Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Vaccines, AI Impacts, and Canada's Opioid Crisis

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Vaccines, AI Impacts, and Canada's Opioid Crisis · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

• 0:00
  Good morning, and welcome to another episode of Morning Medical with Dr.
• 0:03
  Chow.
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  I'm your host, Dr.
• 0:05
  Chi-Ming Chow.
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  Today, we're diving into a topic that's been a point of controversy and debate for many years:
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  thimerosal in vaccines.
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  This preservative has recently resurfaced in discussions, particularly with the new vaccine
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  advisers appointed by Robert F.
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  Kennedy Jr.
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  to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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  Let's unravel why thimerosal is back in the spotlight and what this means for public
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  health.
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  A century ago, the primary concern with vaccines was bacterial contamination.
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  In the early 1900s, there were tragic instances where children died due to contaminated
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  vaccines.
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  To combat this, in the 1930s, vaccine manufacturers began using a preservative called
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  thimerosal to prevent microbial growth.
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  Thimerosal contains ethylmercury, which is different from the toxic methylmercury found in
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  some fish.
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  Ethylmercury is more stable and is cleared from the body more quickly, making it less likely to
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  cause harm.
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  Fast forward to 1999, when U.S.
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  health officials requested that thimerosal be removed from vaccines as a precautionary
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  measure, despite no evidence of harm.
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  This decision was driven by concerns over the potential for mercury exposure in infants, even
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  though the limits were based on methylmercury, not ethylmercury.
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  Since then, thimerosal has been removed from or reduced in most vaccines, except for some
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  multidose vials of flu vaccines.
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  However, the issue of thimerosal gained notoriety due to its alleged link to autism, a
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  claim that has been thoroughly debunked by numerous studies.
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  Despite this, public health experts were surprised to see thimerosal on the agenda for
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  the CDC's new vaccine advisory panel meeting.
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  This renewed focus has raised concerns about the influence of anti-vaccine rhetoric in
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  shaping public health policy.
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  The newly appointed vaccine advisers, installed by Robert F.
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  Kennedy Jr., are set to discuss thimerosal in flu vaccines, with a presentation scheduled by
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  Lyn Redwood, a former leader of the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense.
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  Public health experts worry that this could lead to unnecessary public fear about vaccine
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  safety, despite the overwhelming scientific consensus that vaccines containing thimerosal
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  are safe.
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  The decision to remove thimerosal from most vaccines, although made with caution, had some
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  unintended consequences.
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  For instance, the delay in hepatitis B vaccinations for newborns, due to thimerosal
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  removal, led to some babies being at risk of infection.
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  This highlights the complex nature of vaccine policy decisions and the need for careful
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  consideration of all potential outcomes.
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  In summary, while thimerosal once played a crucial role in vaccine safety, its presence is
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  now largely historical.
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  The focus on it today seems to be more about stirring public debate than addressing real
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  scientific concerns.
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  As always, it's important to rely on well-established scientific evidence when
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  making health decisions.
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  Thank you for tuning in to Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  Stay informed and stay healthy.
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  Today, we're exploring a trending topic in the world of sleep health: mouth taping.
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  This practice has gained popularity on social media as a method to improve sleep by promoting
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  nasal breathing.
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  The idea is simple—tape your mouth shut at night to encourage breathing through the nose,
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  which some proponents claim can offer several health benefits.
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  The main advantage touted by advocates is that nasal breathing helps filter and humidify the
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  air we breathe, potentially reducing issues like snoring or dry mouth.
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  Todd Anderson, a sleep and wellness expert from Dream Performance & Recovery, explains that
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  when we breathe through our nose, we retain more carbon dioxide, which can be beneficial
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  for adapting to stress.
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  Additionally, nasal breathing produces nitric oxide, which helps relax the cardiovascular
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  system, promoting a calming effect on the body.
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  However, it's important to approach this trend with caution.
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  Dr.
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  Wendy Troxel, a senior behavioral specialist and licensed clinical psychologist, points out
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  that the benefits of mouth taping are mostly anecdotal.
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  While some people report improvements in their sleep, these claims aren't strongly supported
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  by scientific research with large and diverse samples.
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  Dr.
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  Troxel also cautions that for individuals with nasal congestion, allergies, or blockages,
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  mouth taping might exacerbate breathing difficulties, potentially leading to anxiety or
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  disrupted sleep.
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  There are also concerns that mouth taping could delay proper treatment for sleep apnea, a
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  condition that can have serious health implications if left unaddressed.
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  For those considering mouth taping, Dr.
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  Troxel recommends consulting with a healthcare provider to tackle any underlying issues
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  related to mouth breathing or snoring rather than relying solely on this method.
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  For individuals without sleep apnea who are curious about trying mouth taping, Dr.
