Tough to Swallow: Understanding Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Dysphagia or swallowing difficulties can make it challenging to ingest food or beverages. Dysphagia can occur due to health conditions, including stroke, multiple sclerosis, mouth or throat cancer, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Inflammatory conditions like eosinophilic esophagitis can also cause it. Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic immune disorder that causes inflammation in the […]

B12 Deficiency in Patients: Common Symptoms and Treatments

Female patient in doctor office getting blood pressure checked.

Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that your body needs for processes like DNA synthesis, energy production, and central nervous system function. Although the vitamin is found in many foods, B12 insufficiency and deficiency are relatively common. How prevalent is B12 deficiency? Vitamin B12 deficiency is a relatively prevalent condition — research suggests it affects […]

Physician Mental Illness and Depression Prevention

Female doctor having conversation with therapist

Depression is a common disorder, and physicians and healthcare workers are especially at risk. A recent CMA National Physician Health Survey found that 48 percent of physicians are positive for depression, while 36 percent have thought about suicide at some point. Of those, 14 percent thought about it in the last 12 months. Like patients, physicians struggle with […]

Colorectal Cancer Awareness

Doctor having serious discussion with male patient.

Colorectal cancer refers to the presence of malignant cells in the colon or rectum. Colon cancer and rectal cancer are grouped together because the tissue of the two organs is similar, and there is not a clear demarcation between them.  Changes within the colon or rectum can result in precancerous conditions, including adenomas and hereditary […]

International Women’s Day – Women in Healthcare

Female doctors and nurses smiling at camera

Women’s struggle for gender equality has a long and radical history. In fact, the fight for women’s rights began in the early 1900s, which saw the celebration of the first National Women’s Day in the United States. It was intended to honour the women who bravely raised their voices against unfair employment practices and unsafe […]

Low Iron Levels: Common Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments for Iron Deficiency

Woman getting bloodwork

Humans need iron to make hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that enables them to transport oxygen through the blood vessels. If you don’t have sufficient hemoglobin, your muscles and tissues won’t get enough oxygen to function effectively. That leads to a condition known as anemia. How Many People Are Iron Deficient? Iron deficiency […]

Migraine vs Headache: Know the Difference

woman holding head in pain with doctor behind her

Migraine is a common disorder and one of the leading causes of disability globally. Many people experience pain that affects daily living, work, and relationships and will seek advice from their doctor or pharmacist on the best treatment to control the frequency of attacks and improve the quality of life.  Migraine vs. Headache A headache […]

Preventing and Managing Burnout in Healthcare Workers

Exhausted healthcare worker looking through window

Since 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on healthcare systems worldwide. As frontline workers, healthcare providers (HCPs), namely physicians, nurses, and pharmacists, have played key roles in containing this global disaster and fighting to save lives. They’ve been instrumental in combating the virus while often suffering from COVID-19 themselves – since the beginning of […]

Addressing Common COVID-19 Patient Myths in Practice

COVID virus in shape of question mark

Conspiracy theories are not new to the field of medicine, and the advent of social media has only exacerbated this problem. According to research, people have access to a much greater amount of false information, rumours, and hoaxes than trustworthy information. Unfortunately, false information surrounding vaccines is contagious and can lead to many harmful consequences […]

Reducing the Impact of Malnutrition in Your Patients

Array of healthy foods

Despite the association of poor nutritional status with increased morbidity and mortality in a wide range of medical conditions, malnutrition is not well understood. Malnutrition is not based exclusively on the patient’s body mass index (BMI). In fact, there is a high prevalence of malnutrition in older adults with excess weight and obesity.  Malnutrition is […]