The roadmap to curing cancer

This week on Health Matters, Tarah Schwartz and Dr. Marc Rodgers discuss why it is significant to support physician-scientists with the Rising Star Program. Michael Mazza discusses a network of Canadian hospitals coming together with one goal in mind: to cure cancer. This year’s honouree of Le Bal Rouge, Dr. Kevin Schwartzman shares what makes the Montreal Chest Institute special. And are you at risk of hypertension? Dr. Stella Daskalopoulou shares what you need to know to prevent hypertension. 

Cette semaine à Questions de santé, Tarah Schwartz discute avec le Dr Marc Rodgers de l’importance d’appuyer les médecins-scientifiques dans le cadre du Programme Étoiles montantes. Michael Mazza présente un réseau d’hôpitaux canadiens mis sur pied pour atteindre un but commun : guérir le cancer. Le Dr Kevin Schwartzman, à qui nous avons rendu hommage cette année dans le cadre du Bal Rouge, explique ce qui fait de l’Institut thoracique de Montréal un établissement aussi spécial. Êtes-vous à risque d’hypertension? La Dre Stella Daskalopoulou explique ce que vous devez savoir pour prévenir l’hypertension.

Transcript

Tarah Schwartz: 0:00

Hello there. Thank you for joining us. I'm Tarah Schwartz and this is Health Matters on CJAD 800. On today's show and inspiring and potentially life changing initiative that partners numerous hospitals and research hospitals across the country with one goal, create the roadmap to cure cancer. Later in the show, we speak with the executive director of the Terry Fox Foundation about the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centers Network and the MUHC Foundation's role in this exciting venture. Plus, an expert shares tips about preventing hypertension. But first, it was a special evening may 11, when the MUHC Foundation and the MUHC Department of Medicine honored the best and brightest early career physician-scientists. The first Rising Star Physician's gala marked the launch of the MUHC Foundation's & Department of Medicine's Rising Star Program. The program provides funding to rising stars in medicine to help kick start their research, training and mentorship. We spoke with the inaugural awardee Dr. Patrick Lawler a few weeks back. Today, we speak to the physician-in-chief at the McGill University Health Center. Dr. Marc Rodger, thank you for joining us, Dr. Roger.

Dr. Marc Rodger: 1:15

Absolutely. Thanks for having me.

Tarah Schwartz: 1:17

So tell us about your role as Physician-in-Chief, what does that encompass?

Dr. Marc Rodger: 1:24

Sure. So I'm the lead of the medical mission of the McGill University Health Centre and it's three campuses. So the physician lead for the Department of Medicine and all of the sub-specialties for the Department of Medicine.

Tarah Schwartz: 1:47

Now, you started just a few months, you started in that role as physician-in-chief of the MUHC just a few months before the pandemic hit. So what was that like for you coming in the role at that moment?

Dr. Marc Rodger: 1:59

Birth by fire, Tarah. I arrived from Ottawa. So new to McGill, new to the Quebec healthcare system, new to the MUHC and had to get to know people pretty darn quick and to respond to the crisis.

Tarah Schwartz: 2:20

Now, you said that you're the medical lead. So how many doctors do you work with who work under you when you're physician-in-chief. How many doctors are we talking about?

Dr. Marc Rodger: 2:31

We have 17 divisions in the Department of Medicine. So you know all of the'ologys' allergy, immunology, dermatology, cardiology, rheumatology, respirology. Within each of those divisions, we've got anywhere from five to 60 physicians and in total in the Department of Medicine, all of those divisions together we have 280 full-time physicians.

Tarah Schwartz: 2:57

Wow. Big hospital right?

Dr. Marc Rodger: 3:00

Absolutely, huge hospital.

Tarah Schwartz: 3:02

Now before you came on as physician-in-chief What was your area of expertise? What were you a doctor of?

Dr. Marc Rodger: 3:10

I'm a hematologist or a blood specialist and I do principally clinical care and research in venous thrombosis or deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, blood clots, and like things and blood clots in the lungs.

