Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Prostate Cancer Insights, Youth Vaping Trends, and Emergency Physician Burnout

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Prostate Cancer Insights, Youth Vaping Trends, and Emergency Physician Burnout · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

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Welcome to Morning Medical with Dr.
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Chow, where we bring you the latest in medical and health news from around the world, powered
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by artificial intelligence.
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I'm your host, Dr.
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Chi-Ming Chow.
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As a family physician, general internist, and cardiologist, I'm here to help you navigate the
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ever-evolving landscape of healthcare.
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Today, we'll start with a significant story that renews focus on a critical health issue:
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prostate disease.
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Recently, former President Joe Biden's battle with advancing prostate cancer has brought
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renewed attention to this disease.
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According to an interview with his son, Hunter Biden, the former president's cancer has
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metastasized into his bones, making it a very painful and debilitating condition.
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This revelation underscores the importance of awareness and early detection of prostate
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cancer, one of the most common cancers among men.
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Prostate cancer develops in the prostate gland and is primarily seen in older men, with the
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average age at diagnosis being 67 years.
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It's the second most common cancer in men, following skin cancer.
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The American Cancer Society reports that about one in eight men will be diagnosed with
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prostate cancer during their lifetime.
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The disease's incidence has been rising, with advanced-stage cases increasing by
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approximately five percent annually from 2014 to 2021.
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Symptoms of prostate cancer can vary, but early detection often occurs before symptoms emerge.
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Common early signs include difficulties with urination and changes in urinary habits.
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In more advanced stages, symptoms can include pain in the hips, back, or chest, as well as
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weight loss and fatigue.
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The U.S.
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Preventive Services Task Force recommends that men aged 55 to 69 have the option to undergo
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periodic prostate-specific antigen-based screening.
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This allows for the early detection and management of the disease.
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Despite the challenges of prostate cancer, there are treatment options available that can
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effectively manage the disease, especially when caught early.
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These include hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and radiation, among others.
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Former President Biden, for instance, has undergone hormone therapy and radiation
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treatment, which are common practices for managing prostate cancer.
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It is crucial for men to discuss the potential benefits and risks of prostate cancer screening
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with their healthcare provider.
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While screening can reduce the risk of dying from the disease, it can also lead to false
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positives and overtreatment.
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As research continues, new methods, such as non-invasive urine tests, are being developed
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to improve screening accuracy.
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The survival rates for prostate cancer are promising, especially when the disease is
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localized.
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The five-year survival rate for localized and regional prostate cancer cases is nearly 100
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percent.
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However, if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, the survival rate drops
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significantly.
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This highlights the importance of early detection and treatment.
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As we continue to follow the developments in prostate cancer treatment and research, it's
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essential to stay informed and proactive about health screenings.
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Remember, early detection can make a significant difference in treatment outcomes.
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Today, we're discussing an important development in the ongoing efforts to deter
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smoking in Canada.
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As of this month, Health Canada has introduced new graphic warning labels on cigarette
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packaging.
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These updated images are designed to reinforce the message about the dangers of smoking, which
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some experts believe have been losing their impact over time.
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Geoffrey Fong, the founder and chief principal investigator of the International Tobacco
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Control Policy Evaluation Project, emphasizes the necessity of refreshing these warnings to
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maintain their effectiveness.
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"Warning labels are like any other repeated communication," says Fong.
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"When you get the same message over and over again, it loses its power, a phenomenon known
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as wear out."
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The new warning labels are not just on the packaging.
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They also appear directly on the cigarettes themselves, with messages like "cigarettes harm
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children" and "cigarettes damage your liver." The Canadian Cancer Society points out that
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tobacco use is the leading preventable risk factor for disease and death in the country,
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linking 72 percent of lung cancer cases nationwide to smoking.
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Kevin Coady, executive director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Alliance for the
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Control of Tobacco, highlights the substantial healthcare costs associated with smoking,
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particularly in an aging population.
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Statistics Canada reports that Newfoundland and Labrador have the highest smoking rate among
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Canadian provinces, which underscores the urgency of these measures.
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Coady stresses the importance of a comprehensive strategy to effectively reduce
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tobacco use.
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This includes educational initiatives and banning cigarette advertising displays, known
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as power walls, in stores.
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Such measures have shown success, as smoking rates have steadily decreased over the past
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decades, especially among young people.
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However, as smoking rates decline, there's a growing concern over the rise in vaping,
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particularly among young people.
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In 2024, data revealed that 20 percent of Canadians aged 20 to 24 had vaped in the past
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30 days, with 14 percent of those aged 15 to 19 also engaging in the practice.
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Many vape products contain nicotine and cancer-causing chemicals, posing significant
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health risks.
