Hashtag Health

New miracle pill claims to reduce your pain and make you happy! Caution: may cause pain, depression, and death. Wait, what? We continue this story in part two of #OPIOIDS.

The CDC hails it as 'the public health issue of our time'. How did a class of drugs essential for pain and end-of-life care precipitate a full-blown crisis? Compassion meets deceit in this origin story with Dr. David Juurlink and Dr. Sharon Koivu in part one of a three-part volume of Hashtag Health.

When Dr. Frances was a resident, benzodiazepines like Xanax were being tested out as a cure for alcoholism. Needless to say, that didn't work out so well. Nowadays, Xanax use is more common than ever before and usage steadily increases year upon year. Listen to this episode to find out the hidden dangers of Xanax use and to hear about how even felines are partaking in the drug.

In this episode of Hashtag Health, we talk with geriatrician Dr. Laura Diachun about the established methods of staying healthy as we grow older. Then, with the help of researchers Dr. Aubrey De Grey and Dr. Judith Campisi, we explore the cutting edge technologies that might play a role in extending human lifespan. https://www.livingto100.com/

When it comes to juicing, some may be of the mindset - why not take in more fruits and veggies! And then some may be wondering, are those extra vitamins and minerals going to good use? And how effective is it as a way to shed some pounds? In this episode of Hashtag Health, we're talking with Dr. Faisal Rehman, a nephrologist (kidney specialist) who answers all that and more.

A survey of nearly 1000 US adults in 2005 showed that 27% believed that "The medical industry is withholding a cure for cancer from the public in order to increase profit". Tune into this #SPOTLIGHT segment of Hashtag Health to hear radiation oncologist, Dr. David Palma, explain the truth behind this shockingly common misconception!

This episode of Hashtag Health examines the trippy history of psychedelics and their modern comeback and potential uses. Join us this episode where we chat with Dr. Ken Tupper from the University of British Columbia. Dr. Tupper discusses how far the therapeutic applications of psychedelics has come since its research hiatus in the 60's. In addition to touching on subjects like micro-dosing and the potential pitfalls of recreational use, Dr. Tupper also discusses a research speciality of his -- a psychoactive brew called Ayahuasca. We also chat with Dr. Rick Strassman who was the first person in the United States to resume psychedelics research in humans since research stopped in the 60's. Dr. Strassman is a psychiatrist and discusses how strong the evidence is to back popular claims that psychedelics can be used to treat mental health conditions.

36% of cancer patients in the United States are estimated to be using naturopathic treatments for cancer in addition to conventional treatments. Some studies show that these patients are more likely to refuse conventional care, which is thought to put them at a greater risk of losing their lives. At the same time, studies also show that activities like taichi and meditation can be a helpful addition to cancer care. So how do we separate the good from the bad? In this episode we are accompanied by ex-naturopath Britt Hermes as well as radiation oncologist and author of Taking Charge of Cancer, Dr. David Palma.

In this #SPOTLIGHT segment, Dr. Cory Yamashita discusses the ever popular comparison between vaping (e-cigarettes) and tobacco cigarettes. Tune in to hear the answers to questions like "what is popcorn lung and can it be caused by vaping?" And "is vaping really 95% safer than smoking?" All that and more! We'll also hear from ex-smoker, Olivier, who talks about what life is like after cigarettes.

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Kevin Nelson who's been studying near death experiences for years. Dr. Nelson deconstructs the once elusive and ever mysterious near death experience, but can science really have an explanation for its mechanistic underpinnings? In the second half of the episode, Dr. Adrian Owen talks about the project that changed it all - communicating with seemingly unconscious patients (patients that have been in a persistent vegetative state for years and years) through brain imaging.