Tarah Schwartz: 3:25

Tell us a little bit about what that is.

Dr. Marc Rodger: 3:30

It's the third most common cardiovascular disorder. The second leading cause of cardiovascular deaths after heart attacks. And it's basically blood clots typically develop in leg veins cause leg pain, leg swelling. Those blood clots sometimes break off and go to the lungs and cause chest pain, shortness of breath and unfortunately, sometimes sudden death. We do clinical work and research to prevent venous thrombosis from happening and figuring out the optimal treatments for venous thrombosis.

Tarah Schwartz: 4:07

We are speaking with physician-in-chief at the McGill University Health Centre; the MUHC Dr. Marc Rodger, and we're talking about many things, but one of the things we're talking about is the very first Rising Star in Medicine gala. So why is it important in your mind, Dr. Rodger to support these early-career physician-scientists?

Dr. Marc Rodger: 4:30

It's about both attracting them to McGill to the MUHC, to Montreal and Quebec. Once we've attracted them here, making sure that they get off to a great start. In terms of getting off to a great start, it's very important. These are the Olympians of medical care and the Olympians of science. And it's very important that they have time to do their science, to be successful and launched properly. Just like an Olympian needs to have adequate time to train in addition to doing their day jobs. These scientists need adequate time and facilities to launch their research careers. After they've launched, typically they're able to get external funding from government agencies, FRQS, the Fonds de recherche Quebec Sante specifically, to help keep them going.

Tarah Schwartz: 5:34

So I'm understanding that these Olympians in medicine and science; there are multiple hospitals covering them. And we have to do our best here in Montreal at the MUHC to say, come here, because we can provide you with a, b, c, and d. Is that right?

Dr. Marc Rodger: 5:52

Yeah, that's absolutely right. We are, again, talking about the cream of the crop nationally and internationally. They've got options. We want to make it very difficult for them to say no to come to Montreal, by providing them with great facilities, by providing them with protected time to do their science, to practice. And it's a huge benefit to the Montreal population to have the best and the brightest here at the MUHC.

Tarah Schwartz: 6:29

That's exactly what I was just thinking about, because I was going to say to you; it's wonderful to sort of draw them here and have them here doing their science. But what is the impact for the population, for the patients at the MUHC? Can you talk a little bit more about that?

Dr. Marc Rodger: 6:44

The discoveries and innovations that they develop here- they deliver here. We're ensuring that our patients are getting cutting-0edge care by having the best and the brightest, practicing at the MUHC, doing science at the MUHC. The other big benefit is that people want to work with the best. So we also attract other high-performing clinicians and scientists and also trainees that, again, want to come and train with the best and brightest.

Tarah Schwartz: 7:24

Part of securing these Olympians of medicine, I love seeing them that way. You need philanthropy. How does philanthropy help with securing these top scientists and top medical specialists?

Dr. Marc Rodger: 7:41

For these early-career Rising Star Awards, which are funded by both the combination of the physicians themselves. The collective of the physicians, the Department of Medicine, pool money in order to attract these folks. And the other source is philanthropy. What these funds do is they allow these early-career scientists operating grants or grants to be able to do their research to generate pilot data to seed-fund projects that are then ultimately taken over by government and sometimes industry funding. We also protect their time so that they have over 50% of their time dedicated to pursuing their science rather than only providing clinical care.

Tarah Schwartz: 8:46

We're speaking with Physician-in-Chief at the McGill University Health Centre, Dr. Marc Rodger. The Physician's gala the Rising Star Gala, the very first one was held on May 11. Tell us a little bit about how that event went.

Dr. Marc Rodger: 8:59

It was a great evening, a great evening to get a lot of the physicians from the Department of Medicine together to celebrate our first rising star, Dr. Patrick Lawler, who we were able to extract from Toronto. Also thank many of our generous donors that contributed to the event that it is meant to fundraise for this Rising Star program.

