LATEST ARTICLES

Losing a Father is a bundle of hurt

Diana Gifford-Jones
-
0
Losing a Father is a bundle of hurt

I was 6 years old when I first calculated how many years I could expect to have with my father. He was 44 when I was born; and therefore 50 when I turned 6. I decided I would be lucky if I got to 35 and still had him. That would be 79 for him, and I felt that was an old age.

Can you imagine how lucky I feel to have had him until 101? I’m grateful beyond words.

Now, I am taking up the responsibility of writing the Gifford-Jones column – not as a doctor, but as a communicator. The immediate necessity is to say something helpful, something important, about an experience many of us will have during our lives: losing a father.

I investigated the research. No two ways about it, we take a physical and psychological hit. From cellular level aging brought on by the physical impacts of grieving (sustained stress, disrupted sleep, poor diet) to the cognitive effects of loss (depressed mood and outlook, more substance abuse behaviours, anxiety), the death of one’s father is a bundled package of hurt.

What would my father say about it? This is a question I will be asking myself every week going forward.

I know what he did when I was hurt as a child – the kind of hurt that had me crying, a bad scrape on the knee or the sting of a bee. He’d touch me in the affected spot and let his touch linger. “Now,” he said, after a time, “doesn’t that feel better?” I got his point. Readers will hear echoes of his constant mantra. “Don’t be a wimp. Don’t take pills when there is an effective, natural alternative.” He practiced what he preached.

When my father turned 90, I started to prepare for the day he would slow down. But he didn’t. He was launching another phase of his crusades. And what for? To fight big pharma. To demand better pain management and end-of-life care. To advocate for natural health. And most of all, to call on all humanity to improve our increasingly lousy lifestyle.

You may recall, he wanted to throw rotten eggs at the Parliament buildings! And he had a few choice words for the newspaper editors who ceased publishing his column.

For the past six years, it’s been an extraordinary collaboration writing this column with my father. He told me, “Don’t be a journalist if you are going to sit on the fence.” On some issues, we had some heated discussions!

But the interviews we did together, the visits to natural health food stores, and the talks in communities increasingly closer to home, these are the occasions I enjoyed the most.

Going forward, I plan a few crusades too. I will have my own opinions, and they may not always line up with his. I have a Harvard degree like my father, but even better, I have one from Wellesley. I’ve worked alongside global health experts at the World Bank and in the most impoverished places you can imagine. I am an advisor to the presidents of universities. I know where to find the research and who to talk to. You can count on me to simplify the complexities, identify what’s important, and cut out any baloney. And yes, the advice will be sharp – because some things, thankfully, are hereditary.

For now, like many of you, I am grieving the loss of my father. But I take comfort in knowing how lucky we are to have had him in our lives. Thank you for all your messages, tributes, and personal stories that are pouring in.

Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive my weekly e-newsletter. For comments, diana@docgiff.com. Follow on Instagram @diana_gifford_jones

Gifford-Jones: The Toughest Column to Write

Dr. W. Gifford-Jones
-
0
Gifford-Jones: The Toughest Column to Write

A few days ago, I departed this planet with great reluctance during this, my 102nd trip around the sun. But I offer these final words with readers. I have never missed a week in over 50 years of writing this column. Possibly this persistence will help me squeeze through the Pearly Gates! Some will say, “Not bloody likely.”

As I look back on my journalism career, it reminds me of the introduction to the book, A Tale of Two Cities. It was the best of times; it was worst of times.

There were times when my life was threatened because I took on controversial issues, particularly the right of women to safe abortion. Opponents found fault with my work to legalize heroin for the treatment of terminal cancer pain. One well-known health organization labelled me “a headline-seeking medical journalist.” Other critics lied about the pain-killing advantages of heroin. When finally legalized, some hospitals set up foolish roadblocks to heroin’s use as pain therapy.

Do I have regrets? Yes, the anxiety my work caused my family. I could have avoided trouble. But I’d have been an awful hypocrite, and I can’t stand hypocrisy. Besides, my DNA has never allowed me to be a fence-sitter.  So, apart from some difficult bumps along the way, being a surgeon and medical journalist has been a wonderful dual ride, and “the best of times”.

Final advice for readers?  Remember, “If you keep going to hell you will eventually get there.” Living with a faulty lifestyle, fools attempt at the end of life what smart people do at the start.

