Doc Spot With Dr. Greenspan: The effect of alcohol consumption on cardiac health

Dr. Lorne Greenspan, Senior Medical Consultant

Today a study was released claiming that moderate alcohol consumption can lower the risk of cardiac disease. Medcan’s Senior Medical Consultant Dr. Lorne Greenspan comment and gives his medical opinion on how you should interprate this study.

Global News Link: http://www.globalnews.ca/health/Cheers+Moderate+drinking+lowers+heart+disease+risk+study+finds/4335310/story.html

Doc Spot with Dr. Greenspan: Aspirin’s Benefit in Preventing Solid Tumour Cancers

 Dr. Lorne Greenspan, Senior Medican Consultant

Aspirin’s Benefit in Preventing Solid Tumour Cancers

References: JW Gen Med Jan 15 2011, p. 17, and Lancet 2010; 376:1741

Study: Patients were initially placed on a daily low dose aspirin to measure to study the impact that it would have on preventing Cardiovascular events. A second arm of the study looked at the impact of low dose aspirin on the occurrence rate of cancer.

Doc Spot with Dr. Greenspan: Zinc for the common cold

Dr. Greenspan, Senior Medical Consultant

STUDY:  Zinc for the Common Cold (The Cochrane Library) 

In a research study Zinc was tested in to assess its impact on treating or preventing the effects of the common cold.  This was done by using zinc for at least five consecutive days to treat, or for at least five months to prevent the common cold.  The study enrolled over 1300 patients of all age groups comparing Zinc with a placebo (no zinc).  When zinc was taken either as a lozenge or syrup within 24 hours of onset of symptoms it shortened the duration and intensity of cold symptoms. When zinc was taken as a daily supplement for at least 5 months it reduced the incidence, school absenteeism and use of antibiotics in children with the common cold.

Endoscopy Blog: March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month!

Alison Hooker, Team Lead Endoscopy Services

Most people don’t like to talk about their colon. Other than some locker room bathroom humor, it’s generally off-limits for polite conversation.

In 2002, Katie Couric started the conversation. That’s when she had her own colonoscopy on live television. She did this because at the age of 42, her husband died from colon cancer. He had no symptoms. She wanted to bring attention to a disease that is preventable.

What to Expect from Medcan Genetics

Allison Janson Hazell, Genetic Counsellor

I recently joined Medcan as a Genetic Counsellor. I’ve been working for several years in an Adult Genetics clinic at a downtown Toronto hospital—and love my job there. However, the huge draw for me to come to Medcan was to be a part of the most forward-thinking Genetics program in Canada. Traditionally the Genetics specialty has been available to only a select few: those with symptoms of, or a family history of, rare genetic disease. Medcan Genetics, however, is forging the way to providing genetic risk assessment to a wider population, and successfully integrating this service into Primary Care.