Tarah Schwartz: 9:36

Dr. Rodger, I want to thank you for taking the time to come on the show. We appreciate speaking with you.

Dr. Marc Rodger: 9:41

Absolutely.

Tarah Schwartz: 9:42

Next up on Health Matters, there is one goal in mind to cure cancer and the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network wants to do just that. I'm Tarah Schwartz. Welcome back to Health Matters on CJAD 800. It is an ambitious but a potentially life-changing initiative. The Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network hopes to unite hospitals and research hospitals across Canada to create the roadmap to cure cancer. This vision has been years in the making from the Terry Fox Research Institute, inspired by, of course, Terry Fox and his Marathon of Hope. The network represents a powerful collaborative platform that aims to close the gap between research in the lab and patient care in the clinic. The MUHC and the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre are thrilled to be a part of it. Michael Mazza is the Executive Director of the Terry Fox Foundation, and he joins us now. Welcome, Mr. Mazza.

Michael Mazza: 10:42

Hi, thank you for having me.

Tarah Schwartz: 10:44

Maybe you could start by helping us understand what in general is the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network?

Michael Mazza: 10:53

I thought you did a great job. It's about collaboration. It's about bringing the best researchers, the best institutions together to share data, to share information, to really benefit the patient at the end of the day. Cancer is complicated and if we all work together; we can make so much more headway.

Tarah Schwartz: 11:14

And when did this Cancer Centres Network become itself? How long has it been going?

Michael Mazza: 11:22

We've been working on it for several years. But it really has come to fruition in the last 12 months. We have now 25 institutions working together, from coast to coast. The Quebec group is playing a significant role and the MUHC is obviously helping us lead that and connecting it to the rest of the country. It is all about building a database that both clinicians and researchers can access.

Tarah Schwartz: 11:52

That was sort of my next question. So even though you've got researchers say from everywhere, from Halifax, to Vancouver, British Columbia, are they all working in one database? Putting information in, getting to read about other projects and research and priorities? Is that how it all works? That it is all on a database and everybody collaborates there on that platform?

Michael Mazza: 12:13

Yes, so everyone collaborates. It's not a database in the sense that it is housed somewhere. Everybody continues to keep the information that they have. But this creates access for the clinicians and partners across the country. It's all about scaling data, so that we can change the way we address this complex disease.

Tarah Schwartz: 12:39

And what is the most challenging part about getting a network in a database like this up and running?

Michael Mazza: 12:48

These are the best minds in Canada and these are great institutions. Getting them all to agree, is somewhat complicated. What's exciting about this is it's the first time that we've all come together and we've all said yes, this is important. Precision Medicine is important. And we want to work together because that's going to have better patient outcomes. So it's hard to get people in the room. But once they're there, it's really exciting.

Tarah Schwartz: 13:14

Michael Mazza is the executive director of the Terry Fox Foundation. Mr. Mazza, how significant is it that Montreal's Research Institute of the MUHC and the McGill University Health Centre are part of this initiative?

Michael Mazza: 13:27

It's critical for many reasons. One, we want diversity in our database, from coast to coast. That's full geographic diversity, we want cultural diversity and we want all the best minds. There are some great researchers, great institutions in Montreal and Quebec. And it's critical that they participate in an all-Canadian solution as we move forward. This is about focusing on what's best for the patient. Working together is definitely where we need to go.

Tarah Schwartz: 13:58

What has been the reaction of different institutions like the RI, the MUHC, places across the country. What has been the reaction to working together and sharing information so far?

Michael Mazza: 14:10

There's a lot of enthusiasm. Everybody realizes that individually, we can't quite achieve what we want to achieve. And so when they see everybody participating, and they know the power of all that extra information that everybody's going to have access to. We know that as we move forward, if you're diagnosed with cancer, we're going to be able to analyze that at the molecular level, and take the guesswork out of our treatment strategies. We're going to say we know this is best for you, because this is how your cancer compares to others.