So, don’t fall victim to “pillitis” and take a pill for every ache and pain. Take prescription drugs for the shortest possible time, as they almost always add risks of terrible side effects. Above all, keep in mind what I stressed for years, that many natural remedies in health food stores are safe, less expensive, and should be tried first before prescription drugs, surgery, or other medical treatments.

I want to mention the vital role that Susan, my wife, played. As my editor, she frequently kept me out of trouble with the words, “You can’t say that!” She was right 99 percent of the time. I’ll miss her presence, guidance, and love more than I can say. If there is a Pearly Gate I will be waiting at it for her and my family.

I’m fortunate that my daughter, Diana, will carry on this column. She was too smart to become a doctor, and that’s why readers will learn a lot from her perspective on health and wellbeing, and about how the world actually works. How I’ll miss my almost daily chats with her.

On a philosophical note, I was convinced long ago that “The problems of society are caused by so-called intelligent people who are largely fools.” I haven’t changed my mind. Shakespeare was right when he wrote “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves.” Unfortunately, humans have never learned the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as would you have them do unto you.”

Do I have any last wishes? Yes, I’ve always said that, “Freedom of the press only belongs to those who own the newspaper.” So, whatever type of media exists behind those Pearly Gates, I want total ownership. I hope a loving God shares my opinion.

My best wishes to all readers and editors for good health and longevity.

          – W. Gifford-Jones

I will miss my father more than words can say. But, in his honour, I will have 600 words a week to share with you in a continuation of his column, wherever you read it, and at www.docgiff.com.

          – Diana Gifford-Jones

We welcome readers to share your thoughts at http://www.docgiff.com/legacy

When Is Surgery the Right Move for a Pain in the Knee?

Dr. W. Gifford-Jones
-
0
When Is Surgery the Right Move for a Pain in the Knee?

Osteoarthritis comes on slowly. But with time, it steals your comfort, your mobility, and eventually, your independence. For those living with bone-on-bone agony in their knees or hips, the prospect of surgery can feel like a lifeline. But be cautious. Sometimes, the best scalpel is the one that stays in the drawer.

Orthopedic surgeons are fond of saying, “We can fix that.” But just because they can doesn’t mean they should – not right away. Too often, patients are shuffled down the surgical assembly line before they’ve tried the basics: weight loss, physiotherapy, mobility aids, proper footwear, and anti-inflammatory strategies. One Canadian study showed only one in five patients fully pursued these non-surgical options before being referred for surgery. That’s medical malpractice by neglect.

When surgery is the right decision, it can be life changing. Total knee and hip replacements have excellent long-term success rates. Roughly 85 to 90 percent of patients are satisfied, and for many, the pain relief is dramatic. But “dramatic” doesn’t mean instant or perfect. Recovery is no picnic. There’s the risk of infection, blood clots, nerve damage, or a replacement that never quite feels right. And if you’re under 60, there’s a good chance you’ll outlive your implant and face the joyless prospect of revision surgery – a second round of surgery that’s more complicated, more painful, and far less predictable.

Hip replacements generally have even higher satisfaction rates than knees. The anatomy is simpler, the rehab tends to be smoother, and most patients are walking pain-free in weeks – not months. If you’re weighing your options, a worn-out hip often responds better to surgery than a badly arthritic knee.

If there were a winner of a popularity contest for pointless procedures, arthroscopic knee surgery for arthritis would be it. This minimally invasive surgical technique may be useful for other problems, but not for osteoarthritis. High-quality trials on both sides of the Atlantic have shown this surgery does little for long-term pain. Yet the instruments are busy, and the surgeons are billing.

There are lesser-known, but promising, surgical options. Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty, or “partial knee replacement,” is one. If arthritis is confined to just one side of the joint, this more conservative approach can offer pain relief with a smaller incision, quicker recovery, and lower complication rates.

Other treatments are emerging outside the operating room. In Germany, genicular artery embolization – an outpatient procedure that targets inflamed blood vessels in the arthritic knee – reduced pain and improved quality of life for 87 percent of patients within a year. In Canada, early clinical trials using stem cells harvested from patients’ own bone marrow are showing promise. And researchers in Switzerland are even using engineered cartilage grown from nasal cells to resurface damaged knees. Call it the rhinoplasty of joint repair!

But none of these treatments should be step one. Real care means starting with education, patience, and conservative treatment. In one study, patients who used a decision-making aid often chose to delay surgery after learning about other options. Not because they were afraid, but because they were informed.

