When it comes to eating healthy, it’s not always easy to separate fact from fiction.

“We’re constantly bombarded with food and nutrition advice from friends, family, the media and the Internet, so it’s no surprise that certain misconceptions continue to thrive,” said Belinda Lo, a Dietitian at The Scarborough Hospital.

Lo takes us through some of the most common food and nutrition myths, and the truth behind them. 

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Research shows that pre-operative teaching programs help children and families feel more comfortable on the day of surgery. Based on this research, the Child Life Specialists at The Scarborough Hospital have designed a pre-operative teaching program called “Hello Hospital”.

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Ovarian cancer has been called ‘the cancer that whispers’ because of its vague symptoms and lack of effective screening. But more and more women and health care providers are speaking out about this ‘silent killer’. “Unfortunately, only about 19 per cent of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed before the cancer has spread outside the ovaries,” says Dr. Orit Freedman, a Medical Oncologist at The Scarborough Hospital. “However, when ovarian cancer is found after it has spread, while it’s sometimes not curable, it is treatable.”

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The figures are staggering—worldwide, over 76 million people have an alcohol use disorder, more than 15 million have drug use disorders and one-third over the age of 15 smoke tobacco. In Ontario alone, about 332,000 people have a gambling addiction. Despite the prevalence of these issues, knowing how to approach a friend or loved one about a substance abuse or addiction problem can be challenging. Roberto Mazzei, Social Worker in the Outpatient Mental Health Program at The Scarborough Hospital, points out that it’s important to be aware of the common myths that surround substance abuse and addictions.

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Sometimes a little controversy can be a good thing. When Facebook blocked Toronto Public Health from running its "Check your Package" ad campaign promoting testicular cancer self-exams, it actually focused a lot of attention on what is a very important subject. Cancer of the testicles is the most common form of cancer among men aged 15-35, and it is 95% curable if caught early. All it takes is a regular self-exam.

Dr. Henry Krieger talks about how to perform monthly exams, and what to look for, in the latest Tips for Staying Healthy blog posting.

Although smoking rates have decreased significantly over the last two decades, lung cancer – most commonly caused by smoking – is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Canada. Each year, over 24,000 people in Canada are diagnosed with lung cancer and 20,000 Canadians die of the disease.

“For those who do smoke, quitting can have a significant and positive impact on your health,” says Dr. Henry Krieger, a medical oncologist at The Scarborough Hospital. “Lung cancer is the most preventable cancer and the deadliest. Quitting smoking can reduce your risk of developing the disease.”

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Colon cancer is one of the most lethal cancers around. In fact, in non-smokers, it is THE cancer most likely to kill. It does not discriminate between genders; males and females who have been diagnosed with colon cancer face a 50 per cent chance of dying from it.

“So this means screening is critically important in saving lives,” explains The Scarborough Hospital Gastroenterologist Dr. Eric Hurowitz. “We think we can prevent 85 to 95 per cent of colon cancer through screening, be it with fecal occult blood testing or telescopic tests like colonoscopies or sigmoidoscopies.”

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An estimated 2 million Canadians have kidney disease or are at risk. More than 20,000 Canadians require dialysis to stay alive. Currently, 1,055 people in Ontario are waiting for a kidney transplant.

With the largest Chronic Kidney Disease Program in North America, The Scarborough Hospital provides care to more than 3,000 pre-dialysis patients.

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Getting enough fruits and vegetables is important for a balanced diet and your overall health, but fresh fruits and vegetables can add up on the food bill, especially when out of season. But there are ways you can get the most nutrition out of your food dollar.

Canada’s Food Guide recommends four servings of fruits and vegetables for children 2 to 3 years; five for children 4 to 8 years; six for children 9 to 13 years; seven for girls 14 to 18 years; eight for boys 14 to 18 years; seven to eight for women 19 to 50 years; eight to ten for men 19 to 50 years; and seven for all adults 51 years or older.

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In recent weeks, tragic cases of elder abuse and neglect have made headlines. It is important to be aware of the signs of elder abuse to ensure seniors you care about are not suffering physically, psychologically or financially because of someone else’s actions.