Tarah Schwartz: 14:44

And is that impact on patients happening now? Is it going to happen in the next year five years, when is that impact on the actual person diagnosed with cancer going to happen?

Michael Mazza: 14:55

The data is being input now. Some of that will happen today. Most of that will happen as the database grows. So in five years, our abilities will be significantly improved. In 10 years, there'll be dramatically improved. And so this will move exponentially up with every passing year in our ability to match treatment to the patient and to the specific cancer they have.

Tarah Schwartz: 15:20

I know that I've talked to a lot of doctors, a lot of scientists on the show. I know that some are very hopeful and actually use words like we can and will find a cure for cancer. Some are a bit more restrained. Are you as Executive Director of the Terry Fox Foundation, someone who is instrumental in this Marathon of Hope Cancer Centers Network? Are you someone who says, I know that we will find a cure for cancer. Is that you?

Michael Mazza: 15:47

Yes. Terry believed that we could find a world without cancer. And we continue to believe that we've made dramatic improvements over the last decade; over the last two decades. And it is complex. But when you look 25 years ago, the number of people that were dying from cancer every single day was about 215 per 100,00. In 2019, it was about 146. Those are improvements. So I do believe that we can find a world without cancer. And that's the goal that we'll continue to work towards.

Tarah Schwartz: 16:19

Now, I feel like every single person listening has their own memory or memories of Terry Fox. I can remember being 10 years old and running in my local town's Terry Fox Run. It is such a vivid memory for me. Why do you think his legacy has taken on this incredibly powerful form that has gone from his run all the way to this incredible network of cancer centers?

Michael Mazza: 16:48

I think for many reasons. I think one, he had a vision that no one else dared to even state. I'm going to go out and run across the country. I know I only have one leg because I've had cancer. I can do this. I can inspire Canadians; I can raise $1 million. And then he changed his mind and said, I'll raise $25 million. That's extraordinary. I think his perseverance, his ability to run 143 marathons in a row, makes him probably the greatest athlete we've ever had. His selflessness his belief in unity. I think those are values that people just gravitate towards.

Tarah Schwartz: 17:30

Yeah, it really has. It's amazing to think how long ago he lived and died in the end. Like, it's incredible. There's so much time has passed.

Michael Mazza: 17:41

I am always amazed. We do a lot of work in the schools and young kids today. They like they're just so inspired when they listen to his story. And it's so amazing that it resonates with them. And they never saw him. For me, that's really extraordinary.

Tarah Schwartz: 17:59

It's true. My little boy was 10, last year and did the Terry Fox Run at his school. And it's amazing to hear him come home and tell the story as if they're hearing about it for the first time. But when I tell him when I was little I did it. He's like, what? That's amazing. So yeah, it really is. We talk a lot about big dreams at the MUHC Foundation. What is your big dream for the future of cancer care?

Michael Mazza: 18:24

For me, it is that world without cancer. It's when today, nearly one in two people are diagnosed with cancer. It's still the leading cause of death in Canada and around the world. For me, getting to that point where we don't fear it, and it doesn't affect us. That's where we want to go.

Tarah Schwartz: 18:44

A lot of what you deal with every day really is philanthropy. I'm curious about how you feel about the value of philanthropy; whether someone's able to donate $5 or$500. How do you talk about that need and how important it is?

Michael Mazza: 19:01

I think philanthropy is incredibly powerful. And when we all do what we can, whether that's $5, or something much larger than that. It's when we put that together for purpose that we achieved something extraordinary. Terry believed in it. He thought that if everyone could just participate, we will find a cure for cancer. I think that holds true today. The federal government has put $150 million match gift to help inspire all donors for the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centers Network. So every dollar that's given, they'll give another dollar. This is powerful, and together we can accomplish great things.

Tarah Schwartz: 19:43

I love that. I'm a believer to Michael Mazza, the Executive Director of the Terry Fox Foundation. Thank you so, so much for your time today.

