Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Pregnancy Heart Health, Pet Safety in Heatwaves, and Nurse Strike Updates

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Pregnancy Heart Health, Pet Safety in Heatwaves, and Nurse Strike Updates · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

• 0:00
  Hello, everyone, and welcome to Morning Medical with Dr.
• 0:03
  Chow.
• 0:04
  I'm your host, Dr.
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  Chi-Ming Chow, and I'm delighted to bring you the latest updates in medical and health news
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  from around the globe.
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  We're using the power of artificial intelligence to keep you informed and healthy.
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  Let's dive into today's topics, starting with an intriguing study on heart health during
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  pregnancy.
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  Today, we're exploring a fascinating study that highlights the importance of cardiovascular
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  health during pregnancy.
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  The research suggests that a woman's heart health while pregnant can be a predictor of her
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  future cardiometabolic health.
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  This study was published in JAMA Network Open and led by Dr.
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  Ellen Francis and her colleagues at the Rutgers School of Public Health.
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  The researchers developed a pregnancy-specific version of the "Life's Essential 8"
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  heart-health checklist, dubbed mLE8.
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  This checklist includes factors such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, glucose
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  levels, body mass index, sleep adequacy, smoking status, diet quality, and physical
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  activity.
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  Each of these components is scored, and higher scores indicate better cardiovascular health.
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  According to the study, better cardiovascular health during pregnancy was linked to a longer
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  time before the onset of chronic hypertensive and metabolic conditions postpartum.
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  Specifically, for every 10-point increase in the mLE8 score, there was a significant delay
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  in the diagnosis of these conditions.
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  This association remained even when excluding women with gestational diabetes or hypertensive
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  disorders of pregnancy from the analysis.
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  Dr.
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  Francis emphasized that pregnancy can act as a natural cardiometabolic stress test, revealing
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  underlying vulnerabilities that might not be evident otherwise.
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  The study calls for a broader assessment of cardiovascular health during pregnancy, beyond
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  just diagnosing pregnancy complications, to identify women who may benefit from preventive
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  care and health-promotion services after delivery.
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  The study was conducted in Greenville, South Carolina, involving a diverse group of
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  participants from the Cradle randomized trial of group prenatal care.
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  The participants were followed for seven years postpartum to monitor the onset of
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  cardiometabolic conditions.
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  It's worth noting that the sample was predominantly low-income and included a
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  significant percentage of Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, and white women.
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  While the mLE8 framework largely relies on data already collected during prenatal care, Dr.
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  Francis pointed out that consistent assessments of diet, physical activity, and sleep could
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  enhance the framework's effectiveness.
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  The researchers also highlighted the potential benefits of extended postpartum Medicaid
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  coverage to support women identified as at risk.
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  As with any study, there are limitations, including the reliance on electronic medical
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  records for diagnosis dates, which may not reflect the true biological onset of
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  conditions.
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  Nonetheless, this study opens up new avenues for future research and potential interventions
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  to improve maternal health outcomes.
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  It's a compelling reminder of the importance of maintaining good heart health, not just for
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  ourselves, but for future generations as well.
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  Let's talk about a timely issue, especially with the heat waves sweeping across Canada this
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  week.
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  It's not just us humans who need to be cautious in such extreme temperatures; our pets are at
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  risk too.
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  With Environment Canada issuing heat alerts for parts of Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and the
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  Northwest Territories, it's important to know how to keep our furry friends safe and
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  comfortable.
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  Experts suggest avoiding outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day.
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  Lucas Solowey from the Toronto Humane Society advises walking your dogs early in the morning
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  or later in the evening when it's cooler.
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  Hot pavement can burn their paws, so consider using paw coverings.
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  A good rule of thumb is if it's too hot for your hand, it's too hot for their paws.
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  Dr.
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  Shane Bateman, from the University of Guelph, reminds us that dogs do not sweat like humans.
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  They pant to cool down, but if the air is too warm, panting can actually contribute to
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  overheating.
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  It's crucial to keep your pets in a cool environment, preferably indoors with air
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  conditioning or fans.
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  For pets like cats, birds, or rabbits, keeping them entertained with activities and treats can
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  help them stay cool.
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  Frozen treats can be a delightful way to help your pets beat the heat.
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  Blair Budgell from the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals suggests
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  keeping frozen treats like ice cubes with beef broth in the freezer.
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  This not only cools them down but also encourages them to drink more water.
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  Never leave your pets in a car during hot weather.
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  Temperatures inside a car can rise quickly, posing a serious risk to your pet's health.
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  Even with windows cracked or the air conditioning on, it's not safe.
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  The 'No Hot Pets' campaign emphasizes the dangers of leaving animals in vehicles during
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  summer months.
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  Watch out for signs of overheating in your pets, like excessive panting or listlessness.
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  Short-snouted dogs, like pugs and bulldogs, are particularly vulnerable.
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  If you suspect your pet is overheating, cool them down with tepid water and place them in
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  front of a fan.
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  If they show severe symptoms, like vomiting or unresponsiveness, seek veterinary care
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  immediately.
