Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Social Media's Impact, Plant-Based Diets, and Measles Vaccination Issues

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Social Media's Impact, Plant-Based Diets, and Measles Vaccination Issues · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

• 0:00
  Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of Morning Medical with Dr.
• 0:04
  Chow.
• 0:04
  I'm your host, Dr.
• 0:05
  Chi-Ming Chow.
• 0:06
  As always, we're here to bring you the latest medical and health news from around the world.
• 0:11
  Today, we've got some intriguing topics lined up, so let's dive right in.
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  First up, we're talking about a beauty trend that's gone viral on social media – the
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  "Sharpie lip-liner" trend.
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  Yes, you heard that right.
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  Some influencers have been using Sharpie permanent markers as a substitute for
• 0:32
  traditional lip liners.
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  It's a trend that's sparked a lot of debate, especially among medical professionals.
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  The basic idea is that users apply a standard Sharpie, often in shades like red or coral, to
• 0:46
  outline their lips before adding lip gloss or lipstick.
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  It's being praised by many as a cost-effective alternative to regular lip liners.
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  But, as you might expect, there are some significant concerns.
• 1:00
  Dr.
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  Brooke Jeffy, a board-certified dermatologist from Scottsdale, Arizona, has expressed her
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  worries about this trend.
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  She points out that the ink in Sharpie markers contains chemicals such as xylene, toluene, and
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  urethane resin.
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  These substances are not intended for use on skin and could potentially be harmful if
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  absorbed into the body.
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  The Northern New England Poison Center also advises against using permanent markers on the
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  skin due to these chemicals.
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  While some users report dryness or a chemical taste, Dr.
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  Jeffy emphasizes that the risk of absorbing toxins into the body makes this trend
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  concerning for overall health.
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  Interestingly, Dr.
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  Jeffy highlights a bit of irony in this situation.
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  Many people are quick to avoid certain cosmetic ingredients that are actually safe, yet they're
• 1:54
  willing to use a product with known toxins.
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  She advises against participating in this trend and suggests that those who have tried it
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  should simply stop.
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  Sharpie themselves have weighed in, noting on their website that while their markers are safe
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  for artistic purposes, they are not designed for use on skin.
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  So, if you're thinking of trying this trend, it might be best to stick to products specifically
• 2:18
  made for cosmetic use.
• 2:22
  Moving on to another fascinating topic, let's delve into how parents' social media habits
• 2:27
  might be affecting their children, even when they're not actively online.
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  A recent study sheds light on this intriguing aspect of modern parenting.
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  This research, which will be presented at the Digital Media and Developing Minds
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  International Scientific Congress in Washington, DC, reveals that mothers who spend
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  a significant amount of time on social media talk less to their children, even when they're
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  not using their devices.
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  The study, led by doctoral student Liz Robinson from the University of Alabama, found that
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  mothers who were heavy social media users spoke 29 percent less to their kids while playing
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  with them compared to those who used social media less.
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  Specifically, mothers in the high-use category spent an average of 169 minutes daily on social
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  media, while those in the low-use category averaged just 21 minutes per day.
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  Interestingly, this decrease in communication was not associated with other screen activities
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  like checking email or the weather.
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  Robinson's study involved 65 toddlers aged two to five years old and their mothers in Alabama.
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  Though the research hasn't been peer-reviewed yet, it aligns with anecdotal evidence
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  suggesting that social media's impact lingers in our minds well beyond the time spent on the
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  screen.
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  Kris Perry, executive director of Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child
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  Development, not involved in the study, commented on how social media provides
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  intensely interesting, tailored content that keeps users engaged.
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  This could explain why even when parents are physically present, their minds might be
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  elsewhere, affecting their interactions with their children.
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  The importance of verbal interaction for children's development cannot be overstated.
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  Language learning is crucial for optimal child development, impacting brain growth, academic
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  performance, and social skills.
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  Therefore, it's vital for parents to be mentally present and engage with their
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  children, not just physically.
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  Robinson suggests parents should carve out dedicated "kids-only" time, where they focus
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  entirely on their children without distractions.
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  Even short, focused periods of undivided attention can be incredibly beneficial from a
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  child's perspective.
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  It's about being present in the moment, as Robinson emphasizes, "There is nowhere but
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  here, and no time but now in your child's mind."
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  To mitigate any negative impacts, Perry advises parents to limit social media usage.
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  By reducing the frequency and duration of social media sessions, parents can ensure
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  they're more present and engaged during interactions with their children.