Michael Mazza: 19:50

Thank you for having me.

Tarah Schwartz: 19:52

Next up on Health Matters, the MUHC Foundation's signature fundraising gala is this week. We speak with the honoree for this year's exquisite soiree. I'm Tarah Schwartz and this is Health Matters. Le Bal Rouge, the MUHC Foundation's signature gala, is coming up this week on Friday, May 26. Windsor Station will be taken over for the annual fundraising gala. The theme this year is The Great Gatsby celebrating the decadence of the 1920s. So much fun. Each gala honors someone and for the 2023 edition, we will be honoring Dr. Kevin Schwartzman, director of the respiratory division of the MUHC. His dedication and the incredible work he does at the Montreal Chest Institute will be celebrated and he joins us now. Hi, Dr. Schwartzman.

Dr. Kevin Schwartzman: 20:37

Hi, Tarah, how are you?

Tarah Schwartz: 20:39

I am well, thank you. Congratulations on being this year's celebratory physician. It's such a wonderful thing. How do you feel about it?

Dr. Kevin Schwartzman: 20:48

Incredibly honored and perhaps slightly inadequate, but we'll see.

Tarah Schwartz: 20:56

Now tell us a little bit about your medical career, Dr. Schwartzman. Take us back; how did you get to where you are now?

Dr. Kevin Schwartzman: 21:03

Great question. So I decided to train in internal medicine following my medical school at McGill. I actually trained at the Montreal General Hospital where had outstanding clinical exposures. And then, essentially, very early in my internal medicine training, I was exposed to an outstanding respirologist, who became a real role model for me. Dr. Neil Coleman, who some of your listeners might know. And it was that exposure coupled with the breadth and diversity of respiratory disease that really stimulated me to pursue a career in that field.

Tarah Schwartz: 21:42

And once you veered off into that direction, tell us what you find is the most exciting and interesting part about working in respiratory medicine.

Dr. Kevin Schwartzman: 21:52

I can perhaps answer everything. But it's really, I think the diversity of patients we serve, the diversity of conditions we deal with, and the incredible teamwork that goes into the successful care of people suffering from respiratory disease.

Tarah Schwartz: 22:15

Now, the Montreal Chest Institute has such a storied history, it's such a long standing institution tell us who visits. Who are the patients of the Montreal Chest Institute; who it helps?

Dr. Kevin Schwartzman: 22:27

We see about 30,000 patients each year. Some of whom are new to us; many of whom are people we have gotten to know well over sometimes an extended period. They can be people suffering from more chronic respiratory conditions. Some are very common like asthma or unfortunately, COPD. Some less so like interstitial lung disease. Still others with sleep apnea, which again is very prevalent, lung cancer, which is much more frequent than we would like. And then others with more acute problems, perhaps infections, notably tuberculosis, but also pneumonia, diseases of the pleural space, which is the envelope around the lung; it's extremely diverse. The other thing is that many of our patients either have concomitant other health conditions that don't involve the lungs, or in fact have lung problems that are the manifestation of diseases that involve the whole body. For example, things like rheumatoid arthritis. We also see patients with lung problems related to occupational exposures; for example, to asbestos or silica dust. That's extremely diverse.

Tarah Schwartz: 23:39

It is. Dr. Kevin Schwartzman is our guest today. He's the director of the respiratory division of the MUHC. Now I know that your research focuses specifically on tuberculosis. Dr. Schwartzman, tell us a little bit about what that is and what you're working on.

Dr. Kevin Schwartzman: 23:52

That's right, Tarah. Tuberculosis, up until the COVID pandemic, was actually the leading cause of death worldwide from a single infectious agent; having unfortunately eclipsed HIV. Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that primarily involves the lungs, but can involve any body site. And what's distinctive about TB is that the bacteria can stay dormant in people's bodies for many years and then create disease and symptoms only later when the person; for example, becomes ill or malnourished for other reasons. TB is not very common in Canada now, although we still see it in some segments of the population. But it's very common for people to harbor so-called latent or dormant TB infection. We estimate actually that nearly a quarter of people born outside Canada who live here now have latent TB infection. My research focuses on approaches to better prevent and care for people with TB. For example, we're looking into the use of digital technologies to support TB treatment. We're also looking at potential new approaches to screening and preventive treatment for TB infection.