We’re not anti-surgery. We’re pro-wisdom. If you’re suffering, you have diligently tried proven approaches to halting the creep of osteoarthritis, and nothing else helps, by all means talk to your surgeon. But go in with your eyes open and your brain turned on. Ask tough questions. Demand alternatives. And remember, as Ben Franklin put it: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Or, as we’d put it, don’t let the surgeon be your first therapist.

Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter. For comments, contact-us@docgiff.com. Follow us on Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones

How to live to 101 with a healthy prostate

Dr. W. Gifford-Jones
-
0
How to live to 101 with a healthy prostate

Centenarians get asked, “What’s your secret?” The honest answer is “good genes and good luck.” But for men who have reached old, old age, a fair addition might be “plus a functioning prostate.” This tiny gland, often the size of a walnut, can have an outsized impact on a man’s health and happiness. So, if you plan to blow out 101 candles, your prostate deserves your lifelong care.

A lot of people have no idea what the prostate does. It sits just below the bladder and surrounds the urethra, helping produce seminal fluid. But as men age, it can become the source of trouble – benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostatitis, and prostate cancer top the list. Statistically, by age 60, over half of men will have some degree of BPH. By age 85, that number jumps to 90%. And prostate cancer? It’s the second most common cancer in North American men, right after skin cancer.

So how can a man tilt the odds in his favour?

It turns out what you put on your plate matters – immensely. Research from the University of Toronto shows that men who consume a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats have a lower risk of prostate problems. Lycopene, the antioxidant found in cooked tomatoes, is particularly prostate-friendly. In Italy, where pasta sauce is practically a food group, prostate cancer rates are significantly lower than in North America. Coincidence? Perhaps not.

Omega-3 fatty acids from fish like salmon also have benefits. A Harvard study of over 293,000 men found those with the highest omega-3 intake had a significantly lower risk of fatal prostate cancer.

Meanwhile, a diet high in red meat and dairy has been associated with increased risk. That doesn’t mean you have to swear off steak forever, but moderation is a virtue.

Exercise isn’t just good for your heart – your prostate loves it, too. A meta-analysis in the Journal of Urology found that men who engaged in regular physical activity had a 10–20% lower risk of prostate cancer. Even brisk walking for 30 minutes a day can help reduce urinary symptoms from BPH.

And let’s not forget body weight. Obesity is a known risk factor for aggressive prostate cancer. Carrying too much abdominal fat raises estrogen levels and lowers testosterone, which can fuel prostate issues.

PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) testing remains controversial. Overdiagnosis can lead to unnecessary treatments and side effects. But as Dr. Willet Whitmore, a pioneer in urologic oncology, once said, “Is this cancer going to kill the patient, or is the patient going to die with the cancer?”

The answer requires nuance. In Canada, the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care recommends against routine PSA screening for men under 55 or over 70 unless there are symptoms or strong risk factors. The American Urological Association suggests a more individualized approach.

Family history counts. If your father or brother had prostate cancer, your risk doubles. And if you’re of African descent, your risk is even higher. For these men, earlier and more frequent screening makes sense.

What about supplements? Some are worth considering. Saw palmetto has mixed evidence, but many men find it helps with urinary symptoms. Zinc, selenium, and vitamin D have shown promise in small studies. Just remember, more is not always better.

If you want to live to 101 with a healthy prostate, eat like a Mediterranean, move like a Scandinavian, and get checked like a Canadian – with caution, but not complacency.

As Theodore Roosevelt said, “Old age is like everything else. To make a success of it, you’ve got to start young.”

Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter. For comments, contact-us@docgiff.com. Follow us on Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones

One slip can change everything

Dr. W. Gifford-Jones
-
0
One slip can change everything

Everyone trips up now and again – sometimes figuratively, and inevitably with age, literally. Almost always, these mistakes can be avoided. Rushing is a risk factor. The wrong shoes are too. But did you know your personality may also affect your likelihood of a fall? Was this a factor in our recent father-daughter visit to the ER?

Yes, it probably was. And how do we know?

Examining the data from longitudinal studies is like looking into a medical crystal ball. If you follow people long enough, the truth has a way of revealing itself. By collecting large datasets in these studies, it’s possible to analyze detailed information on the group’s health, behaviours, environments, and medical histories. This allows the identification of patterns and correlations. We can, for example, see how changes in medication use or in physical activity can affect the likelihood of falling.