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  While the study is correlational and doesn't definitively establish causation, it raises
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  important questions about the balance between social media use and parenting.
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  It also highlights the need for further research, especially involving fathers, to
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  paint a more comprehensive picture of how social media habits affect family dynamics.
• 5:34
  Today, we're exploring a fascinating intersection of health care and climate change:
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  the idea of prescribing plant-based diets to address both patient health and environmental
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  concerns.
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  It's an innovative approach that recognizes the profound impact of our dietary choices on the
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  planet.
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  Typically, when we think about climate change, images of melting ice caps or raging wildfires
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  come to mind.
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  However, the climate crisis also exacerbates health issues, such as cardiovascular and
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  respiratory diseases, and accelerates the spread of infectious diseases.
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  Medical bodies like the American Medical Association and the World Health Organization
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  acknowledge climate change as a pressing health issue.
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  In response, the medical community is taking action.
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  Physicians are not only reforming medical education to include environmental health but
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  also making health care facilities more sustainable.
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  Yet, as the crisis deepens, we need to explore additional strategies to make a meaningful
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  impact.
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  One promising avenue is right on our dinner plates: plant-based diets.
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  Animal agriculture is responsible for a significant portion of global greenhouse gas
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  emissions, estimated at about fourteen point five percent.
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  It's also a major factor in deforestation, biodiversity loss, and water overuse.
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  In contrast, plant-based agriculture can significantly reduce environmental harm,
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  particularly emissions.
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  By advising patients on plant-based diets, doctors can contribute to a shift that's
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  crucial for keeping global warming below catastrophic levels.
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  When discussing diet, terms like plant-based, vegan, and vegetarian often get used
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  interchangeably.
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  However, there are distinctions.
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  Veganism extends beyond just diet; it involves avoiding all animal-derived products.
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  Plant-based diets focus on excluding animal products from food.
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  Vegetarian diets, which include dairy and eggs, also reduce emissions, but vegan diets offer
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  even greater environmental benefits.
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  Recommending plant-based diets must always prioritize patient health.
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  Fortunately, a balanced plant-based diet can benefit both the patient and the planet.
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  The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics states that vegan diets are safe and healthy for all
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  life stages, offering health benefits like reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and
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  diabetes.
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  Numerous health organizations echo this sentiment.
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  It's important to approach dietary recommendations as suggestions.
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  Some animal-based products, though less sustainable, can still be part of a healthy
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  diet.
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  Cultural differences in diet must also be respected.
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  Even small changes, like participating in "meatless Mondays" or choosing oat milk over
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  dairy, can have significant environmental benefits.
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  Current clinical guidelines do promote increased consumption of fruits and vegetables,
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  but they also include animal products.
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  While these guidelines are a positive step, they don't necessarily encourage reducing
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  animal-based food intake.
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  Patients increasingly want to make values-informed choices, and trusted physicians
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  can guide them in understanding which foods are both healthy and eco-friendly.
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  To effectively support patients in adopting plant-based diets, physicians can start by
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  discussing eating habits during check-ups.
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  They can emphasize both health and environmental benefits, framing dietary changes
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  not as restrictions but as opportunities to explore new flavors and nutrients.
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  Motivational interviewing techniques can empower patients to make gradual changes
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  without feeling overwhelmed.
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  Ultimately, by prescribing plant-based diets, physicians aren't just promoting personal
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  health; they're advocating for planetary health.
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  This approach offers a new way to make a significant difference in the fight against
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  climate change.
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  Today, we're diving into a topic that might make you think twice before your next meal.
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  Experts are cautioning that certain common foods could be affecting not just your breath
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  but your overall body odor.
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  It's an interesting intersection of diet and personal hygiene that many might not consider.
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  First on the list is fish.
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  We're all familiar with the distinct "fishy" smell of seafood, but for some people, it can
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  go beyond just the aroma of the meal itself.
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  In rare instances, individuals suffer from a condition known as trimethylaminuria.
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  This condition involves the body converting a compound found in seafood, called choline, into
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  a fishy-smelling compound known as trimethylamine.
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  This compound is then released through the breath and skin, leading to a noticeable odor.
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  However, trimethylaminuria is incredibly rare, affecting only a few hundred people worldwide.
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  Most of us can enjoy fish without worrying about smelling like we're fresh from the sea.
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  For those affected, the condition can also cause a similar odor after consuming other
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  foods like beans, broccoli, cauliflower, peanuts, and soy products.