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  Troxel advises testing the tape on the skin first to ensure there's no irritation and using
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  medical-grade tape.
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  Additionally, considering tapes that don't cover the entire mouth or have slits can
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  provide a less intense experience.
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  To gauge the effectiveness of mouth taping, using a sleep tracker before and during the
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  experiment can help determine if there are any improvements in sleep quality.
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  Ultimately, while mouth taping might offer some benefits for certain individuals, it's crucial
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  to treat the root causes of sleep issues.
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  Nasal breathing exercises such as alternating nostril breathing or belly breathing during the
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  day can also help train the body to breathe through the nose more naturally at night,
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  promoting relaxation and stress management.
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  The United States Food and Drug Administration has expanded its existing warnings on the two
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  leading COVID-19 vaccines regarding a rare heart side effect, predominantly observed in
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  young men.
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  This side effect, known as myocarditis, involves inflammation of the heart muscle and
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  typically presents as a mild condition.
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  It first came to light as a complication after the initial rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in
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  2021.
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  Both Pfizer and Moderna had already included advisories about this potential issue in their
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  prescribing information for healthcare providers.
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  In April, the Food and Drug Administration sent letters to Pfizer and Moderna, urging them to
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  update and expand their warnings to provide more detailed information about myocarditis and
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  to broaden the scope to cover a larger patient demographic.
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  While the Food and Drug Administration has the authority to enforce label changes, the process
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  often involves negotiation with the pharmaceutical companies.
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  The updated warning now specifies the risk of myocarditis as 8 cases per 1 million people who
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  received the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccines, focusing on individuals between the ages of 6
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  months and 64 years.
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  Notably, the condition has been most prevalent among males aged 12 to 24, whereas the previous
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  label highlighted the risk primarily in 12- to 17-year-olds.
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  Interestingly, this labeling change by the Food and Drug Administration seems to contradict
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  some earlier findings by other United States government scientists.
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  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had previously reported that there was no
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  discernible increase in myocarditis risk in the government’s vaccine injury databases for
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  COVID-19 vaccinations dating back to 2022.
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  Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that cases of myocarditis
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  tend to resolve quickly and are generally less severe than myocarditis caused by COVID-19
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  infection itself.
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  This announcement from the Food and Drug Administration coincided with the inaugural
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  meeting of the newly appointed vaccine advisory panel by Health and Human Services Secretary
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  Robert F.
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  Kennedy Jr.
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  This panel has sparked controversy due to the dismissal of all 17 former members and the
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  appointment of replacements, some of whom have a history of making anti-vaccine statements.
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  The panel is currently deliberating on the ongoing use of COVID-19 vaccines for crucial
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  groups, including pregnant women and children.
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  In a broader context, the Food and Drug Administration’s label update is part of a
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  series of steps taken by officials under Secretary Kennedy to potentially restrict or
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  reduce the usage of vaccines.
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  Recently, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary and a senior deputy
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  restricted annual COVID-19 vaccinations to seniors and other Americans who are at higher
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  risk from the virus.
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  They have also suggested that seasonal adjustments to align with the latest
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  circulating virus strains could be considered new products, necessitating further testing.
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  Some outside experts have criticized the new warning as misguided.
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  Dr.
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  Robert Morris from the University of Washington argues that while it is prudent to consider
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  myocarditis risks associated with the vaccine, the proposed solution is incorrect.
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  He advocates for research into identifying individuals who are susceptible to myocarditis,
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  with the aim of predicting and mitigating this risk.
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  Notably, Commissioner Makary and several recent Food and Drug Administration appointees gained
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  attention during the pandemic by claiming that the federal government overstated the benefits
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  of COVID-19 boosters while minimizing severe side effects, including myocarditis.
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  Prior to joining the government, Makary and two of his current Food and Drug Administration
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  deputies authored a 2022 paper arguing that mandating booster shots for young people could
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  result in more vaccine-related injuries than it would prevent hospitalizations from COVID-19
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  infections.
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  This conclusion was disputed by numerous leading vaccine and public health experts at
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  the time, including those from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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  This ongoing debate underscores the complexities of navigating vaccine policy amid
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  evolving scientific insights and public health priorities.
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  The opioid crisis in Canada continues to be a significant public health concern, with recent
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  data revealing both progress and persistent challenges.
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  In 2024, opioid-related deaths in Canada decreased by 17 percent compared to the
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  previous year, but alarmingly, an average of 20 Canadians still died each day from opioid
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  overdoses.
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  This data was released by the Public Health Agency of Canada, which reported a total of
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  7,146 deaths last year.
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  The majority of these deaths, around 80 percent, were concentrated in just three
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  provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario.
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  While all three provinces saw decreases in the number of deaths compared to 2023, other
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  regions like Quebec, the Northwest Territories, and Newfoundland and Labrador experienced
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  increases.