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Coady argues that policy changes are necessary to address this issue, such as banning vape
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flavors and raising the legal purchase age for these products.
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Newfoundland and Labrador, along with the rest of Canada, is examining potential legislative
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changes.
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Recently, the United Kingdom implemented a lifetime ban on the sale of cigarettes and
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vapes to individuals born after December 31, 2008.
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This policy aims to create a "smoke-free generation." Newfoundland and Labrador
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conducted a survey in 2024 to gather public input on raising the tobacco purchase age to 21
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or even enacting a similar lifetime ban.
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Khadija Rehma, spokesperson for the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Health
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and Community Services, expressed concern over the rampant vaping among young people.
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While smoking rates have declined, the government is reviewing feedback from the
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public survey to inform future steps.
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Coady believes that while such policies could be effective, they must be part of a broader,
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multifaceted approach to truly tackle the issue of tobacco and vaping use among Canadians.
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With the arrival of mosquito season, Ontario families are calling for increased awareness
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about the West Nile virus.
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This virus, transmitted through mosquito bites, can lead to severe illness and even death,
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although most people experience mild flu-like symptoms or none at all.
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The need for greater public awareness is especially pressing for those whose lives have
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been dramatically altered by the virus.
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Take the case of André Gagné, a 60-year-old from Milton, Ontario.
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André was healthy and active, working for Canada Post and renovating homes, until a
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mosquito bite changed everything.
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He began experiencing worsening flu-like symptoms until he lost his balance completely.
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"I felt like Gumby," André recalls.
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"My limbs were dragging, and I was running into walls." This led to an eight-month hospital
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stay where André was diagnosed with West Nile neuroinvasive disease, a severe form occurring
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in less than one percent of cases when the virus affects the central nervous system.
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The impact on André's life has been profound.
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He lost 70 pounds in a month due to paralysis, couldn't eat or swallow, and suffered from
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hearing and vision loss.
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Today, he continues to struggle with paralysis and memory loss, needing assistance with daily
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activities like dressing and eating.
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"It's horrible to not be independent," he says, highlighting the importance of awareness and
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prevention.
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Another tragic story is that of Carmen Applegath, who passed away in February 2026
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after a six-month battle with West Nile encephalitis.
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Her sister, Lisa Applegath, describes Carmen as an active and beloved community member.
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Initially suspecting she had COVID-19, Carmen's symptoms worsened, leading to a coma and
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ultimately her passing.
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Lisa emphasizes the lack of awareness about the virus, noting that if they had known about the
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risks, Carmen might have taken more precautions.
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The numbers are concerning.
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Public Health Ontario reported 181 cases of West Nile virus in 2025, the highest since
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2017.
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Areas like Toronto, Niagara, Windsor, and Essex are among those with the most cases.
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Dr.
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Richard Mather from Public Health Ontario notes that while there's no consistent upward trend,
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rising temperatures could lead to more mosquito activity and increased cases over time.
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Infectious disease specialist Dr.
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Isaac Bogoch advises wearing long sleeves, using insect repellent, and eliminating
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standing water where mosquitoes breed.
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While most people will experience few or mild symptoms, it's crucial to protect oneself,
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especially as there's no antiviral treatment or vaccine for West Nile virus.
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For Lisa Applegath, sharing her sister Carmen's story is a mission.
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"I don't want my sister's death to be in vain," she says, hoping to raise awareness and prevent
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others from experiencing similar grief.
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Meanwhile, André Gagné and his wife Lorraine continue to face financial burdens, spending
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over $20,000 on recovery efforts including physiotherapy and home modifications.
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André hopes for better support for West Nile patients and stresses the importance of
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perseverance in recovery.
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Today, we're diving into a fitness tip that's both simple and effective for building a
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stronger core, and surprisingly, it doesn't involve traditional sit-ups.
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The exercise we're talking about is the boat pose, also known as Navasana in yoga.
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This pose forms the body into a "V" shape, engaging multiple muscles crucial for core
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stability.
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Melissa Leach, a certified yoga instructor and strength and conditioning coach from
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Philadelphia, emphasizes that a strong core is foundational not only for exercise but for
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everyday movement as well.
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She explains that core exercises, like the boat pose, help strengthen key muscles such as the
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obliques, lower back, and deep stabilizers, including the transverse abdominis.
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These muscles work together to stabilize the spine, creating a strong foundation for
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movement and allowing for efficient force transfer between the upper and lower body.
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Routine activities, from carrying groceries to getting up from a chair, require engaging the
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core muscles to stabilize the trunk, maintain balance, and support controlled movement.
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A strong core can also help reduce the risk of lower back pain by improving spinal stability
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and ensuring controlled movements during lifting and other physically demanding actions.
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Melissa Leach points out that while the risk of injury isn't solely determined by core
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strength, having a well-conditioned core provides a stable foundation for movement in
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daily life.