Tarah Schwartz: 25:09

Now, considering that COVID-19 had a significant impact on the lungs. What was your life like, during the COVID 19 pandemic?

Dr. Kevin Schwartzman: 25:19

Extremely hectic and frenetic during the early months. I helped the MUHC up the system of ward treatment for COVID; meaning for those patients who were fortunately not the severely ill who required an intensive care unit treatment, but not well enough to be at home. At its peak, we had think about 70 or so patients at the Glen site and perhaps slightly fewer at the Montreal General Hospital. This is again, in addition to the many patients that required intensive care. It was very challenging at the beginning. It was also exhilarating in the sense that people were really united for a common purpose. Of course, at the beginning, we didn't know what we know now, both in terms of COVID itself, but also we didn't realize that there were going to be successive waves. So very early on that feeling was if we can just push through this together for a couple of months; hopefully things will get back to what we would consider more normal. But of course, that's not how things proved to be.

Tarah Schwartz: 26:36

Our guest today is Dr. Kevin Schwarzman. He is the Director of the respiratory division of the MUHC. He is also the honoree at the MUHC Foundation's Le Bal Rouge this year. Do you think that the public, Dr. Schwartzman, is more aware of respiratory illnesses now in the post-pandemic world? Post-ish?

Dr. Kevin Schwartzman: 26:57

Yes. Of course, some people have unfortunately lost loved ones to COVID. Typically, from respiratory failure, unfortunately. Others will have had family members, loved ones, friends, perhaps themselves, suffer from at least moderate COVID disease where they realized for the first time what it's like not to be able to catch your breath. And still others, unfortunately, are left with persistent respiratory symptoms related to having had COVID earlier during the pandemic. So yes, I think people are more aware. Of course, at the same time, many people would like to forget the whole thing. And so as we know, there's a certain amount of COVID fatigue as well.

Tarah Schwartz: 27:46

Yeah, absolutely. Now the Montreal Chest Institute used to be a stand-alone building. And now it's housed within the super hospital, the MUHC at the Glen site. But I still heard people describe the Montreal Chest Institute as retaining that small family aspect of a hospital. Do you agree with that? Do you see it that way?

Dr. Kevin Schwartzman: 28:09

I couldn't agree more. I'm lucky in that each day when I come to work, I work with people whom I trust and love. In many cases, we've worked together for a very long time. And similarly, we have patients that know us very, very well. And vice-versa, that we may have followed for many years. Often at our old site. So yes, there's very much that that feeling. Many of our patients still tell us that yes, that we're in the super hospital. But when they walk through those doors into our clinic, they say the nurses, doctors, respiratory therapists who have known them for years. They feel that they're a name and not simply a number, and that they are known as people as well as being known as patients.

Tarah Schwartz: 28:56

What do you like most about your job, Dr. Schwartzman?

Dr. Kevin Schwartzman: 29:01

A couple of things. Obviously, I love being able to help patients hopefully feel better; or at least get to the root of their problems. I love working with colleagues together on the care of patients, but perhaps also on research, on planning, new programs, that sort of thing. And one of the things, now that I have more than a few gray hairs. One of the things that brings the biggest satisfaction actually, is to help younger colleagues develop as clinicians, as researchers, and as respiratory experts. Again, when one gets to a certain point in one's life, it's no longer about building one's own career or CV but really, hopefully helping others to flourish. And I really love that.

Tarah Schwartz: 29:49

Spoken like a true leader. I want to congratulate you, Dr. Schwartzman, on being honored at this year's MUHC Foundation Le Bal Rouge and I look forward to seeing you at the gala on Friday.