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  This highlights the uneven nature of the crisis across the country.
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  The statement from the country's chief medical officers of health, chief coroners, and chief
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  medical examiners also pointed out the disproportionate impact on Indigenous
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  communities, particularly Indigenous women.
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  The ongoing effects of colonialization and marginalization have exacerbated the crisis in
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  these communities, leading to an increase in deaths and harms.
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  Interestingly, some provinces and territories attribute the decline in deaths to a shift in
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  the drug supply, with drug checking data indicating a decrease in fentanyl
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  concentrations.
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  This has been cited as a possible factor in reducing the toxicity of drugs available on the
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  street.
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  Hospitalizations related to opioid poisoning also saw a decline, dropping by 15 percent in
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  2024.
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  There were 5,514 patients hospitalized nationwide, alongside 24,587 emergency room
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  visits and 36,266 responses by emergency first responders to suspected opioid-related
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  overdoses.
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  These figures, too, represent a roughly 15 percent decrease on average.
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  Despite these declines, fentanyl continues to be a major driver of opioid-related deaths,
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  accounting for about three-quarters of all such deaths in 2024.
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  This is a significant increase from just over 40 percent in 2016, although the rate has
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  stabilized in recent years.
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  The opioid crisis is not isolated to Canada; the United States also reported a significant
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  decline in overdose deaths last year.
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  An estimated 80,000 people died from overdoses in the United States in 2024, marking a 27
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  percent decrease from the previous year.
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  This decrease is attributed to increased availability of naloxone, expanded addiction
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  treatment, and a shift away from drug use by younger populations.
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  Experts in public health and drug policy have also noted the impact of financial settlements
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  from lawsuits against opioid manufacturers, such as Purdue Pharma, which have resulted in
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  billions of dollars being directed towards addiction treatment programs and other
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  initiatives aimed at curbing the crisis.
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  In Canada, similar legal actions have been pursued, with British Columbia leading several
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  class-action lawsuits against drugmakers.
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  These efforts have resulted in significant settlements, including $150 million from
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  Purdue, which are being used to fund healthcare costs and support addiction treatment and
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  prevention programs.
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  While the reduction in opioid-related deaths is encouraging, the crisis remains a complex
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  challenge that requires continued attention and action from policymakers, healthcare providers,
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  and communities.
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  As we move forward, it is crucial to address the underlying issues that contribute to
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  substance abuse, such as social determinants of health and access to mental health services, to
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  prevent future tragedies.
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  Today, we're diving into a fascinating study that highlights a potential downside of using
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  artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT for extended periods.
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  Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have raised concerns that relying
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  heavily on large language models, or LLMs, could negatively affect brain function over
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  time.
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  This is particularly noteworthy as more people are integrating these tools into their daily
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  routines for various tasks, including writing and research.
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  In this study, 54 participants were divided into three groups: one using ChatGPT to write
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  essays, another using just a search engine, and a third relying solely on their own cognitive
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  abilities.
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  Over four sessions, participants completed the same essay-writing task, with their brain
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  activity monitored using an electroencephalogram, or EEG, to assess
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  cognitive engagement and load.
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  The findings were intriguing.
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  Participants who used the large language model showed a decrease in brain connectivity
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  compared to those who relied on their own cognitive abilities.
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  The group that used only their brains exhibited the strongest neural networks, while the search
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  engine group fell somewhere in the middle.
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  This suggests that the ease and efficiency provided by artificial intelligence tools could
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  come at the cost of reduced cognitive engagement.
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  During the final session, participants who switched from using ChatGPT to relying on their
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  own cognitive abilities showed weaker neural connectivity and struggled more with recalling
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  information.
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  Conversely, those who moved from cognitive-only tasks to using the large language model
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  experienced increased memory recall and engagement.
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  These results hint at a potential "cognitive debt" incurred when relying too heavily on
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  artificial intelligence tools.
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  Dr.
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  Harvey Castro, an emergency room physician and artificial intelligence futurist, interprets
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  these findings as a "neuro-wake-up call." He emphasizes that while tools like ChatGPT can
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  significantly speed up tasks, they may also compromise neural engagement.
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  This is a particular concern for developing brains, such as those of students, where the
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  ability to encode and recall information is crucial for learning and decision-making.
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  Interestingly, the study did find a silver lining.
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  Participants with strong foundational skills who later used ChatGPT exhibited enhanced brain
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  connectivity.
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  This suggests that building cognitive strength before integrating artificial intelligence
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  tools can potentially mitigate some of the negative effects on brain function.
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  The researchers caution that their findings are preliminary and context-dependent, focusing
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  specifically on essay writing in an educational setting.
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  They advocate for further studies involving diverse participant groups and exploring other
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  tasks to fully understand the long-term impacts of artificial intelligence tool usage on
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  cognitive abilities.