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The boat pose, in particular, challenges the abdominal muscles while also engaging the hip
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flexors, glutes, and back.
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This helps build functional core strength rather than just targeting a single muscle
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group.
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Compared to the traditional sit-up, which is performed in one plane of motion, the boat pose
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requires the entire core to work together to keep you balanced and lifted.
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This places greater demands on core stability, balance, and control.
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Whether you're holding the pose or moving dynamically, you're training the muscles that
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stabilize your spine and pelvis, rather than primarily strengthening the muscles required
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for trunk flexion, as a sit-up does.
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The boat pose not only develops stability but also enhances muscular endurance.
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The position requires deep core muscles, the ones that support your spine and pelvis, to
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stay engaged throughout the exercise.
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Over time, this can lead to better posture, a stronger lower back, and a core that supports
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everyday movements more effectively.
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To perform the boat pose correctly, Melissa Leach provides some straightforward steps.
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Start by sitting on a mat or the floor with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground.
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Lean back slightly onto your sit bones, keeping your lower back straight.
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Then, lift your feet off the ground, keeping your shins parallel to the floor.
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If you're able, extend your legs upward for the full pose.
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Reach your arms forward, keeping them parallel to the ground, and engage your core muscles to
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maintain balance.
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For those looking to make the exercise more dynamic, you can move in and out of the pose
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rather than holding it.
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Lie flat on your back, use your core muscles to lift your legs and upper body off the mat,
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reaching the final "V" shape of the boat pose.
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Then, extend your body back down and repeat.
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Beginners can modify the pose by keeping their legs bent in a half boat pose instead of
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straight, which reduces core strain and effort.
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Holding the backs of your thighs lightly can provide support and assist with balance.
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If maintaining a straight spine is challenging, sitting on a folded blanket or cushion can help
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tilt the pelvis forward.
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For additional reassurance, you can sit with your back a few inches from a wall, allowing
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enough space to perform the movement without hitting your head.
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For seniors or those with limited core strength, a chair-supported version is
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recommended.
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Sit toward the front edge of a sturdy chair, hold the sides for support, and lean back
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slightly while lifting one or both feet a few inches off the floor.
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This variation builds the same engagement without the demand of balancing unsupported,
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and you can progress to the floor version as you gain strength and confidence.
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Today, we're addressing a critical issue affecting healthcare professionals across
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Canada: burnout among emergency room physicians.
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A recent survey published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal highlights a
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concerning trend — one in ten emergency room doctors have left their specialty, and many
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others are reducing their working hours or taking time off to cope with burnout.
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Dr.
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Jeffrey Eppler, an emergency physician at Kelowna General Hospital, shared his personal
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experiences with exhaustion in an interview with CBC's Daybreak South.
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The situation he's facing is not unique.
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Overcrowded emergency departments, long wait times, and patients using emergency services
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for primary care due to lack of access to family doctors or specialists are common
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challenges.
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The survey identifies several factors contributing to this burnout: a broken
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healthcare system, unrealistic societal expectations, and insurmountable workplace
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challenges.
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Dr.
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Eppler describes scenarios where patients in critical conditions, such as septic shock, are
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treated in chairs due to bed shortages.
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This creates a moral injury for physicians who entered the field to help people but face
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systemic barriers that impede their ability to do so.
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Dr.
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Eppler acknowledges that while Kelowna General Hospital is handling the situation better than
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some other hospitals, daily struggles with overcrowding and staffing shortages persist.
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He emphasizes the need for better planning and accountability from health authorities and
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governments to address issues like population growth and the complexity of modern medical
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cases.
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Despite the challenges, Dr.
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Eppler remains committed to his work, finding fulfillment in helping patients.
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However, he admits to experiencing severe exhaustion, a sentiment echoed by many of his
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colleagues across the country.
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The survey reflects this widespread fatigue, with half of the respondents reporting similar
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levels of exhaustion.
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Addressing unrealistic societal expectations, Dr.
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Eppler notes that while most patients are understanding, some expect quick fixes for
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complex health issues that are better managed outside the emergency department.
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This expectation adds to the pressure on emergency room physicians.
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Dr.
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Eppler stresses that solutions to alleviate the burden on emergency departments must come from
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higher levels of government.
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He calls for greater accountability and transparency, urging provincial and federal
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governments to listen to healthcare professionals and incorporate their input into
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policy decisions.
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As we conclude today's episode, let's take a moment to appreciate the dedication and
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resilience of healthcare professionals who continue to provide essential services despite
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these challenges.
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Their commitment is vital to the health and well-being of our communities.
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Thank you for tuning in to Morning Medical with Dr.
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Chow.
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Until next time, stay informed and take care of your health.