Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Covid Vaccine Safety, Alcohol Risks, and Cannabis Heartbeat Concerns

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Covid Vaccine Safety, Alcohol Risks, and Cannabis Heartbeat Concerns · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

• 0:00
  Hello and welcome to another episode of Morning Medical with Dr.
• 0:03
  Chow.
• 0:04
  I'm Dr.
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  Chi-Ming Chow, your host for today.
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  As always, we're here to bring you the latest updates in the world of medicine and health,
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  keeping you informed with news from around the globe.
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  Today, we're diving into some critical topics, starting with Covid vaccines and their safety
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  for pregnant women.
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  This week, there's been some misleading information circulating about Covid vaccines,
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  particularly concerning their connection to miscarriage.
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  It's essential to address these misconceptions with facts from the latest studies.
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  Recently, some officials have misleadingly referenced old text messages from Dr.
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  Anthony Fauci, suggesting a link between Covid vaccines and miscarriage.
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  However, let's clarify the situation based on scientific evidence.
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  Back in January 2021, when Covid vaccines were first being rolled out, there was limited data
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  available regarding vaccination during pregnancy.
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  This was primarily because pregnant women have historically been excluded from clinical
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  trials, a practice that left a gap in the data.
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  The initial guidance was based on women who became pregnant while enrolled in vaccine
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  trials and on animal studies.
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  Given the severe risks of Covid-19 itself, including miscarriage and stillbirth, health
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  officials recommended that pregnant women discuss vaccination with their doctors.
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  Since those early days, extensive research has been conducted.
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  Studies involving hundreds of thousands of women have shown that Covid vaccination is not
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  linked to an increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, or preterm birth.
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  By August 2021, with more safety data available, the Centers for Disease Control and
• 1:48
  Prevention officially recommended Covid vaccines for pregnant women.
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  They have continued to collect data, reinforcing the vaccines' safety.
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  Dr.
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  Jake Scott, an infectious diseases specialist at the Stanford School of Medicine, emphasized
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  that the question of vaccine safety during pregnancy has been asked and answered many
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  times over.
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  It's crucial that we rely on this robust body of evidence rather than misleading claims.
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  In summary, the scientific consensus is clear: Covid vaccines are safe for pregnant women and
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  are crucial in protecting against the severe risks of Covid-19.
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  As always, consult with your healthcare provider for personalized medical advice.
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  Let's delve into a fascinating study that was recently presented at the American College of
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  Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session in New Orleans.
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  This research has sparked a lot of conversation about the relationship between different types
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  of alcoholic beverages and mortality risks.
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  The study analyzed data from a substantial cohort of 340,924 participants in the United
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  Kingdom Biobank, collected over a period from 2006 to 2022, with an average follow-up of more
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  than 13 years.
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  The findings suggest that the type of alcohol you choose to drink could have significant
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  implications for your health.
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  Specifically, the study found that wine consumption was linked to lower mortality
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  rates, whereas beer and spirits were associated with higher mortality risks.
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  This is a particularly intriguing observation, as it adds another layer to our understanding
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  of alcohol's impact on health.
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  Participants in the study reported their alcohol intake as never, occasional, low,
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  moderate, or high.
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  Those categorized as high consumers of alcohol, which was defined as more than 40 grams per day
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  for men and more than 20 grams per day for women, were found to have a 24% higher risk of
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  all-cause death, a 36% higher risk of cancer death, and a 14% higher risk of cardiovascular
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  death compared to those who never or occasionally drank.
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  Interestingly, when alcohol consumption was low or moderate, the type of beverage appeared to
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  make a difference.
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  Moderate wine drinkers had a 21% lower risk of cardiovascular death than those who abstained
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  or only occasionally drank.
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  On the other hand, those who consumed low amounts of spirits, beer, or cider experienced
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  a 9% higher risk of cardiovascular death.
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  Dr.
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  Zhangling Chen, a professor at the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University in
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  China and the study's senior author, suggests that these results could refine current health
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  guidelines by emphasizing that both the amount and type of alcohol matter.
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  Dr.
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  Chen noted that wine's potential benefits might be attributed to compounds like polyphenols and
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  antioxidants, which are thought to support cardiovascular health by improving blood vessel
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  function and reducing inflammation.
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  However, it's important to approach these findings with caution.
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  Jessica Steinman, an addiction specialist, cautioned against applying these results
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  broadly, especially among individuals with a history of substance misuse.
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  She highlighted that alcohol affects individuals differently and that while wine may
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  have some beneficial components, it doesn't mean everyone should include it in their daily
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  routine.
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  The study does have its limitations.
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  Being observational in nature, it cannot definitively prove causation between wine
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  consumption and lower mortality or between other alcoholic beverages and higher mortality.
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  Moreover, since participants reported their alcohol consumption at the study's start, any
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  changes in drinking habits during the follow-up weren't captured.
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  Additionally, wine drinkers might engage in other health-promoting behaviors that
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  contribute to their lower mortality risk.
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  The researchers call for more high-quality randomized studies to confirm these findings
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  and better understand how different drinking habits affect mortality risk.