Dr. Kevin Schwartzman: 30:00

Thank you so much, Tarah. I look forward to seeing you there.

Tarah Schwartz: 30:02

That was Kevin Schwartzman. He is the director of the respiratory Division at the MUHC and being honored by the MUHC Foundation's Le Bal Rouge on Friday, May 26. Coming up on the show, are you at risk of hypertension? What you need to know about measuring your blood pressure. I'm Tarah Schwartz, you're listening to Health Matters. This past Wednesday, was World hypertension Day. A day that brings awareness to the risks of hypertension. The theme of this year's day is measure your blood pressure accurately, control it, live longer. Dr. Stella Daskalopoulou is the Director of the Vascular Health Unit at the MUHC and she joins us now. Thank you for being here, Dr. Daskalopoulou.

Dr. Stella Daskalopoulou: 30:43

Thank you for having me to celebrate together the Hypertension awareness day or month.

Tarah Schwartz: 30:49

Oh month. Okay, let's start with the basics. And this is my most basic question, what is hypertension?

Dr. Stella Daskalopoulou: 30:56

Hypertension practically, and in a simple way is high blood pressure in your arteries of the body. The vessels that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body. I have to say that it's a very, very common, and 25% of the population in Canada and elsewhere have hypertension. And in fact, over the age of 65 or 70, about 70% of people have high blood pressure. So this is a very, very important risk factor, as we call it.

Tarah Schwartz: 31:26

So is hypertension and high blood pressure- are they interchangeable? Is that this sort of the same thing?

Dr. Stella Daskalopoulou: 31:32

Not exactly. But in a lay term; yes, we can indeed probably use it. But in fact, in hypertension, we usually have more organs being affected than just only blood pressure.

Tarah Schwartz: 31:52

And how does somebody get hypertension? Are people predisposed to it? Is it about the way they live the way they eat? How much exercise? What is it?

Dr. Stella Daskalopoulou: 32:00

Absolutely, you're right in all of this. There are factors actually that we cannot change. So as we age, we have higher blood pressure. Our genes play a big role. Our sex plays a big role, men being disadvantaged; not always, but in many cases disadvantaged. These are factors that we cannot change. But there are so many other factors that we can for our health and to prevent hypertension. Basically maintain a healthy lifestyle, including a healthy diet, reduce salt intake, exercise, have a healthy weight, reduce stress if you can. And absolutely stop smoking. This is very, very, very important.

Tarah Schwartz: 32:47

Okay, now, how much of an impact can it have on your life if you do have hypertension?

Dr. Stella Daskalopoulou: 32:53

If left untreated actually; if you have high blood pressure, and you don't do anything about this, it can be very dangerous or even life-threatening. We know that around the world in developed and developing countries, Hypertension is the number-one killer. I'm using this word in deliberately because it really kills you. It works silently for many years, and can eventually cause so many devastating conditions; including heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, kidney problems, you name it. It's very, very important that we do something to prevent it and if you have it to treat it.

Tarah Schwartz: 33:33

We're speaking with the MUHC's Dr. Stella Daskalopoulou and we're talking about hypertension. Are there signs and symptoms that people should look out for with regards to hypertension?

Dr. Stella Daskalopoulou: 33:44

Most of the people, they do not have symptoms. Until there are complications from high blood pressure. I've said before; for example, you have a heart attack or stroke, or until the blood pressure is really high. This is a trap because people don't realize that they have to treat the blood pressure because they don't feel- at the beginning at least- any different. Some people might feel an unexplained fatigue or headache. But we need to know that there are usually no symptoms of high blood pressure unless it's really, really high.

Tarah Schwartz: 34:19

Is this something that when you go to see your doctor you should ask to be checked for? How do we find out if we have it?