In Canada, researchers examining the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging found more surprising risk factors for falling among people over the age of 65. Ironically, cessation of smoking and a decrease in alcohol consumption were both predictors of increased fall risk. You read that right – increased risk! But we add, the risks of smoking at any age far outweigh the potential benefit of relaxing with a cigarette and avoiding a fall. Nevertheless, we are pleased to see the finding related to alcohol. It underscores our position that, in moderation, an alcoholic beverage can be an effective way to relax the arteries – and perhaps this research suggests the practice also upholds a familiar evening routine that reduces risk of falls. One can’t draw solid conclusions, but you know where we stand.

Now, here’s the personality part. Researchers found that individual traits – like conscientiousness and openness – offered protection. Put simply, when people are made aware of fall prevention practices, like holding onto handrails and moderating pace, and are agreeable to adjusting, they reduce their risk of falling.

You may think it’s a trifling thing to bring in the cushions from an outdoor balcony when rain begins. But this, too, is a behaviour that deserves modification. It was a minor misstep and loss of balance that had one of us missing the cushions and landing on the floor instead. Luckily, this occasion only resulted in a gash to the hand.

But even a minor misstep can lead to dire consequences. In North America, between 20-30% of adults aged 65 and older fall each year. A 2021 report found 6,579 Canadians aged 65 or older died from falls, with mortality rates steeply rising after age 80, and men more than women. Hospitalizations from falls rose 47% from 2008 to 2019 and emergency department visits have been climbing since 2010. Researchers calculated that in the U.S., falls cost patients, insurance companies and the economy nearly $80 billion each year. Those are expensive missteps!

Yet old-fashioned remedies are cheap. Here are the most common recommended steps to staying upright:

  1. Stay active: do daily balance and leg-strengthening exercises.
  2. Review medications: polypharmacy, sedatives, and blood‑pressure drugs can cause trouble.
  3. Fix your living space: grab bars, railings, non‑slip mats, well-lit walkways.
  4. Footwear matters: wear shoes with firm soles and good traction.
  5. Vision check: keep eyeglass prescriptions current and avoid bifocals when walking.
  6. Use assistive devices: canes and walkers are signs of smarts, not weakness.
  7. Stay social: isolation increases risk.

Now, add one more – your personality. If you are the type that rushes for balcony cushions before the rain starts, rethink it and let them get wet. Changing your behaviour might save you a gash on the hand, a broken hip, or worse.

Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter. For comments, contact-us@docgiff.com. Follow us on Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones

Curriculum for a long healthy life

Dr. W. Gifford-Jones
-
0
Curriculum for a long healthy life

This past week, we found ourselves in Rome – one of us in person, the other traveling vicariously on video connections. The intent was not to study ancient ruins, but to witness something much more modern and, we daresay, more vital: a graduation ceremony.

The event was brimming with the exuberance of youth, the blossoming of intellectual vitality, and the naivete of ambition. These students, many of them undeniably privileged, are set to begin lives marked by education, opportunity, and health. Their beaming faces were an exhibition of a powerful truth that two great predictors of a long and healthy life are youth and education.

Youth is a kind of medicine in itself. Your body repairs more quickly. Your arteries are flexible, your immune system resilient, and your risk of chronic illness low. Aging, on the other hand, is no disease, but it is the single greatest risk factor for nearly every chronic condition – heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and dementia among them. While we can’t turn back the clock, we can better prepare for the realities of aging.

But if youth is a fleeting asset, education is a lasting one. Study after study confirms that higher levels of education correlate with better health outcomes. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that adults without a high school diploma are three times more likely to die before age 65 than those with a college degree. Education leads to higher income, healthier environments, and greater health literacy. These in turn shape behaviours around nutrition, exercise, and preventive care. The result? A longer, healthier life.

Contrast this with poverty – perhaps the most reliable harbinger of poor health next to old age. Poverty limits access to nutritious food, stable housing, and quality healthcare. It increases stress and reduces the ability to make long-term plans, including those for health. In short, poverty is a chronic condition all its own.

The CDC recently released new data on obesity rates by U.S. state. The numbers are alarming. In states with low levels of educational attainment and high poverty rates – such as Mississippi, West Virginia and Arkansas – adult obesity rates exceed 40%. Obesity, of course, is closely linked to type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. It’s no coincidence that these states also see some of the nation’s highest rates of diabetes. Adults with less than a high school education are more likely to have diabetes (19.6%) compared to people with a bachelor’s degree (10.7%).

