Health – Views & Research – The Conversation

Health news

Bird flu in cattle: What are the concerns surrounding the newly emerging bovine H5N1 influenza virus?

Nitish Boodhoo, University of Guelph

A pregnant woman in a pink shirt with her hands on her belly, and a health-care worker seen from behind

Obstetric and gynecological violence: Empowering patients to recognize and prevent it

Audrey Ferron-Parayre, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa; Catherine Régis, Université de Montréal; Emmanuelle Bernheim, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa, and Sylvie Lévesque, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)

Is attachment theory actually important for romantic relationships?

Marissa Nivison, University of Calgary and Sheri Madigan, University of Calgary

A woman sitting on a bench and a man lying on the bench with his head on her lap

Stop asking me if I’ve tried keto: Why weight stigma is more than just being mean to fat people

Megan Lindloff, Western University; Angela Meadows, University of Essex, and Rachel Calogero, Western University

Measles is a humanitarian issue, and its unwelcome reappearance in Canada is a reminder of its importance

Adam R Houston, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa and Jason Nickerson, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa

Hands filling a syringe from a vial of vaccine

Cardiovascular risks and COVID-19: New research confirms the benefits of vaccination

Glen Pyle, Dalhousie University

Illustration of a human heart and SARS-CoV-2 virus particles on a blue backround

Chronic conditions

An illustration of intestines superimposed over a person's hands

Gut bacteria and the immune system: How aging changes the microbiome and can lead to ‘inflammaging’

Narveen Jandu, University of Waterloo

MAID and mental health: Does ending the suffering of mental illness mean supporting death or supporting better lives?

Charmaine C. Williams, University of Toronto

Mental health

Spotting the signs of disordered eating in youth: Tips for parents and caregivers

Amelia Austin, University of Calgary; Gina Dimitropoulos, University of Calgary; Sheri Madigan, University of Calgary, and Tracy Vaillancourt, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa

Increasingly sophisticated AI systems can perform empathy, but their use in mental health care raises ethical questions

A.T. Kingsmith, OCAD University

a woman looks at a device with graphics related to health superimposed around her

Detransition and gender fluidity: Deeper understanding can improve care and acceptance

Kinnon R. MacKinnon, York University, Canada; Annie Pullen Sansfaçon, Université de Montréal, and Pablo Expósito-Campos, Universidad del País Vasco / Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea

Watercolour stripes in the colours of the Pride flag

Governments must avoid policies that stigmatize those recovering from addiction

Max Weselowski, Royal Roads University

Photos of people in a park with trees in the background.

Cancer

An older man in hospital bed and a woman with her arm around him

Incurable but not hopeless: How hope shapes patients’ awareness of their advanced cancer prognosis

Jean Mathews, Queen's University, Ontario and Michael Brundage, Queen's University, Ontario

Princess of Wales and King Charles: one in two people develop cancer during their lives – the diseases and treatments explained

Gavin Metcalf, Anglia Ruskin University

For cancer patients, maintaining muscle is vital to health and treatment, but staying strong is complicated

Meghan McCue, Laurentian University

A man with a physiotherapist, helping him lift a small dumbbell with one arm

King Charles is having cancer treatment. What can he, and others with cancer, expect?

Sathana Dushyanthen, The University of Melbourne

Two men carrying 'get well soon' banner for King Charles

Proton beam therapy: A modern treatment for cancer, but not in Canada (yet)

Derek Tsang, University of Toronto

A large cylindrical medical apparatus with yellow sides

Fitness and nutrition

Cheers to health? Uncovering myths around the health benefits of moderate drinking

James M. Clay, University of Victoria and Tim Stockwell, University of Victoria

Paying people to exercise can be motivating, but the financial rewards don’t have to last forever to work

Marc Mitchell, Western University

Person looking at an activity tracking app on a smartphone

Stop breaking women’s hearts at work: 7 ways to make workplaces better for cardiovascular health

Shannan M. Grant, Mount Saint Vincent University; Barb Hamilton-Hinch, Dalhousie University; Dayna Lee-Baggley, Dalhousie University; Jacquie Gahagan, Mount Saint Vincent University; Jessica Mannette, Saint Mary’s University, and Leigh-Ann MacFarlane, Mount Saint Vincent University

A group of people around a conference table with an easel board in the foreground.

It’s time for a heart-to-heart about women’s cardiovascular health, unique risk factors and symptoms

Nabilah Gulamhusein, University of Calgary and Sandi Dumanski, University of Calgary

Two hands holding a red paper heart against a red background

How dieting, weight suppression and even misuse of drugs like Ozempic can contribute to eating disorders

Samantha Withnell, Western University and Lindsay Bodell, Western University

COVID and infectious illness

Measles is a humanitarian issue, and its unwelcome reappearance in Canada is a reminder of its importance

Adam R Houston, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa and Jason Nickerson, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa

Measles is highly contagious, but vaccine-preventable: A primer on recent outbreaks, transmission, symptoms and complications, including ‘immune amnesia’

Mansour Haeryfar, Western University

Microscopic view of a red almond-shaped virus particle on a yellow background

Cardiovascular risks and COVID-19: New research confirms the benefits of vaccination

Glen Pyle, Dalhousie University

FAQ: Why are syphilis cases on the rise in Canada?

Huma Saeed, Western University

Microscopic view of Treponema pallidum bacteria

Strep A explainer: Why invasive cases are increasing, how it spreads and what symptoms to look for

John McCormick, Western University and Juan Manuel Diaz, Western University

A microscopic image of group A Streptococcus

Health care

Preparing for the next health crisis: COVID-19 showed the importance of community-engaged research

Simran Purewal, Simon Fraser University and Julia Smith, Simon Fraser University

A group of people wearing face masks in a socially distanced circle

Person-centred health care means ensuring that affected communities are leaders and partners in research

Janet Jull, Queen's University, Ontario; Kimberly Fairman, University of Victoria, and Sandy Oliver, UCL

cropped image of two people's hands holding mugs across from each other at a table

Online wellness content: 3 ways to tell evidence-based health information from pseudoscience

Michelle Cohen, Queen's University, Ontario

A woman out of focus recording video on a smartphone in the foreground

Health-care AI: The potential and pitfalls of diagnosis by app

Jordan Richard Schoenherr, Concordia University

electronic icons superimposed over a smartphone and a stethoscope

Children and families

A teen girl in a hospital bed with a parent and a health-care professional

Your child has been prescribed opioids: 7 ways to use them more safely

Samina Ali, University of Alberta

National Caregiver Day: Canadian organizations need to better support carer-employees in the workplace

Allison Williams, McMaster University

A close up of a young woman holding the hands of an older individual

Bereavement policies need to be updated to better support employees affected by MAID

Katherine Breward, University of Winnipeg

Close up shot of a younger person holding the hands of an older person

The real threat to gender-diverse children is the politicization of care issues like puberty blockers and detransition

Kinnon R. MacKinnon, York University, Canada and Pablo Expósito-Campos, Universidad del País Vasco / Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea

People waving blue, pink and white transgender flags

Detransition and gender fluidity: Deeper understanding can improve care and acceptance

Kinnon R. MacKinnon, York University, Canada; Annie Pullen Sansfaçon, Université de Montréal, and Pablo Expósito-Campos, Universidad del País Vasco / Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea