Science and Nature

Vitals

Vitals goes behind the headlines to get the definitive answers to the health questions everyone is asking.

How Canada is transforming assisted death safeguards

13m 35s

Dozens of countries allow patients to seek a doctor’s help in ending their lives. Canada has been a leader in the movement, but is now set to loosen safeguards that are meant to protect people with mental illness. It’s controversial - we’ll hear from both sides, and look at how medically-assisted death has evolved since the days of Dr. Jack Kevorkian.

Episodes

  • Gender-Affirming Care: What Doctors Really Think: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Gender-Affirming Care: What Doctors Really Think

    S1 E13 - 12m

    Currently, almost 2% of high school students in the U.S. identify as transgender, and a growing number of teens are being diagnosed with gender dysphoria, according to a study by the CDC. As a result, there is an increased demand for gender-affirming medical care, including puberty blockers and hormone therapy.

  • CBD is Everywhere, But Who's Regulating It?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    CBD is Everywhere, But Who's Regulating It?

    S1 E12 - 14m 4s

    You see them everywhere: CBD gummies, CBD lotions, CBD drinks, CBD toothpicks. But what exactly are you buying? Buyer beware! We dive deep into why the FDA is cracking down on CBD companies over “unsupported” medical claims and how you can traverse the complicated CBD marketplace. And what is CBD isolate versus full-spectrum CBD and broad spectrum CBD? We’ll explain that, too.

  • A Blood Test That Can Diagnose Depression?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    A Blood Test That Can Diagnose Depression?

    S1 E11 - 11m

    Did you know there’s a blood test that can detect your risk of depression? why aren’t we using it? Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders, with 1 in every 6 adults experiencing it at some point in their lives. And yet depression is surprisingly difficult to diagnose.

  • Can Psilocybin or MDMA Treat Depression and Anxiety?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Can Psilocybin or MDMA Treat Depression and Anxiety?

    S1 E10 - 11m 58s

    There's even a study using psilocybin (from mushrooms) to help doctors and nurses suffering from burnout! So why the excitement, and what's the downside? We’ll break it down, recap highs and lows from key studies, explain how these drugs affect the brain, and see what skeptics say are the biggest risks.

  • Why Diets Fail: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Why Diets Fail

    S1 E9 - 13m 15s

    Keto? Intermittent Fasting? And what about plant-based diets? Alok and Sheena explain the science behind the most popular diets, explain what they have in common and explain why for most people - they don't really work. Happily, health and weight are not the same thing, and we'll show you what you really ought to focus on when it comes to food.

  • What Kind of Therapy Is Right For You?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    What Kind of Therapy Is Right For You?

    S1 E8 - 10m 43s

    The pandemic has more people depressed and anxious than ever. But spilling your problems to a stranger can be scary. How do you know if you should go and seek therapy? What do you need to know, and what’s the evidence for whether it will help? With telehealth, texting and even therapy by robot - the range of mental health options is changing fast.

  • Sleepwalking: When Good Sleep Goes Bad: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Sleepwalking: When Good Sleep Goes Bad

    S1 E7 - 9m 3s

    Sleep disorders affect millions of people. Problems include everything from insomnia to much stranger conditions - like sleepwalking. Hosts Alok Patel, MD and Sheena Williams, RN explain what the brain is supposed to be doing as it guides us into healthy sleep, and break down the various things that can happen when the process goes awry.

  • How Much Should You Really Be Drinking?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    How Much Should You Really Be Drinking?

    S1 E6 - 9m 2s

    The Advice on Alcohol is Changing. Alok and Sheena will talk about the trend of Dry January, and share surprising facts about drinking. Whether or not you want to reset your relationship with alcohol, Alok and Sheena have you covered!

  • How to Google Your Symptoms the Right Way: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    How to Google Your Symptoms the Right Way

    S1 E5 - 8m 28s

    Does a Google search for itchy skin or a tickle in your throat lead to some scary results? Don’t start making funeral plans just yet! Before you fall down the internet rabbit hole, watch our video and learn how to use search results to get safe and useful information...without giving yourself a nervous breakdown!

  • Are We Running Out of Nurses?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Are We Running Out of Nurses?

    S1 E4 - 8m 25s

    ERs closing, patients turned away from hospitals, six-month waits for urgent appointments - is this the new normal? Burnout and two years of COVID pressure are driving many nurses to leave the profession, leaving patients in the lurch. The whole system is under strain.. Alok and Sheena look into how bad it really is, how it’s affecting patient care and what we can do about it.

  • Who Has the Best Sex Life? (It’s Not Who You Think): asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Who Has the Best Sex Life? (It’s Not Who You Think)

    S1 E3 - 8m 9s

    Everyone wants to talk about sex, but not when grandma and grandpa are involved! Well, it’s about time we grow up. OLDER PEOPLE are HAVING SEX and some are having a lot of it! Sheena Williams, RN and Alok Patel, MD chat with geriatrician Dr. Louise Aronson to explore how sexuality changes as we age. They bust myths, discuss surprising risks, and share how to maintain a healthy sex life at any age.

  • Do You Lie To Your Doctor?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Do You Lie To Your Doctor?

    S1 E2 - 7m 44s

    Alok and Sheena take to the streets to ask people why they lie to their doctor. What are they really afraid of? We’ll reveal the most common lies and why they’re so dangerous. Our goal: to help you have a more candid and healthy relationship with your doctor. Fun Fact: A recent survey finds nearly a 1/4 of Americans say they lie to their doctor. And who knows how many lied on the survey!

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