Dr. Stella Daskalopoulou: 34:27

machine. We need to know that we need to measure your blood pressure. You need to know your numbers and follow your numbers and as they climb up, you need to go and see your family physician or your doctor or somebody to address this. But definitely from the young age we need to know our numbers. Any opportunity we can have to measure the blood pressure should be welcomed.

Tarah Schwartz: 35:01

And when you say we need to know our numbers. Should the average person; like me, like the people listening, should we know what a good number is when we go to the pharmacy and see those machines? What is a good number? So

Dr. Stella Daskalopoulou: 35:16

Usually we say 140 over 90. There's two numbers there, the systolic; we say, and the diastolic blood pressure. The high number is systolic 140. The low number is 90. But this was kind of the conventional way that we're measuring blood pressure now that we have more automated machines. We go even lower, so 135-85, and in some cases that we have diabetes, or kidney disease, it's even 130 over 80. Basically, over 130 over 80, we start being alarmed, and then we should be measuring more closely and more often.

Tarah Schwartz: 35:54

If you have hypertension, you realize, oh, my goodness, I've got it now. What are the treatments for it?

Dr. Stella Daskalopoulou: 36:03

There are several medications for hypertension. According to the level of the blood pressure or other conditions that the person may have, the treating physician will decide to give different medications, combine medications, give different dosages. But that- you have to leave it to the to the doctor to do. What we can do as individuals is to try to have a healthy lifestyle in order to prevent it. Or if we have high blood pressure to control it better. So ideally, prevent it. Prevention, prevention, prevention is the word that stick in mind.

Tarah Schwartz: 36:37

The theme of this year's day I see here it was measure your blood pressure accurately. Why the word accurately?

Dr. Stella Daskalopoulou: 36:47

Excuse my language, but garbage in garbage out. But at least for it to stick in our heads. Because if we don't measure the blood pressure, the best way that it should be done, the optimal way, then we get very high numbers. For example, if we run and we take the blood pressure at that time; the blood pressure would be high. Not because your actual baseline blood pressure is high at rest. But because we run and we know that this is a normal physiological response. We have to measure the blood pressure after some time of rest, supporting our back, not crossing our legs, using a table and have the arm at the level of the heart. And try to think of nice things not all our stressors.

Tarah Schwartz: 37:42

Dr. Daskalopoulou, you seem so passionate and excited about this project and about hypertension and encouraging people to prevent before it happens. Where does that come from?

Dr. Stella Daskalopoulou: 37:54

I'm hypertension specialist all my life. I was doing cardiovascular research and in my clinics. Also I have to disclose here, I'm the co-chair of the hypertension guidelines in Canada. So my name and mandate in life is to make sure that -we are doing very well actually in Canada- better than anywhere else in the world in terms of controlling hypertension. But there is still room for improvement. This is my goal in life to make everybody aware of hypertension and control it as much as we can.

Tarah Schwartz: 38:30

Well we are lucky to have you, Dr. Daskalopoulou, looking out for Canada in general and trying to encourage us to be better with regards to our hypertension. I thank you so much for that. And I thank you for coming on the

Dr. Stella Daskalopoulou: 38:41

Thank you so much for having me. So show. know your numbers!

Tarah Schwartz: 38:44

Have a wonderful day. I will! I'm going to go check them. Thank you so much

Dr. Stella Daskalopoulou: 38:48

Not just you. Everybody. Thank you for celebrating hypertension month with us. Thank you.

Tarah Schwartz: 38:55

Thank you so much. So you heard Dr. Daskalopoulou; next time you're at the pharmacy, go and check your hypertension and know your numbers. Prevention is the key as she said. Thank you so much for joining us. I'm Tarah Schwartz. Thanks for tuning in. What would you like to hear about on the show? Write to us health matters at MUHCFoundation.com. You can also follow us on social media; sign up for our newsletter where you can hear all about the amazing things that your generous donor dollars fund- MUHC foundation.com I hope you'll join me again next Sunday. Thank you so much for listening to health matters and stay healthy.