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  Hydration is key during a heat wave.
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  Make sure your pets have access to fresh, clean water at all times.
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  The amount of water needed varies by species and size.
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  For instance, dogs need about sixty to eighty milliliters of water per kilogram of body
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  weight daily, while cats need forty to sixty milliliters.
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  Adding water to their food or offering wet food can also help increase their water intake.
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  Some pets, especially cats, might be reluctant to drink water.
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  You can entice them by adding tuna juice or chicken broth to their water.
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  If your cat prefers running water, consider investing in a pet fountain.
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  Remember, keeping your pets hydrated and cool is crucial for their health and well-being
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  during these hot spells.
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  Today, we're diving into a study that explores the coadministration of COVID-19 and influenza
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  vaccines on the same day.
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  This study was spearheaded by Dr.
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  Ziyad Al-Aly and his team at Washington University in St.
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  Louis, and it was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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  The researchers conducted a target trial emulation using electronic health data from the
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  Veterans Affairs healthcare system.
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  The main takeaway?
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  Getting a COVID-19 shot and a flu shot on the same day was not associated with an increased
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  risk of adverse events when compared to getting a flu shot alone.
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  This finding is significant, especially considering the changes in both the SARS-CoV-2
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  virus and the vaccines since the pandemic began in 2020.
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  Dr.
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  Al-Aly and his colleagues assessed 46 different potential adverse events, ranging from serious
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  and life-threatening to less severe and self-limiting.
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  Interestingly, they found no statistically significant increased risk for any of these
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  outcomes when both vaccines were given on the same day.
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  They did note a slightly higher risk of syncope, or fainting, and a slightly lower risk
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  for tinnitus, but these were not significant after correcting for multiple comparisons.
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  The study included data from three different COVID-19 vaccine formulation eras between
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  September 2022 and August 2025.
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  These eras covered bivalent vaccines, XBB-adapted vaccines, and KP-adapted vaccines.
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  Despite the evolution of these vaccines and the virus, the study reaffirmed the safety of
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  coadministration.
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  It's worth noting that the study population was predominantly older, male, and white, which
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  might limit the generalizability of the findings.
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  However, the study's design minimized potential biases, such as the healthy-vaccinee bias, by
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  comparing two vaccinated groups.
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  Dr.
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  Al-Aly emphasized that even in today's world, where many people have received multiple
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  COVID-19 vaccines and have hybrid immunity from prior infections, vaccines still have a strong
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  safety record.
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  This is especially important for older adults and those with comorbidities, as the benefits
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  of vaccination outweigh potential risks.
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  In conclusion, the findings suggest that if you're due for both a COVID-19 booster and a
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  flu shot, you might as well get them on the same day.
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  This could be a convenient choice without adding extra risk, according to the study.
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  Remember, staying up-to-date with vaccinations is a key part of protecting your health,
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  especially as we continue to navigate these evolving viruses.
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  Our final topic today touches on a significant issue in the healthcare sector, particularly in
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  British Columbia.
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  The British Columbia Nurses' Union, representing 60,000 nurses, has issued a
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  72-hour strike notice.
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  This comes just weeks after the union members voted to reject a tentative contract offer,
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  signaling growing frustration with the pressures facing their profession and the
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  healthcare system at large.
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  Union president Adriane Gear announced that nurses will be in a legal position to strike on
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  Thursday if no progress is made in the negotiations.
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  "We are demanding to be heard," Gear stated.
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  "Nurses are demanding that our work be valued.
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  And we are demanding that government and health employers recognize a simple truth: there is no
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  healthcare system without nurses."
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  In May, the nurses voted overwhelmingly, 98 percent in favor, for job action after talks
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  with their employer broke down.
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  The frustrations expressed by the union include deteriorating workplace safety, with violence
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  in healthcare settings becoming alarmingly frequent.
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  Members previously rejected a tentative deal that offered a 12-percent wage increase over
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  four years and other improved benefits, with 67 percent voting against it.
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  For many nurses, this situation is more than just a collective bargaining agreement.
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  It's about a profession that has reached a breaking point.
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  Nurses are witnessing their colleagues, both experienced and new, leaving the profession due
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  to burnout and injury.
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  Health Minister Josie Osborne acknowledged the situation, stating that while they respect the
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  right of workers to bargain collectively, the government is committed to ensuring that people
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  continue to receive the healthcare they need.
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  The Labour Board is prepared to set what constitutes an essential service if the strike
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  proceeds.
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  Union chief negotiator Jim Gould highlighted that the nurses' actions aim to draw attention
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  to the overcrowded hospitals and understaffed facilities.
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  The union's potential job action could range from an overtime ban to a large-scale
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  withdrawal of services, excluding essential services.
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  As we wrap up today's episode, the situation in British Columbia serves as a poignant reminder
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  of the critical role nurses play in our healthcare systems.
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  The challenges they face are not just contractual but deeply impact the quality of
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  care they can provide.
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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 and stay healthy.
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  Until next time.