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  This research underscores the importance of considering both quantity and type of alcohol
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  when discussing health impacts, and it serves as a reminder to consult healthcare
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  professionals for personalized advice.
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  Let's shift gears to a significant consumer safety alert that has emerged from Hamilton,
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  Ontario.
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  Health Canada has issued a warning following the seizure of unauthorized and counterfeit
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  cosmetic injectable products from a local beauty and wellness spa.
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  This situation highlights the potential dangers associated with using unapproved health
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  products.
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  The spa in question, Dyosa Beauty & Wellness Lounge, was found to be advertising these
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  unauthorized products through its social media channels.
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  Among the seized items were Botox Cosmetic, Huons ascorbic acid injection, Laennec
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  injection, and Lemon Bottle ampoule solution, which was misleadingly labeled for topical use
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  but contained vials intended for injections.
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  Additionally, counterfeit versions of popular dermal fillers like Juvéderm Ultra 3, Juvéderm
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  Voluma with lidocaine, and Restylane Kysse injectable gel with lidocaine were also
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  confiscated.
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  Health Canada has emphasized that these unauthorized products have not been approved
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  for sale in Canada, meaning they have not undergone the necessary assessments for safety,
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  effectiveness, and quality.
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  This lack of approval raises serious concerns, as these products could contain incorrect
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  concentrations, unlisted ingredients, or even contaminants.
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  The health risks associated with using such products can be significant.
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  Potential issues include infections, scarring, and allergic reactions, particularly if the
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  products are contaminated, mishandled, or improperly administered.
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  Moreover, several of the seized items did not comply with Canadian labeling requirements,
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  lacking essential information in both English and French about ingredients, dosage, and
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  potential side effects.
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  Health Canada advises consumers to be vigilant and avoid purchasing or using unauthorized
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  health products.
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  It's crucial for individuals receiving injectable treatments to verify that the
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  products are authorized for sale in Canada.
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  If you're concerned that you might have received one of these counterfeit products,
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  it's advisable to consult a licensed healthcare professional for guidance.
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  This development serves as a stark reminder of the importance of using approved and properly
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  labeled medical products.
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  It underscores the need for consumers to be informed and cautious about the sources of
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  their cosmetic treatments, ensuring they prioritize safety over convenience or cost.
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  Always seek treatments from reputable providers and verify the authenticity of the products
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  being used.
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  A recent poll conducted by Ipsos on behalf of Merck Canada reveals that Canadians are
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  significantly more aware of influenza and COVID-19 compared to other respiratory
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  illnesses like respiratory syncytial virus or RSV and pneumococcal disease.
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  According to the study, awareness of influenza and COVID-19 is nearly universal among
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  Canadians, with 98 percent and 99 percent awareness respectively.
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  However, familiarity with RSV stands at 71 percent, and pneumococcal disease awareness is
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  even lower at 66 percent.
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  These findings suggest there are opportunities to improve understanding of lesser-known
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  respiratory illnesses and the prevention options available.
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  Among the 1,000 Canadian adults surveyed, aged between 25 and 75, nearly half reported
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  receiving none of the surveyed respiratory vaccines for influenza, COVID-19, RSV, or
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  pneumococcal disease in the past year.
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  Moreover, almost 64 percent of respondents were unsure or unlikely to proactively discuss
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  respiratory illnesses and prevention strategies with a healthcare professional within the next
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  six months.
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  Data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information highlights that while
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  hospitalization rates for COVID-19 and other respiratory infections remain high, vaccination
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  rates are dropping.
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  The report states that nearly 60,000 people were hospitalized in Canada in 2024 due to
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  vaccine-preventable respiratory illnesses, with influenza and RSV accounting for more than half
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  of these hospitalizations.
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  Meanwhile, COVID-19 contributed to over 40 percent of the hospitalizations.
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  Despite these concerning hospitalization figures, federal government reports indicate
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  that only 26 percent of Canadian adults were vaccinated against COVID-19 in the fall of
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  2024, with seniors aged 65 and older having the highest coverage at 54 percent.
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  For the seasonal influenza vaccine, just 33 percent of Canadian adults were vaccinated
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  during the 2024–2025 season.
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  The poll also found that 28 percent of respondents experienced disruptions to their
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  personal or professional lives due to respiratory illnesses in the past year.
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  This resulted in 43 percent missing gatherings with family or friends, and 37 percent
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  utilizing paid sick leave.
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  However, there is a silver lining, as 36 percent of surveyed Canadians reported they are
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  likely to proactively discuss respiratory illness prevention with a healthcare
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  professional in the coming months, highlighting an opportunity to encourage more informed
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  conversations ahead of the respiratory illness season.
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  In a recent study, researchers set out to explore the potential link between cannabis use
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  and irregular heartbeats, specifically focusing on ectopic heartbeats.
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  Contrary to expectations, the study revealed that regular cannabis users experienced a
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  reduction in these premature heartbeats on days they consumed cannabis compared to days they
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  abstained.
