Many people are digging out after back-to-back storms dumped more than 70 centimetres of snow on Montreal. The physical strain of shovelling snow is known to increase the risk of heart attacks, particularly for those with underlying health conditions.
Mitch Shulman, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, and attending physician, Montreal General and Royal Victoria hospitals, can share his expertise on preventing winter injuries and recognizing heart-attack symptoms.
Canada is experiencing a late-season surge in flu cases, with test positivity rates reaching 21.2 per cent last week, surpassing last season’s peak, according to national data. Flu activity is considered widespread in several Quebec regions.
Here are experts from McGill University who can comment:
Christopher Labos, MD, Associate, Office for Science and Society
Winter brings its own set of health risks, from slips and falls to snow-shovelling heart strain, as well as seasonal weight gain and illnesses from gatherings or travel.
Mitch Shulman, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, and attending physician, Montreal General and Royal Victoria hospitals, can share his expertise on preventing winter injuries, recognizing and managing heart-attack symptoms and staying healthy through the holiday season.
World AIDS Day, observed on Dec. 1, is a global effort to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS, which affects nearly 40 million people worldwide.
Bertrand Lebouché, Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, and Clinician Scientist, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, can share his expertise on HIV prevention and improving patient care.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression linked to the changing seasons, particularly during fall and winter when daylight hours decrease. The reduced sunlight and lower vitamin D levels can lead to changes in mood, energy and sleep patterns. As well, the recent change back to standard time from daylight savings can disrupt circadian rhythms, with similar results.
Quebec will allow advance requests for medical assistance in dying (MAID) as of Oct. 30. People with certain serious illnesses, such as Alzheimer's disease, will be permitted to apply for MAID before they lose the capacity to consent.
These experts from McGill University are available to share their insights on this topic:
On Nov. 3, Quebecers will turn their clocks back one hour for the seasonal time change. Tuesday, the Quebec government launched a public consultation on whether the biannual switch should be abolished in the future.
Quebec began rolling out its fall vaccination campaign against respiratory viruses on Monday, starting with vulnerable populations. Along with flu shots, a new COVID-19 vaccine adapted to the latest variants is available. This year, Quebec is among the first provinces to offer free RSV vaccines to infants, aiming to reduce the strain on hospitals.
Preliminary results of the Canadian Oral Health Survey (COHS), released August 27, highlight disparities in insurance coverage and indicate dental visits have almost returned to pre-pandemic levels. Residents of Quebec were the least likely to have dental insurance, while Albertans were the most likely. The COHS is Canada’s first-ever national oral health survey. (Statistics Canada)
In an exciting breakthrough for astronomy and the search for extraterrestrial life, a team of international scientists, including key support from McGill University researchers, has announced the discovery of Gliese 12 b, a temperate, Earth-sized exoplanet just 40 light-years away — a relatively neighbourly 378 trillion kilometres from earth. (The Conversation)
Nine out of 10 Canadians are interested in a four-day work week, according to a recent survey, making it their most desirable benefit ahead of health care, flexible scheduling and additional vacation days.
The Greater Montreal area is under a heat warning Monday as a warm and humid air mass could lead to a humidex value of 40. Environment and Climate Change Canada recently released the first results from its rapid extreme weather event attribution system, showing that human-caused climate change significantly increased the likelihood of recent heat waves in Quebec, Eastern Ontario, and Atlantic Canada.
The rental market has continued to tighten over the past year in Greater Montreal. After declining from 3% in 2021 to 2% in 2022, the overall vacancy rate was 1.5% in 2023—one of the lowest rates seen in 20 years.
Children under 18 and people with disabilities will be eligible for the federal government's dental plan starting June 27. The newly eligible group accounts for 1.2 million additional Canadians who will be able to access the program. (CBC News)
Here is an expert from McGill University who can comment on this topic:
On June 18, Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun will testify before a Senate panel about the company's safety crisis, addressing lawmakers' questions on quality control issues and whistleblower allegations (CNBC).
