A recent report showed that Canada’s national life expectancy dropped for the third year in a row. —now sitting at an average of 81.3 years. Why are experts calling this decline a historical change? And how can you make tweaks in your routine to help you increase your lifespan and your healthspan?

Here, Dr. Peter Nord is joined by Dr. Doug Manuel, MD, (pictured above) director of the Big Life Lab at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and expert in preventive medicine.

The team at Sunnybrook’s Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program is making impressive progress with the help of their lab-grown organoids.

Here, Dr. Peter Nord explores how these advances could change the way we treat Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and how your lifestyle choices might affect whether or not you actually develop a cognitive disease. He’s joined by renowned neurologist Dr. Sandra Black, (pictured above) who leads the Dr. Sandra Black Centre For Brain Resilience and Recovery, and Director of Sunnybrook’s Biological Sciences Platform. Dr. JoAnne McLaurin.

As 2023 comes to a close, Eat Move Think is rounding up the health and wellness trends and updates that left lasting impressions on such Medcan experts as Shaun Francis, Dr. Peter Nord, Leslie Beck and Dr. Andrew Miners. How did their own personal wellness evolve? What innovations will they be watching next year? And what are the biggest takeaways that you can carry forward to optimize your own health in 2024?

Rates of colon cancer in Canada aren’t standard across the board. They’re dropping in populations over 50 years old, and rising in younger demographics. Dr. Jeff Axler, Medcan’s director of gastroenterology and endoscopy, has scoped over 40,000 colons throughout his career. Here, he chats with CMO Dr. Peter Nord about why Medcan’s colon cancer screening guidelines stand out from other recommendations in Canada, how you can learn about your unique risk, and why the preparation for your colonoscopy isn’t nearly as bad as you thought.

Many Canadians are packing their bags for their annual trip down south to spend the winter months somewhere tropical. Here, Medcan CMO Dr. Peter Nord (pictured above in Ireland with his son) is joined by clinical director of travel medicine, Dr. Aisha Khatib. Learn how you can deal with health issues effectively while abroad, (or even prevent them before you leave). Plus, get tips to zap your jet lag—whether you’re gone for the week or the whole winter.

When the temperature drops, we spend more time indoors and get less fresh air, increasing our risk of getting sick. Get tips and tricks from all of your favourite hosts (pictured: Dr. Peter Nord) to help you eat, move, and think your way to staving off the sniffles, avoiding those aches and pains, and getting back on your feet. Learn which common remedies work, which don’t, and which are essential for staying healthy.

Research suggests that one in three Canadians is living with diabetes or prediabetes. So if your doctor tells you that you’re insulin resistant, what steps can you take? Here, Dr. Peter Nord is joined by Medcan endocrinologist Dr. Susan George (pictured above)—who was named to the Order of Canada in 2020—to break down how you can eat, move and think your way to improved insulin sensitivity—and maybe even reverse your diagnosis.

Last year, Medcan director of weight management Dr. David Macklin (pictured above) predicted the diabetes medication semaglutide would be a game changer for those seeking help to lose weight. So we invited back Dr. Macklin to get his perspective on the medication, now that it’s actually on the market and being used by hundreds of thousands of people across North America. Joined by Medcan CMO Dr. Peter Nord, Dr. Macklin explains semaglutide’s benefits, side effects and costs — and describes what’s different about Medcan’s approach to weight management in the semaglutide era.

We’ve all had a headache that stopped our day in its tracks. To mark Migraine Awareness Month, we’re devoting an episode to the causes and cures for all sorts of headaches. So how can you know what is causing your headache? What is the best way to get rid of it, and how can you avoid them in the long run? Here, Dr. Peter Nord (pictured above) breaks down everything you need to know about getting rid of headaches, with the help of Medcan physiatrist, Dr. Marcus Jansen, and Medcan optometrist, Dr. Suneet Dhadwar.

In 2022, Medcan became the first wellness provider in the country to enter the age of truly personalized medicine by providing whole genome sequencing to clients seeking the most advanced technology available to promote longevity. Now, a year later, who is getting their whole genome sequenced, and what impact has the decision had on their lives? What are some of the most surprising findings? Director of clinical innovation Allison Hazell (pictured above) leads director of genetics Jessica Gu and genetic counsellor Justin Lorentz in a fascinating discussion that also features CMO Dr. Peter Nord reflecting on his own experience getting his whole genome sequenced.

Sleeping well is crucial for wellness. But for those of us who work at demanding jobs, it can be all too easy to sacrifice sleep. In fact, thanks also to streaming services and social media, society is as sleep deprived as we’ve ever been. So in this episode, Medcan chief medical officer Dr. Peter Nord talks with sleep deprivation expert Dr. Ann E. Rogers (pictured above) of Georgia’s Emory University. The two discuss the reasons we’re not getting the slumber we need—and share tips and tricks to maintain performance even during those periods where you’re not getting enough shut-eye.

Canada’s new alcohol guidelines tell us there is no safe amount when it comes to drinking alcohol. To learn about the implications for us all, Medcan’s chief medical officer Dr. Peter Nord (pictured above) walks us through interviews with guideline coauthors Dr. Tim Naimi, physician and director of Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, and Dr. Jürgen Rehm, epidemiologist at CAMH and professor at the University of Toronto. We also check in with guideline critic Dr. Dan Malleck, historian and health sciences professor at Brock University.

Workforces increasingly expect their employers to support their health and wellbeing—which is why Medcan created the Workplace Health and Wellness Strategy Playbook. In the latest episode of Eat Move Think, join such MAS physicians as Dr. Peter Nord (pictured above), Dr. Alain Sotto, Dr. Matthew Burnstein and Dr. Aisha Khatib as they share first-hand experiences of best practices for workplace wellness, to promote engagement and productivity among employees.

February is Heart Health month, so what better time to bring attention to how you can keep your heart healthy and strong? Heart disease is the second leading cause of death in Canada, and is the first leading cause of premature death in women. Here, Medcan director of cardiology, Dr. Beth Abramson, (pictured above) joins Dr. Peter Nord to break down everything you need to know about heart disease, and the main risk factors that cause it.

Our conversations about mental health have changed in the past few years. So when your coworker or close friend discloses that they’re having a tough time, how can you provide the response they need? What’s the best way to set boundaries? And how can you take care of yourself? Learn about things to say, do, and avoid to best show your support, from wellness host Dr. Peter Nord and Medcan social worker Jennifer Baldachin (pictured above).

Early detection of cardiovascular disease can be life-changing. Problem is, many methods identify cardiac disease only after it has progressed to later stages. High-sensitivity troponin screening uses a blood sample to detect elevated risk of cardiovascular disease, years before most other methods. In this conversation between our Wellness host, Dr. Peter Nord, Medcan’s chief medical officer, and Tricia Ravalico, (pictured above) Director, Global Scientific Leadership and Education at Abbott, we explore the development of the hs-Troponin test and describe why it is so innovative.

As temperatures fall, darkness and cold can make wellness behaviours more difficult. We might skip workouts to avoid going out in the cold, in favour of cozying up to a good book or movie. More time indoors and less sunlight can contribute to mental health issues. And some of us find it more difficult to maintain a healthy diet. So how can we stay healthy and happy through the colder months? Host Shaun Francis (pictured above) leads a tip-filled discussion with Medcan experts Dr. Peter Nord, Dr. Andrew Miners and Joanna Stochla, RD.