Staying #Up2Date 🚨

Does Running Marathons Cause Myocardial Mayhem?

A cohort study of 152 male recreational marathon runners found that the right ventricular ejection fraction tends to decline postrace, but recovers within 3 days. Additionally, cardiac function remained stable at 10-year follow-up, even in individuals with post-marathon Troponin T release. These results suggest that cardiac changes after endurance exercise are reversible and unlikely to cause persisting dysfunction in those partaking in long-distance endurance exercise. 

Vision Loss and Home Hazards: A Dangerous Combination 

A cross-sectional study of 4,648 older adults looked at how the presence of home hazards makes those with poor vision more likely to fall. Lack of grab bars, tripping hazards, and broken flooring increased fall risk in those with decreased visual function, highlighting the importance of considering both intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors in fall prevention. 

Identifying Patients at High Risk for Postoperative Opioid Refills

A cohort study examined the factors associated with opioid refill prescriptions within 90 days of ear nose and throat surgery. In 4,132 post-op patients, factors such as pre-operative use of opioids, benzodiazepines, or cannabis, and higher postsurgical pain levels were associated with increased odds of refills. Additionally, those who were either overprescribed or underprescribed opioids were more likely to call in refills within 30 days of discharge. These risk factors should be kept in mind to develop evidence-based strategies to reduce refill risk.

Your 2026 Obesity Update: What Clinicians Need to Know

Obesity affects nearly every area of practice — cardiometabolic disease, mental health, gynecology, hepatology, pediatrics, orthopaedics, and more. For clinicians managing clinics and constantly shifting demands, the challenge is twofold: keeping up with new evidence and translating it into better care on Monday morning. 

That’s the focus of the Canadian Obesity Summit, built around this year’s theme:
Obesity Across the Lifespan: Connecting Research to Real-world Care.

You’ll hear from leading Canadian and international experts on:

• New & emerging research in obesity pharmacotherapy, surg ery, metabolism, and chronic disease intersectionalities 

• Approaches that improve collaboration across specialties and care settings

• Lived-experience perspectives that deepen understanding in clinical care

Plus: rapid-fire sessions and practical workshops designed for clinicians who want actionable, evidence-informed takeaways to bring back to their clinics.

Obesity is part of every physician’s practice — and how we support patients living with this disease matters. That’s why this is one of the year’s most relevant Canadian medical conferences.

Join us in Montréal, March 25–29, 2026.

Australia banned teen social media. Should Canada?

What Canadians should know about Australia’s new social media law

What happened: Australia's social media ban for children under 16 just went into effect, and some Canadians are wondering if we should do the same.

Why it matters: This is the 1st legislation of its kind globally, designed to curb online bullying by keeping kids off platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat. The twist? Tech companies, not parents, are responsible for verifying ages and removing underage accounts. Fail to comply, and you're looking at fines up to $45.5 million CAD.

The stats are sobering: about 30% of Canadian youth experience cyberbullying, with even higher rates among LGBTQIA+ and Indigenous teens. Warning signs include behavioural changes, withdrawal from family and friends, and secrecy around online activity. Kids who are cyberbullied are twice as likely to attempt suicide.

In Canada, consequences for cyberbullying vary by severity, anything from device confiscation to monetary damages, and in extreme cases, jail time.

But: Critics say the law will be tough to enforce. While it may help in some areas, like restricting kids from seeing adult content, it might negatively affect the way kids communicate with their peers and push them to the darker sides of the internet. There are also ways around the restrictions, like VPN’s and putting in a fake birthday when signing up for an account. 

Still, advocates argue it's a necessary 1st step in holding platforms accountable. Australia's Prime Minister acknowledged the rollout won't be perfect but emphasized it'll be paired with education and efforts to reduce screen time.

Bottom line: Bullying, whether online or in person, isn’t going to end overnight, but having a plan in place to prevent it from going too far could save millions of children and give parents peace of mind.

Hot Off The Press 🔥

1: 🩺 3 children have died from flu-related complications in the Ottawa area in the past 2 weeks. The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario is seeing unusually high flu cases and severe complications for December, with regional medical officers reporting a sharp surge in influenza A across Ontario. Ottawa's top doctor warns this could signal a rough flu season ahead and is urging parents to get their kids vaccinated, especially with the current spike in severe illness.