These are not coincidences. They are the logical outcomes of systemic inequalities and missed opportunities. And this is should not come as news. Back in 1877, the British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, said, “The health of the people is really the foundation upon which all their happiness and all their powers as a state depend.”

At the Rome ceremony, the students were not just receiving diplomas – they were receiving life’s most effective vaccine. Not against any virus, but against ignorance, instability, and, yes, illness. They will likely live longer, healthier lives than many of their counterparts who never had the chance to walk across a graduation stage.

We can’t rewind the clock on age. But we can invest in education at all levels, for all people. We can build systems that promote learning and lift people out of poverty. And by doing so, we can change the health trajectory of life for individuals and for society.

That so little is being done to address this problem is a terrible shame. We are bankrupting ourselves when we could be buying more healthy and productive time.

Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter. For comments, contact-us@docgiff.com. Follow us on Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones

Mental health: The missing pillar in universal health care

Dr. W. Gifford-Jones
-
0
Mental health: The missing pillar in universal health care

Benjamin Rush, one of the signers of the American Declaration of Independence and often called the father of American psychiatry, pushed for more attention towards “diseases of the mind”. He published his observations in 1812, and here we are in 2025 – still playing catch-up.

For decades, we’ve been talking about universal health care. Canada, quite rightly, takes pride in a publicly funded system. But let’s be honest: the “universal” part has long had a blind spot – mental health.

The pandemic years pulled the curtain back. Suddenly, mental health wasn’t just something “other people” struggled with. Kids, seniors, healthcare workers, CEOs – everyone got a taste of anxiety, depression, burnout, or worse. And while the physical scars of COVID-19 may be fading, the mental ones are still fresh. What are we doing about it?

The good news is, things are starting to change. In the federal 2023 budget, Ottawa committed nearly $200 billion over ten years to improve health care in Canada. Of that, about $25 billion is tied up in deals with the provinces to improve access to mental health and substance use services. That’s progress. But it’s not a cure.

Half a million Canadians miss work every week due to mental health issues. That’s not a typo. Every single week. The cost to the economy? A staggering $51 billion a year. So yes, it’s a health crisis. But it’s also an economic one – and a social one.

Americans have been wrestling with this, too. The U.S. passed a law back in 2008 saying mental health must be covered the same way as physical health. But in typical American fashion, a law on the books doesn’t always mean it’s enforced. The U.S. tried holding insurance companies accountable, but lawsuits from big employers signaled they don’t want the extra red tape.

Therein lies the problem. We talk about mental health as though it’s just a matter of giving people more therapy or medication. But really, it’s about priorities. It’s about deciding that the mind is just as important as the body – and funding it accordingly.

Let’s not forget this is a global issue, too. The World Health Organization says mental health is a cornerstone of universal health coverage. But most countries still spend less than 2% of their health budgets on mental health. Imagine if we spent just 2% of our defense budgets on peace-building. Or 2% of our road budgets on sidewalks. We’d laugh, because it’s not enough to make a dent. And neither is 2% for mental health.

Some countries are leading the way. Chile, for example, has integrated mental health into primary care in an impressive way. They’ve made mental health part of a community care routine, not a luxury. It’s a model to look at seriously.

So where does that leave us? We can’t medicate our way out of a crisis. We can’t legislate compassion. And we can’t fix the system with Band-Aid solutions. What we can do is treat mental health as an essential service, not an optional extra.

That means putting real money on the table. It means training more mental health professionals. It means building care into communities, not just hospitals. And it means talking about mental health the same way we talk about heart disease, diabetes, or broken bones – with urgency, openness, and dignity.

Let’s not wait another century to listen to Dr. Rush.

If we believe in universal health care, then mental health has to be part of the package.

Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter. For comments, contact-us@docgiff.com. Follow us on Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones

Don’t play with fire: A warning about skin cancer

Dr. W. Gifford-Jones
-
0
Don’t play with fire: A warning about skin cancer

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the world. And most cases are preventable. So why are we still seeing over 5 million cases of skin cancer diagnosed in the U.S. each year, and 90,000 cases in Canada, including well over 100,000 cases across both countries of melanoma, the deadliest form?

Don’t think it won’t be you. The sun doesn’t play favourites. It doesn’t care if you’re fair-skinned or olive-toned, whether you’re working on a tan or just walking the dog. If you’re unprotected, you’re at risk.

