The Doc Talk Podcast

Travel is exciting. Getting sick on vacation is not. In this episode, we walk through what Canadians should think about before heading out of the country, and even within it. From vaccines and malaria prevention to travel insurance, food and water safety and emergency planning, this is your practical guide to staying safe while you explore.
We focus on what actually matters, where to find reliable information and how to prepare without overcomplicating it.
In This Episode, we cover:
Why travel health planning should start weeks before departure
How to check if you need travel vaccines
What to know about malaria prevention
Why travel insurance is not optional outside Canada
What to bring in a basic travel health kit
Food and water precautions abroad
What symptoms should prompt medical attention
How to prepare for emergencies in another country
What Canadians should know about healthcare coverage between provinces
Preparation does not take the fun out of travel. It protects! 
Thank you to our sponsor, FIGS.
If you work in health care (or love someone who does), you know how important comfort and function are. Use code FIGSDOCTALK for 20% off your first order at wearfigs.com. 
Disclaimer:
This podcast is for general information only and does not replace medical advice from your own health care provider. 
Follow us on social media @thedoctalkpod and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen to podcasts.

In light of Heart Month, The Doc Talk Podcast is dropping a special re-release of our episode on heart health.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in Canada.
In this episode of The Doc Talk Podcast, we dive into what heart disease can look like in women, how it’s too often overlooked, and what you can do to protect yourself and those you love.
We kick off with a listener question from Kellie, who asks:
“What does the research say about how heart disease shows up differently in women—and how can we advocate for ourselves when screenings don’t tell the whole story?”
It’s a crucial question—because heart disease often does look different in women, and the healthcare system isn’t always set up to recognize that. In this episode, we break down how to recognize symptoms, what tests can (and can’t) show, and the steps you can take to protect your heart.
In this episode, we cover:
What heart disease really is and why women are underdiagnosed
How the symptoms of heart attacks and strokes differ in women
Why perimenopause and menopause increase risk—and what to do about it
The gender gap in medical research and its impact on heart health
Advocacy tips for navigating the ER and pushing for follow-up care
What “knowing your numbers” actually means (and when to start checking them)
 Dr. Shaz and Dr. Sheila share personal insights, ER stories, and a practical “Prescription for Heart Health” that’s rooted in prevention and empowerment.
Key Takeaways:
Symptoms of heart attack in women can be subtle: nausea, fatigue, dizziness
Many risk factors—like high blood pressure, smoking, or inactivity—are preventable
Menopause plays a key role in heart risk due to hormonal changes
Speak up in healthcare settings—your story matters
Screening starts at 40, earlier if you have risk factors or family history
 If this episode helped you see heart health in a new light, please share it—it might just save a life. Missed our perimenopause episode? Go back and check out Episode 2 for more on how hormonal changes affect heart and brain health.
Follow us on Instagram @thedoctalkpod!
Have a question for our docs? Send us a message—we might feature it in an upcoming episode!
Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information purposes only and is not a substitute for personal medical advice. Always consult your own healthcare provider for recommendations specific to your health.

Perimenopause can feel confusing, frustrating, and at times overwhelming and most of us aren’t taught what to expect. 
We usually start with a listener question, but this time, it’s Dr. Shaz asking Dr. Sheila all the real-world questions about perimenopause. The ones patients bring to clinic every day. The ones many are Googling at 2 a.m. 
From symptoms to lifestyle shifts to medication options and how to know what’s right for you, we break it down clearly and practically.

Perimenopause isn’t just about hormones, it’s about being heard.

We talk about how to prepare for appointments, what to ask, when to investigate further, and how to advocate for yourself in a system that doesn’t always prioritize midlife women’s health. 
You deserve evidence-based information.
You deserve options.
You deserve care that takes your symptoms seriously.

With the right support, this phase can be navigated with clarity and confidence. 
Tune in and share with someone who needs this conversation. 
We’re in this with you.

Thank you to our sponsor, FIGS.
If you work in health care (or love someone who does), you know how important comfort and function are. Use code FIGSDOCTALK for 20% off your first order at wearfigs.com. 
Disclaimer:
This podcast is for general information only and does not replace medical advice from your own health care provider. 
Follow us on social media @thedoctalkpod and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen to podcasts.

Blood clots are common, often preventable, and still widely misunderstood. In this episode, Dr. Sheila Wijayasinghe and Dr. Shazma Mithani unpack what people actually need to know about deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), conditions we see every day in clinic and the ER.
We talk through real-world risk factors, symptoms that should never be ignored, and why clots don’t always present in obvious or dramatic ways. We also cover practical prevention strategies, how clots are diagnosed, and what treatment typically looks like.
Whether you’re a healthcare worker or someone trying to understand your own risk, this episode focuses on awareness, early recognition, and why acting quickly matters.
In this episode, we cover:
•What DVTs and PEs are and why they can be dangerous
•Who is at higher risk and why risk isn’t evenly distributed
•Symptoms that should prompt urgent medical care
•What prevention actually works
•How blood clots are diagnosed and treated
•Clinical pearls for healthcare workers
Thank you to our sponsor, FIGS.
If you work in health care (or love someone who does), you know how important comfort and function are. Use code FIGSDOCTALK for 20% off your first order at wearfigs.com.
Disclaimer
Thank you for tuning into The Doc Talk Podcast. This podcast is for general information purposes only and is not intended to replace medical advice from your doctor. While we are doctors, we are not your doctor. Always speak to your own healthcare provider for questions related to your personal health needs.
Follow us on social media @thedoctalkpod and be sure to like, subscribe, and review us wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode of The Doc Talk Podcast, we break down how the Canadian health care system is actually structured and how to navigate it safely when access is limited,  from the perspectives of an emergency room doc and family doctor.
With more Canadians living without a family doctor and emergency departments under increasing strain, this episode offers practical, honest guidance on where to go for care, what different parts of the system are designed to do, and how to advocate for yourself and your loved ones.
What we cover:
How Canada’s publicly funded, provincially run health care system works
The central role of family doctors and what happens when that hub is missing
How referrals and specialist care function — and where delays happen
What to expect if you don’t have a family doctor
The real role of walk-in clinics, virtual care, and community health centres
What emergency departments are designed (and not designed) to do
A clear explanation of ER triage and why waiting works the way it does
What tests and referrals the ER can reasonably provide
When hospital admission happens and how discharge planning works
Key takeaway:
You should not need insider knowledge to stay safe in the health care system — but until access improves, information can reduce harm.
Thank you to our sponsor, FIGS.
If you work in health care (or love someone who does), you know how important comfort and function are. Use code FIGSCA for 20% off your first order at wearfigs.com.
Disclaimer:
This podcast is for general information only and does not replace medical advice from your own health care provider.
Follow us on social media @thedoctalkpod and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen to podcasts.