Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Heart Age Research, BC Mental Health Laws, and Measles Outbreak in Ontario

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Heart Age Research, BC Mental Health Laws, and Measles Outbreak in Ontario · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

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  Welcome to Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  I'm Dr.
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  Chi-Ming Chow, bringing you the latest health and medical news from around the world.
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  Today, we're diving into a pressing issue unfolding in British Columbia, Canada, where
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  calls for more comprehensive mental health care are intensifying after a tragic event at the
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  Lapu-Lapu Day festival in Vancouver.
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  This tragedy, which occurred over the weekend, resulted in the loss of 11 lives and left many
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  more injured.
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  It's been reported that the individual responsible for the attack, Kai-Ji Adam Lo, was
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  under the supervision of a mental health team as per the Mental Health Act.
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  This has sparked widespread concern and calls for a review of mental health legislation in
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  the province.
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  Shirley Chan, an advocate and mother of a daughter with severe mental health challenges,
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  has been outspoken about the deficiencies in the current system.
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  She highlights the gaps in care and the urgent need for more hospital beds and treatment
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  facilities dedicated to mental health patients.
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  She emphasizes that the system's safety net is riddled with holes, leaving families without
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  the support they need.
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  Public safety critic Elenore Sturko has echoed these concerns, advocating for legislative
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  changes to strengthen the Mental Health Act.
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  She argues that there is a significant gap in the care available to mental health patients,
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  which must be addressed.
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  Jonny Morris, Chief Executive Officer for the British Columbia division of the Canadian
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  Mental Health Association, has also weighed in on the situation.
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  He describes the mental health system as being in a state of crisis, with a dire need for more
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  support and treatment options.
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  Morris points out that while there have been investments in mental health care, the demand
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  continues to outpace the supply of resources.
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  Dr.
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  Nick Ainsworth, President of the British Columbia Psychiatric Association, stresses the
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  importance of early intervention and timely access to mental health care.
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  He believes that improving the availability of mental health resources across the spectrum of
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  care is crucial to preventing tragedies like the one in Vancouver.
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  Premier David Eby has announced a "full system expansion" of mental health services, which
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  includes new beds for incarcerated individuals with mental illness and addiction issues.
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  However, advocates like Morris note that while these efforts are a step in the right
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  direction, there's still a long way to go to meet the needs of all residents seeking care.
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  The tragedy at the Lapu-Lapu Day festival has undoubtedly shone a spotlight on the urgent
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  need for expanded mental health services in British Columbia.
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  It's a reminder of the critical importance of a robust mental health system that can provide
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  timely and effective care for all.
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  Recent research has revealed a fascinating concept: your heart has its own age, separate
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  from your chronological age.
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  This heart age can provide crucial insights into your cardiovascular health and could be
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  the key to preventing future heart-related issues.
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  The study, published in the Journal of Cardiology, suggests that understanding your
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  heart's age can help predict your risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
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  This is especially important because heart disease remains one of the leading causes of
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  death worldwide, affecting millions each year.
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  Researchers used magnetic resonance imaging, commonly known as MRI, to assess heart age.
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  This non-invasive imaging technique allows for a detailed look at the heart's structure and
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  function, offering insights that go beyond what is typically gathered from standard health
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  assessments.
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  The study found that many individuals have a heart age that is older than their actual age,
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  putting them at a higher risk for heart disease.
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  This discrepancy can arise from various factors, including lifestyle choices such as
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  diet, exercise, and smoking, as well as genetic predispositions.
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  Dr.
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  Fiona Smith, the lead researcher of the study, highlights the potential of using heart age as
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  a motivational tool.
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  By making individuals aware of their heart's health, it encourages them to adopt healthier
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  lifestyles.
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  According to Dr.
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  Smith, knowing your heart age can be a wake-up call that prompts necessary changes to reduce
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  the risk of cardiovascular issues.
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  The implications of this study are significant for both individuals and healthcare providers.
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  By integrating heart age assessments into regular health check-ups, doctors can offer
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  more personalized advice and treatment plans.
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  This could lead to earlier interventions and better management of heart health.
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  As we continue to explore innovative ways to improve cardiovascular health, understanding
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  and monitoring heart age could become an essential part of preventive medicine.
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  It is an exciting development that offers a new perspective on how we approach heart health and
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  disease prevention.
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  The Ice Bucket Challenge, a viral sensation that took the world by storm in 2014, is making
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  a comeback.