“Often seniors are embarrassed or ashamed to disclose abuse or neglect,” says Debbie Driver, Nurse Practitioner, at the Geriatric Assessment and Intervention Network (GAIN) clinic at The Scarborough Hospital. “They often have no other supports in the community, and are often isolated by their abuser. In many cases, English is their second language, and they are not aware of or able to ask about resources that they can access. This makes it difficult for the senior to trust and tell someone about the abuse.”

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Think about what you were doing in the last ten minutes. In those past ten minutes, someone in Canada had a stroke.

A stroke is a medical emergency, where a blood clot or ruptured artery stops the flow of blood to the brain. With 50,000 occurring each year, strokes are the third leading cause of death in Canada.

“A lifestyle that includes a healthy diet and regular exercise can help to reduce your risk of stroke,” says Dr. Garry Moddel, a neurologist at The Scarborough Hospital. “Unfortunately, there are also many stroke risk factors,  such as age, gender and family history that you can’t change.”

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Spring is here—and so is the time to lose those winter pounds. However, busy schedules and celebrity trends may prompt us to resort to unhealthy diets when trying to lose weight.

Diets are often temporary—they promise a quick fix and cause weight gain the moment you stop dieting. About 85 per cent of people lose weight on diets, but only 15 per cent will keep the weight off in the next two years.

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The snowy days may be behind us, but we still need to cover up to protect against ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. Before heading out into the sunshine, consider the harmful effects of UV rays on our sight.

When the sky is overcast, you still need sun protection. Overexposure to the sun can cause cataracts, a form of eye damage in which a loss of transparency in the lens of the eye clouds vision.

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Bedwetting (the medical term is enuresis) is considered a natural part of child development, and children usually grow out of it by the time they are seven years of age. It’s very common (about 13 per cent of six-year-olds wet the bed, while about five per cent of 10-year-olds do) and often runs in families.

“While it can be embarrassing for the child, it’s important to remember that bedwetting is usually not a sign of any deeper medical or emotional issues,” explains Dr. Nick Logarakis, a urologist at The Scarborough Hospital who specializes in children and young adults. “It usually goes away on its own, but it’s important for parents to provide support and positive reinforcement, reassuring your child that it’s a normal part of growing up.”

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High blood pressure, or hypertension, is known as the silent killer, and it is important to get your blood pressure checked regularly.

According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, five million Canadians, or 19 per cent of the adult population, have high blood pressure and 17 per cent are unaware of their condition.

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Before heading out into the sun this spring, summer and fall, it’s important to take a moment and consider the harmful effects summer weather can have on our largest organ—our skin. 

Even when the sky is overcast, you still need sun protection. Overexposure to the sun can cause your immune system to malfunction, and cause melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer, as well as wrinkles, freckles and telangiectasias (dilation of small blood vessels).

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During the summer, there’s nothing better than sharing picnics, bbqs and camping trips with your friends and family. However, foodborne illnesses – also known as food poisoning – can be the biggest party crasher at any outdoor meal.

Symptoms of a foodborne illness can include stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, and fever. They can begin a few hours after eating contaminated food, or can be delayed by several days or even weeks.

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From buzzing bees, to swarming mosquitoes, to poison ivy, knowing how to avoid and treat the effects of insect stings, bites, and skin irritations can make spending time in the outdoors safe and enjoyable.

“Beyond the common effects of insect bites and stings, many people don’t realize that skin and respiratory reactions can also occur in other situations, such as when dangerous plants like poison ivy are burned in campfires,” says Dr. Sophie Hofstader, a dermatologist at The Scarborough Hospital.

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A dip in the pool or spending time at the beach or cottage are hallmarks of summer fun. However, each year, water-related accidents ruin much more than just a day out for many Canadian families.

“Sadly, over the past few years, Canada has seen an increase in water-related injuries and deaths, including those that involve children,” said Dr. Leah Tattum, a Pediatrician at The Scarborough Hospital. “It’s truly tragic for us to witness as healthcare professionals, as they are often entirely avoidable.”

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