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  As artificial intelligence continues to evolve and integrate into our daily lives, this study
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  underscores the importance of balancing technology use with activities that promote
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  cognitive development.
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  By doing so, we can harness the benefits of artificial intelligence while safeguarding our
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  brain health.
• 18:37
  The New Brunswick Health Council has recently reported that while more residents of New
• 18:41
  Brunswick have been able to connect with primary health-care providers over the past few
• 18:46
  years, there remains a significant issue with timely access to these services.
• 18:51
  Specifically, the ability for patients to see a provider within five days has not shown any
• 18:56
  improvement.
• 18:58
  This trend highlights a critical gap in the healthcare system, where despite increased
• 19:02
  connectivity to primary providers, the timeliness of care remains a challenge.
• 19:08
  The council's findings suggest that while the infrastructure to connect patients with
• 19:12
  providers has expanded, the demand for appointments and the availability of providers
• 19:17
  to meet this demand are not yet aligned.
• 19:20
  The importance of timely access to primary care cannot be overstated.
• 19:24
  It is essential for early diagnosis, management of chronic conditions, and the prevention of
• 19:29
  more severe health issues.
• 19:31
  Delays in accessing care can lead to complications and increased strain on emergency
• 19:36
  services, which are often used as an alternative when primary care is not readily
• 19:41
  available.
• 19:43
  The Health Council has emphasized the need for continued efforts to not only maintain but also
• 19:48
  enhance the accessibility and efficiency of primary healthcare services.
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  This includes addressing the current bottlenecks that prevent timely appointments
• 19:57
  and exploring innovative solutions to improve the healthcare delivery model.
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  As we look to the future, the report underscores the necessity of strategic planning
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  and investment in healthcare resources to ensure that improvements in access are not just
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  in terms of connectivity but also in the speed and quality of care provided.
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  This involves a coordinated effort from healthcare providers, policymakers, and the
• 20:21
  community to create a more responsive and patient-centered healthcare system.
• 20:28
  In our final segment today, we're turning our attention to a simple yet impactful way to
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  combat food waste, thanks to food markdown apps like Too Good To Go and Flashfood.
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  These apps have been making waves by offering consumers the chance to purchase excess food
• 20:43
  from grocery stores and restaurants at discounted prices, preventing it from ending up
• 20:48
  in the trash.
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  One inspiring story comes from Toronto resident Sophia Kokolakis, who uses Too Good To Go to
• 20:57
  buy surprise bags filled with food that would otherwise be discarded.
• 21:03
  For just $8.99, she recently received a bounty including burrito wraps, a Thanksgiving
• 21:10
  stuffing dish, and imitation crab salad.
• 21:14
  This approach not only helps reduce food waste but also provides an affordable way to enjoy a
• 21:20
  variety of meals.
• 21:22
  The concept behind these apps is straightforward yet effective.
• 21:26
  Businesses list items that are nearing their sell-by dates or have excess stock, allowing
• 21:31
  users to purchase them at a fraction of the original cost.
• 21:35
  This model helps businesses cover their costs and reduces the environmental impact of food
• 21:40
  waste.
• 21:42
  According to ReFED, a nonprofit focused on food system reform, the United States wasted nearly
• 21:47
  74 million tons of food in 2023.
• 21:52
  Apps like Too Good To Go and Flashfood are part of the solution, potentially saving up to
• 21:58
  881,000 tons of food waste annually.
• 22:02
  However, awareness and participation from both consumers and businesses remain crucial to
• 22:08
  their success.
• 22:10
  While some consumers are enthusiastic about these apps, challenges remain.
• 22:15
  In less populated areas, there may not be enough participating businesses to make the
• 22:19
  apps consistently useful.
• 22:21
  Conversely, in bustling cities like Toronto, demand is so high that the surprise bags often
• 22:26
  sell out quickly.
• 22:29
  Safety is also a consideration.
• 22:31
  These apps require businesses to adhere to local food safety regulations, ensuring that
• 22:36
  the food is safe for consumption.
• 22:39
  Users can report any issues with spoiled food, and businesses that violate policies can be
• 22:44
  removed from the platform.
• 22:46
  As we continue to navigate the complexities of food waste, these apps offer a promising avenue
• 22:52
  for reducing waste while providing consumers with affordable meal options.
• 22:56
  By supporting such initiatives, we can all play a part in promoting sustainability and reducing
• 23:02
  our environmental footprint.
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  That wraps up today's episode of Morning Medical with Dr.
• 23:07
  Chow.
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  I hope you found our discussions enlightening and helpful.
• 23:11
  Remember, small actions can lead to significant changes in our health and environment.
• 23:15
  Thank you for joining us, and until next time, stay informed and stay healthy.