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  Originally, this challenge was associated with raising awareness and funds for amyotrophic
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  lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
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  It involved people dumping buckets of ice water over their heads and nominating others to do
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  the same, all while donating to the ALS Association.
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  Back then, the initiative successfully raised one hundred fifteen million dollars for ALS
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  research and patient care.
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  Now, the challenge is being revived with a new focus—mental health awareness.
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  The University of South Carolina's Mental Illness Needs Discussion club, known as USC
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  Mind, has launched the #SpeakYourMind Ice Bucket Challenge in support of Active Minds, a
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  leading nonprofit focusing on mental health for teens and young adults.
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  This reboot has already gained traction on social media, raising nearly four hundred
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  thousand dollars for mental health causes.
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  However, this revival hasn't been without controversy.
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  Some members of the ALS community feel that the new focus takes attention away from ALS, a
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  disease that remains one hundred percent fatal with no cure in sight.
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  Brooke Eby, an ALS patient and influencer, expressed her frustration on social media,
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  highlighting that ALS still lacks a cure and that awareness is crucial for continued funding
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  and research.
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  Despite these concerns, the ALS Association has announced a partnership with Active Minds for
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  the new Ice Bucket Challenge during May, which is both Mental Health Awareness Month and ALS
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  Awareness Month.
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  Brian Frederick, the ALS Association's Chief Marketing and Communications Officer,
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  emphasized that while they are thrilled to see the challenge support mental health activism,
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  it is important to remember that ALS still urgently needs attention and funding.
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  The original ALS Ice Bucket Challenge was transformative for the ALS community, leading
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  to the discovery of new genes and treatments, and significantly increasing care services.
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  Since its inception, the ALS Association has invested over one hundred fifty million dollars
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  in ALS research, with additional funding pushing that number to nearly one billion
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  dollars.
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  Cathy Cummings, Chief Executive Officer of the International Alliance of ALS/MND Associations,
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  pointed out that mental health is a significant concern for those affected by ALS, including
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  patients and caregivers who often face depression and anxiety.
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  She supports the challenge's dual focus, stating that raising awareness for both ALS and
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  mental health issues can benefit the entire community.
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  In Ontario, Canada, measles case counts are continuing to climb, particularly in the areas
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  of Elgin and Oxford counties.
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  As of the latest reports, there are over 1,243 cases across the province, with 451 of those
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  cases being reported in Elgin and Oxford since October 30th.
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  Southwestern Public Health has announced an additional 65 cases just this past Thursday.
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  Dr.
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  Ninh Tran, the medical officer of health for Southwestern Public Health, has explained that
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  this sharp rise in cases is concerning to the community.
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  However, he notes that the majority of these cases are interconnected, likely stemming from
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  exposure within large households or gatherings, particularly where individuals are
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  unvaccinated.
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  The outbreak serves as a stark reminder of how quickly measles can spread, especially in
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  groups with low vaccination rates.
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  Dr.
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  Tran emphasizes that the best protection against measles is vaccination, as most of the
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  cases have occurred in individuals who are not up to date on their vaccinations.
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  The majority of the affected population is under 18 years old and unvaccinated.
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  The outbreak has also led to significant hospitalizations, with approximately 35
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  patients hospitalized in the Elgin and Oxford regions due to severe illness, and a total of
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  84 hospitalizations across Ontario.
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  The symptoms leading to hospitalization include dehydration, fever control needs, or secondary
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  infections like pneumonia.
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  Hospital stays have ranged from one to eleven days, with an average stay of three days.
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  Measles is known for being highly contagious, with primary symptoms including a cough, red
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  watery eyes, fever, and a blotchy rash.
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  According to Public Health Ontario, those exposed to measles should monitor for
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  respiratory, gastrointestinal, or conjunctivitis symptoms and should stay home if
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  any symptoms arise to prevent further exposure to others.
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  Dr.
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  Tran notes that rashes typically appear last, and symptoms can manifest up to 21 days
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  post-exposure, with individuals remaining infectious until the fifth day after rash
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  onset.
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  The current outbreak has been traced back to a Mennonite wedding in New Brunswick, and it's
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  now spread across the country, marking the largest measles outbreak in Canada in over a
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  decade.
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  Dr.
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  Tran warns that the risk of measles remains, predominantly affecting unvaccinated and
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  school-aged children.
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  As we conclude today's episode, it's clear that public health efforts are crucial to managing
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  and preventing such outbreaks.
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  Ensuring vaccinations are up to date remains the most effective measure against the spread
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  of measles.
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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 I look forward to bringing you more updates tomorrow.