Yet, too many people treat sunburn like a harmless rite of summer. Here’s the truth: just one blistering sunburn in childhood doubles the risk of developing melanoma later in life.

Recent research is sounding the alarm even louder. A 2024 study out of the University of Sydney tracked thousands of participants over two decades and found that people who regularly used broad-spectrum sunscreen had a 40% lower risk of developing carcinoma in skin cells. That’s a big number. And it doesn’t just apply to beach days. They found the same benefit for people who used sunscreen during daily for incidental sun exposure such a when walking to work or gardening.

Another study from Harvard last year added more insight. It’s not just the SPF number that matters. It’s how you use it. Many people underapply sunscreen, using about a quarter of the amount needed for full protection. Think of it this way. If you’re applying SPF 30 like a miser, you’re only getting the protection of SPF 7 or 8. That’s not enough.

Let’s bust a few myths.

Myth #1: “I don’t need sunscreen on cloudy days.” False. Up to 80% of UV rays still reach your skin when it’s overcast.

Myth #2: “I have darker skin, so I’m not at risk.” Wrong again. People with darker complexions can and do get skin cancer – and when they do, it’s often caught later, when it’s more dangerous.

Myth #3: “A base tan protects me.” A tan is skin damage, plain and simple. There’s no such thing as a healthy tan.

The Canadian Dermatology Association now advises wearing SPF 30 or higher every day from March to October, even if you’re not planning to be outdoors for long. And for those who spend a lot of time outside – farmers, construction workers, athletes – the message is even stronger. Cover up with long sleeves, wide-brimmed hats, and sunglasses that block UVA and UVB rays.

Let’s not forget about vitamin D. People often ask: “If I wear sunscreen, won’t I be vitamin D deficient?” If you ask us, we’ll tell you we prefer to get our vitamin D from diet and supplements. Most dermatologists recommend 1,000 IU of vitamin D daily.

For the men reading this, especially those over 50, you’re the group most likely to develop melanoma, and the least likely to use sunscreen. Consider this a wake-up call. Regular skin checks, either at home or with a dermatologist, save lives. Look for new moles, changing spots, or anything that doesn’t heal. When caught early, the survival rate for melanoma is over 90%. But once it spreads, those odds drop fast.

Be sun smart. Use sunscreen generously. Reapply it every two hours. Cover your skin. Skip the tanning beds entirely. And keep an eye on your own body.

As an old medical professor used to say, “Skin remembers.” It remembers every sunburn, every tanning session, every time you said, “I’ll be fine.” And one day, it might remind you – with a diagnosis you weren’t expecting.

Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter. For comments, contact-us@docgiff.com. Follow us on Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones

The civic duty in our veins

Dr. W. Gifford-Jones
-
0
The civic duty in our veins

There’s an old quote often misattributed to Winston Churchill: “You make a living by what you get; you make a life by what you give.” Whether Churchill said it or not, the message is true. And nothing proves it better than the simple, life-saving act of donating blood.

Any doctor who has spent decades in the operating room will tell you, donated blood is a critical part of major surgeries that are happening day in and day out in hospitals everywhere. The lives of women experiencing a hemorrhage during childbirth depend on a blood transfusion. People undergoing cancer treatment may also need transfusions. Accident victims. Children with anemia.  The list goes on. But surgeons, patients and their families are all witness to the frustration when supplies run low. Yet here we are, in 2025, still pleading for donors.

According to the World Health Organization, every two seconds, someone needs blood. In fact, the Canadian Blood Services reports that over 100,000 new donors are needed each year just to keep pace with demand. Yet fewer than 4% of eligible Canadians and Americans donate.

So what’s stopping people? A 2022 study from the University of Oxford found that the top reasons people avoid giving blood include fear of needles, a lack of time, and simply not realizing how urgent the need is. But the same study also revealed that people who are reminded of the social impact of their donation—how many lives they could touch—are twice as likely to become regular donors.

It’s time for a dose of common sense.

During World War II, blood drives were considered acts of patriotism. Posters read, “Your blood can save a life on the front lines!” In the 1940s, Americans rolled up their sleeves in record numbers, not because it was convenient, but because it was the right thing to do. Where is that spirit today?

In the operating room patients are counting on someone else’s generosity, and it doesn’t appear magically. It has to be stored, processed, and ready to go—long before the need arises.

Modern medicine relies on this invisible safety net. Red cells last 42 days. Platelets only five. That means the donation you make today may already be used by the weekend. It’s not about stockpiling; it’s about a steady stream of humanity doing its part.

