My doctor has urged me to go for a brisk 30-minute walk, five times a week. I know she is right about my need to get moving. But is walking the best...
Personal Health Navigator
Paul Taylor, Sunnybrook’s Patient Navigation Advisor, will provide advice and answer questions to patients and visitors, relying heavily on medical and health experts.
Having trouble navigating the healthcare system? Have a question about your care?
Ask Paul: askpaul@sunnybrook.ca
I’m becoming more forgetful – could I have Alzheimer’s disease?
I'm having more and more difficulty remembering people’s names. I dread to think this, but could I be getting Alzheimer’s disease?
Mixed messages for patients taking antibiotics
My doctor has always said I should take all my pills when I’m prescribed an antibiotic. But a recent news report says patients might be able to...
Why pregnancy and marijuana are a bad mix
My daughter is pregnant and she has been smoking some marijuana to reduce nausea and vomiting from morning sickness. She says it won’t hurt her...
Should precursors to breast cancer be treated right away?
I have been diagnosed with a breast condition called ductal carcinoma in situ. My doctor says it could turn into breast cancer and should be removed...
Why user fees would be bad for Canadian health care
The news media is full of stories about overcrowded hospital emergency rooms and people waiting a long time for medical treatments. Why don’t we...
How ‘mindfulness’ group therapy can speed access to mental-health care
I suffer from anxiety. My family doctor said I would have to wait a long time to get an appointment with a psychiatrist, and suggested I attend a...
What you need to know about being discharged from hospital
My brother was in a car accident and taken to a trauma centre at a major hospital. After he began to improve, he was sent to another hospital for the...
Getting rid of unused drugs: To flush or not to flush?
The FDA website says it’s okay to flush some drugs down the toilet. But Health Canada’s says you should never flush away drugs because it’s bad...
Is total rest really the best treatment for concussions?
My daughter suffered a concussion while playing hockey. The doctor said she should rest until her symptoms disappear. But after one month she is...