon.
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  According to McPhee, Yukoners should see benefits through improved access to care,
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  particularly in primary, community, and acute care settings.
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  This agreement represents a proactive effort to tackle the physician shortage and enhance
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  healthcare services for the residents of the Yukon.
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  Our next story delves into a common yet often overlooked issue related to our everyday
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  habits—specifically, the habit of using smartphones while on the toilet.
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  A recent study suggests that this seemingly innocuous behavior may be linked to an
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  increased risk of developing hemorrhoids.
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  Let's explore the findings.
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  The study, conducted by Trisha Pasricha and her team at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in
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  Boston, surveyed 125 adults aged 45 and older who were undergoing screening colonoscopy.
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  They found that individuals who used smartphones on the toilet had a 46 percent
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  higher risk of hemorrhoids compared to those who did not engage in this habit.
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  This was after adjusting for various factors such as age, sex, body mass index, exercise,
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  fiber intake, and straining.
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  One of the key observations was the amount of time spent on the toilet.
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  The study revealed that 37.3 percent of smartphone users reported spending more than
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  five minutes per trip, while only 7.1 percent of non-users did the same.
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  This extended period of sitting on a standard toilet seat, which lacks pelvic floor support,
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  can increase pressure on hemorrhoidal cushions, potentially leading to symptomatic hemorrhoids.
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  Dr.
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  Pasricha pointed out that while reading on the toilet is not a new practice, smartphones are
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  uniquely designed to captivate our attention with apps and social media feeds, making it
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  easier for us to lose track of time.
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  This distraction can lead to prolonged sitting, which over time, may weaken the connective
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  tissue around hemorrhoidal cushions, causing veins to bulge and resulting in hemorrhoids.
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  The study's findings suggest that physicians should consider asking patients about their
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  smartphone use in the bathroom, especially if they are experiencing bowel issues.
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  Simple lifestyle changes, such as leaving the phone outside the bathroom, might help some
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  individuals reduce their risk of developing hemorrhoids.
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  It's worth noting that the study had some limitations, including its cross-sectional
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  design, which does not establish causality, and the reliance on self-reported data.
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  Nonetheless, it opens up an important conversation about how our digital habits can
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  impact our health in unexpected ways.
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  Dr.
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  Pasricha and her team plan to further investigate this behavior in younger adults who
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  have grown up with smartphones.
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  As we wrap up today's episode, remember that our everyday habits, even those that seem
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  trivial, can have significant health implications.
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  Thank you for joining me on Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  Stay informed, stay healthy, and until next time, take care.