And yes, it is part of good citizenship. We live in a time where the word “community” has been replaced by “individuality.” But community is what holds a society together. Giving blood is one of the few acts that is entirely selfless—you gain nothing material, but what you give is immeasurable.

You may not think of yourself as a hero. Most people don’t. But research from the University of Michigan found that regular blood donors often share one trait: a strong sense of civic duty. They don’t wait to be asked. They act because they can.

So here’s the prescription—not pills or potions, but a plea. If you are healthy and eligible, give blood. Not once, but regularly. Encourage your friends and family. Make it a habit, not an afterthought.

Think of it as paying forward your own insurance policy. You may need it one day, too.

In the words of the Roman philosopher Seneca, “No man becomes great without a touch of divine inspiration.” Giving a piece of yourself to help others is one of the most inspired acts you can do. And it’s right there, in your veins.

So roll up your sleeve. Be the reason someone lives.

Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter. For comments, contact-us@docgiff.com. Follow us on Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones

A quarter-sized breakthrough in Parkinson’s care

Dr. W. Gifford-Jones
-
0
A quarter-sized breakthrough in Parkinson’s care

Parkinson’s disease is a thief. It creeps in quietly, often misdiagnosed or unnoticed, and steadily robs its victims of motor control, independence, and quality of life. It is the fastest-growing neurological condition on the planet, affecting more than 10 million people worldwide. But there’s a remarkable bit of hope, the size of a quarter, coming out of what’s called “frugal biomedical innovation” at Western University.

There’s a sobering reality about Parkinson’s. In North America, we at least have the advantage of access to care. Yet even here, diagnosis often comes far too late. The first signs—shaking hands, stiffness, slowness of movement—are often chalked up to “just getting older.” Family members may notice something, but they don’t connect the dots. By the time a formal diagnosis is made, precious time has been lost.

Take the same scenario in a country like Nigeria, where access to neurologists and specialized care is scarce. There, Parkinson’s is not only underdiagnosed, it’s barely tracked. People suffer in silence, with limited support, and little hope for a meaningful intervention.

Enter Professor Ana Luisa Trejos, a mechanical engineer at Western University, and one of the stars of the recent Frugal Biomedical Innovations Symposium. Her team is developing something extraordinary: a low-cost wearable device, designed to detect and monitor Parkinson’s symptoms using sensors no larger than a 25-cent coin.  Students are making a difference too. Olusoji Ogunbode, in Western’s Engineering Health Equity training program, is undertaking a field research placement in Africa to gather data.

This tiny piece of technology could have an outsized impact. Worn on the body, the device tracks motor symptoms—like tremors and changes in movement patterns—in real time. The data can help clinicians catch Parkinson’s earlier, monitor progression, and even adjust treatment as the disease evolves. And because the sensors are affordable and easy to produce, they hold promise for widespread use, even in places where medical technology rarely reaches.

Perhaps most importantly, this research isn’t happening in a vacuum. Dr. Trejos and her colleagues at Western are working closely with Kwara State University in Nigeria. It’s a refreshing and encouraging example of global collaboration, where the needs of underserved populations are driving innovation that could eventually benefit everyone.

Innovation designed for the developing world has had global impact before. In the early 2000s, the World Health Organization helped bring rapid diagnostic tests for malaria to rural parts of Africa—tiny, cheap, easy-to-use kits that could identify malaria in minutes without a lab. At the time, many in the West viewed them as tools only for developing nations. But those same tests are now used in North America and Europe, not just for travel medicine but in emergency settings where quick answers save lives.

Necessity breeds not only invention, but smarter invention—simpler, more efficient, and more accessible.

Dr. Trejos’s work is a case in point. There’s more work to do before these devices go to market, but soon enough they may be found not just in Nigeria, but in North American medical clinics, long-term care homes, and even tucked discreetly into Grandpa’s clothing. Early detection makes all the difference, especially with Parkinson’s, where symptoms worsen and treatment options become more limited the longer one waits.

“Frugal innovations” are not second-tier solutions. As Dr. Trejos’s research shows, affordability and accessibility do not come at the expense of quality—they may be the key to unlocking it.

In an age where medical devices can cost thousands and even millions, it’s heartening to see that sometimes, the biggest impact can come from something no bigger than a coin and not much more expensive either.

Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter. For comments, contact-us@docgiff.com. Follow us on Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones

123...17Page 1 of 17