2: 🇦🇺 The Sydney community is reeling after 2 gunmen, identified as a father and son, opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, killing 15 people. The victims included a 10-year-old girl, a rabbi and a Holocaust survivor. Australian authorities confirmed the attack was ISIS-inspired, with homemade Islamic State flags found in the suspects' vehicle. The father was killed by police at the scene; his 24-year-old son remains in a coma. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged Australia's toughest gun laws since 1996.

3: 🍎 Your grocery bill is getting bigger, it’s not just your imagination. Canada’s overall inflation rate held stable at 2.2% in the latest report, but peel back that number and you’ll see the cost of groceries is running wild. Food prices jumped a staggering 4.7% year-over-year, the biggest spike in nearly 2 years. So, if your wallet is feeling lighter, it’s because kitchen staples like coffee, fresh fruit (berries, anyone?), and especially beef are costing Canadians much more.

4: 🍫 Good news for everyone finishing off their advent calendar! Scientists have linked a natural compound in dark chocolate, called theobromine, to slower signs of biological aging. Researchers found that people with higher levels of this cocoa-derived chemical in their blood tended to have a "biological age" that appeared younger than their actual chronological age. Just remember, while it's a sweet discovery, the researchers caution that this isn't a free pass to eat a mountain of chocolate this Christmas—it's still packed with fat and sugar!

🎁 Poll Results: Gifts to Survive December

Last week, we asked what gift would help you survive the holidays. The results are in.

68 votes: Coffee IV drip – The people have spoken. Loudly. While shaking.

27 votes: 2-week pager-free vacation – To a place where "Can you just take a quick look at this?" doesn't exist.

24 votes: Fancy pen – Stolen within 48 hours. Every. Single. Time.

Custom scrubs: 19 votes – Practical, comfortable, and won't ghost you like that pen.

Ear plugs: 6 votes – Apparently only 6 of you are tortured by lobby Christmas music on loop. The rest of you have adapted.

The takeaway? If you're buying for a doctor, skip the "World's Best Doctor" mug. Just hand them an espresso and back away slowly.

Notable Numbers 🔢

10: the number of people who shaped science this year, according to Nature. The lists spans from a neurologist who slowed the progression of Huntington's disease to the 1st-ever hyper-personalized gene-editing cure delivered to a toddler.

197: the amount of children conceived from a single sperm donor who unknowingly carried a cancer-causing genetic mutation. Some of those children have already died, raising serious questions about the failure of standard genetic screening to catch this mutation.

19: the compilation of hilarious and delightful photos in the 2025 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards. Winners include a surprised-looking gorilla throwing up a “high five” and a fish with a wide, cheeky grin titled “Smiley”.

Postcall Picks ✅

🩺 Simplify: your workflow with Aeon. Automate charting, scheduling, and billing so your last visit of the day isn’t spent on screens. Focus on care, not admin.

🎧 Listen: to Beyond MD's real estate confessional. Dr. Yatin Chadha walks through every rental property he's ever bought — the good, the bad, and the genuinely ugly. If you've ever thought about becoming a physician landlord, this one's for you.

💰 Save: on last-minute gifts for the book lovers in your life with Indigo's winter sales. Hardcovers, bestsellers, and kids' books all marked down — perfect for stocking stuffers or that colleague who actually reads between shifts.

🥣 Make: Tuscan white bean soup for the ultimate cozy December dinner. Throw cannellini beans, kale, carrots, and herbs in one pot. It’s high in protein, fibre-packed, and ready in 30 minutes.

😂 Laugh: at this brutally honest comic from a Canadian family doc. Kids driving you nuts at home, can't wait for them to go back to school, then you're at work missing them instantly. Every physician parent gets it.

Relax

First clue: Hard to stomach at the doctor's office or the bar

Need a rematch? We’ve got you covered. Check out our Crossword Archive to find every puzzle we’ve ever made, all in one place.

Think you crushed it? Challenge your physician friends to beat your time.

Meme of the Week

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