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  This randomized crossover trial, conducted among habitual cannabis users without a history
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  of clinically diagnosed cardiac arrhythmias, found a notable 9% decrease in these extra or
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  early heartbeats when cannabis was inhaled.
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  The study, led by Dr.
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  Gregory Marcus from the University of California San Francisco, involved participants
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  being randomly assigned to inhale cannabis products or abstain completely through text
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  messages over a 14-day period.
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  The findings were intriguing: on cannabis days, participants had a median of 13 ectopic beats
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  per day, compared to 13.8 on abstention days.
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  Each cannabis inhalation was associated with a 2% reduction in ectopic beats.
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  Despite these findings, Dr.
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  Marcus and his team caution against jumping to conclusions about causality.
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  Although the data suggest a reduction in cardiac ectopy, the study faced several
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  limitations, such as imperfect adherence to the protocol, possible carryover effects, and
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  heterogeneous exposure levels.
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  The researchers emphasized that the most conservative interpretation of the results is
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  that inhaled cannabis did not increase cardiac ectopy.
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  Participants were equipped with a continuously recording electrocardiogram patch, a wrist-worn
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  activity tracker, and a continuous glucose monitor during the first 10 days of the study.
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  No significant differences were observed in step counts, sleep duration, or glucose levels
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  between cannabis and non-cannabis days.
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  Interestingly, the reduction in daily ectopic beats was primarily driven by a decrease in
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  premature atrial contractions, while premature ventricular contractions remained unchanged.
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  Dr.
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  Marcus noted that no previous randomized trial had demonstrated that any common lifestyle
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  factor could influence premature atrial contraction counts.
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  The study included 108 adults who regularly smoked or vaped cannabis, with an average age
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  of 32 years, and 59% were women.
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  Participants used various methods of cannabis inhalation, with joints and vape cartridges
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  being the most common.
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  The study did not include participants with a history of atrial fibrillation or heart failure
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  and excluded those on certain heart medications.
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  While the study sheds light on the acute effects of cannabis, Dr.
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  Marcus cautioned that it was not designed to evaluate the long-term health consequences.
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  He highlighted the need for further research to understand the biological mechanisms behind
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  these findings and their potential implications for preventing or treating abnormal heart
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  rhythms.
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  Our final story today involves a significant development in the field of plasma donation in
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  Canada.
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  The for-profit plasma donation company Grifols has announced a temporary shutdown of all its
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  plasma collection activities across its Canadian clinics.
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  This decision comes amidst what the company describes as "unfounded attention" following
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  recent scrutiny and public concern.
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  Grifols, which operates several plasma collection centers in Canada, stated that the
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  pause is a response to the scrutiny focused on paid plasma collection.
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  The company has expressed its readiness to resume operations as soon as it is feasible, in
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  collaboration with Health Canada and the Canadian Blood Services.
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  The temporary halt is set to begin this Friday, according to Grifols' announcement on Thursday.
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  The decision to pause operations follows a non-compliance rating issued by Health Canada
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  at one of Grifols' sites in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
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  The inspection report highlighted several operational deficiencies, including inadequate
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  corrective and preventive measures, non-compliance with operating procedures, and
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  insufficient documentation of staff qualifications and training.
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  This scrutiny intensified after reports emerged of two deaths following plasma donations at
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  different Grifols clinics in Winnipeg.
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  Although Health Canada has stated that it found no direct link between the donation process and
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  these deaths, the incidents have raised significant public concern and calls for
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  regulatory action.
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  Advocacy groups, such as the Manitoba Health Coalition, have been vocal in their criticism
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  of Grifols, pointing to a pattern of poor practices at the clinics.
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  They argue that the for-profit nature of the company may incentivize cost-cutting measures
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  that compromise safety.
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  Advocates are calling for a ban on paid plasma donation, citing the inspection reports as
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  evidence of systemic issues.
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  In response to these concerns, Grifols has maintained that the safety of its donors and
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  the quality of the plasma collected have never been compromised.
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  However, the company acknowledges the need to address the issues raised by Health Canada's
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  inspections.
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  The temporary shutdown is seen as an opportunity to work closely with regulators to
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  improve practices and ensure compliance with all safety standards.
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  Health Canada's response has included imposing additional conditions on Grifols' operations,
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  such as reducing donation appointments, reassessing staffing levels, and enhancing
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  supervision and oversight of newer employees.
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  These measures aim to address the deficiencies identified and ensure the safety of plasma
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  donors in Canada.
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  The temporary closure of Grifols' plasma collection sites is not expected to impact
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  Canada's overall blood supply, according to the office of Health Minister Marjorie Michel.
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  The minister's office welcomed the decision, emphasizing that the safety of Canadians must
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  always come first.
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  As Grifols works to address these challenges, it highlights the ongoing debate over the
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  ethics and safety of for-profit plasma donation.
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  The situation underscores the importance of stringent regulatory oversight to protect
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  donors and maintain public trust in the blood and plasma collection system.
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  That concludes today's episode of Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  Thank you for joining me as we explored these critical health stories.
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  Stay informed, stay safe, and remember to consult your healthcare provider for
• 19:10
  personalized medical advice.
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  Until next time, take care.