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  Next up, we have vegetables, particularly the cruciferous kind.
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  Vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts are known for
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  their health benefits but can cause an unexpected side effect.
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  These veggies release sulfuric acid, which can lead to a sulfur-like body odor when
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  intensified by sweat, breath, and gas.
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  Spices are another culprit.
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  Certain spices, including curry and cumin, contain volatile compounds that can be absorbed
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  into the bloodstream and later released through sweat glands.
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  This interaction with skin bacteria can result in a distinct odor.
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  So, while these spices add flavor to your meals, they might also add an unexpected
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  fragrance to your body.
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  Red meat is also on the list.
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  Consuming large amounts of red meat can lead to the release of odorless proteins through
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  perspiration.
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  Once these proteins interact with skin bacteria, they can develop an unpleasant smell.
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  It's something to consider next time you're planning a steak dinner.
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  But it's not all bad news.
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  There are dietary choices you can make to improve body odor.
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  For instance, reducing sulfur-rich foods, cutting down on red meat and spicy foods, and
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  increasing your intake of water, fruits, and vegetables can help.
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  Foods like apples, leafy greens, yogurt, and green tea might neutralize odor-causing
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  compounds and support beneficial gut bacteria, potentially reducing unpleasant odors.
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  Beyond dietary changes, maintaining good hygiene is key.
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  Regular bathing with antibacterial soap and wearing breathable fabrics can be effective in
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  managing body odor.
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  Staying well-hydrated, ensuring quality sleep, reducing stress, and staying active are also
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  beneficial for overall metabolic health, which can positively impact body odor.
• 12:59
  Now let's tackle a pressing issue that's been making headlines across Canada: the rise in
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  measles cases.
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  In 2025, over three thousand seven hundred people have been infected with measles across
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  the country, and the numbers keep climbing.
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  This increase has prompted several provinces to ramp up their vaccination efforts.
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  The virus spread most intensely in Ontario during the spring, where more than two thousand
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  two hundred cases were reported, resulting in hundreds of hospitalizations and one
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  measles-related death.
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  Fortunately, the situation seems to be improving in Ontario.
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  However, Alberta is now facing a spike, with almost one thousand three hundred confirmed
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  cases so far.
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  Every province except Newfoundland and Labrador is reporting measles cases, raising important
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  questions about vaccination, immunity, and record-keeping.
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  One common question is whether having had measles as a child provides immunity against
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  future infections.
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  According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, the answer is most likely yes.
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  Individuals who have previously had a measles infection are generally considered immune,
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  provided they have a normal immune response.
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  Another concern is what to do if you've lost your vaccination records.
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  The Public Health Agency of Canada advises that children and adults without records of their
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  vaccination history should start on an immunization schedule appropriate for their age
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  and risk factors.
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  Even if you've been vaccinated before, it's usually safe to receive another dose, as
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  repeated immunization hasn't shown additional side effects.
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  A national vaccine registry could help address these gaps, as emphasized by Dawn Bowdish, a
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  professor of immunology at McMaster University.
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  People often wonder if they can check their immunity to measles.
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  Routine testing for measles immunity isn't recommended for the general population.
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  However, certain groups, such as health-care workers and some pregnant women, can have their
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  antibody levels tested.
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  Those who have received two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, or were
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  born before nineteen seventy, are presumed to be immune.
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  As for screening measles vaccination status among people entering Canada, it's not
• 15:23
  mandatory.
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  While Canada requires a medical exam for permanent and certain temporary residents,
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  which includes screening for communicable diseases, proof of vaccination is not a
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  requirement.
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  During the medical exam, some may be offered vaccinations, including the measles, mumps, and
• 15:41
  rubella shots.
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  Health-care providers working with recent immigrants and asylum seekers report that their
• 15:48
  patients are generally willing to receive any missed childhood vaccinations.
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  However, there are calls for the federal government to enhance pre-departure vaccination
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  programs and improve access to medical and vaccination records across borders.
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  This could help ensure that new arrivals to Canada are adequately protected against measles
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  and other preventable diseases.
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  With that, we've covered a lot of ground today, from beauty trends and social media's impact on
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  parenting, to innovative healthcare solutions and the nuances of diet and body odor.
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  I hope you found these topics both informative and thought-provoking.
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  Remember, staying informed is key to making the best choices for your health and well-being.
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  Thank you for tuning in to Morning Medical with Dr.
• 16:36
  Chow.
• 16:37
  Until next time, take care and stay healthy!