Health podcast helps listeners be “heart-wise”

The University of Ottawa Heart Institute’s Division of Cardiac Prevention and Rehabilitation releases the first episodes of a new health and wellness podcast.

Today, the University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI) is releasing the first ten episodes of The Heartwise Podcast, a cardiac prevention and rehabilitation prototype that offers practical and pragmatic advice to the health conscious to help them live healthier and happier lives.

Dr. Bob Reid, the deputy head of the UOHI’s Division of Cardiac Prevention and Rehabilitation, and a behavioural scientist with expertise in smoking cessation, physical activity promotion, dietary change, and cardiovascular rehabilitation, hosts the podcast.

In each episode, Reid and an expert spill the tea about an emerging health topic, translating the latest scientific evidence and knowledge available into simple, actionable solutions for improved vascular health and quality of life. The podcast is one of five prevention and rehabilitation prototypes the Heart Institute plans to test in 2021.

We believe we’re creating an engaging podcast for anyone interested in taking action to improve their health.

 Dr. Bob Reid

“The ultimate goal of this work is to improve the quality and efficiency of chronic disease prevention and management programs delivered at the Heart Institute,” says Dr. Reid. “We believe we’re creating an engaging podcast for anyone interested in taking action to improve their health. They will learn something from these podcasts that can enhance their day-to-day existence.”

The first ten episodes explore the latest in healthy sleep and eating habits, trends in fitness and nutrition, advice for dealing with addictions—there’s even an episode dedicated to understanding the neurobiology of pet ownership!

“It often starts with a publication, a book, a paper, or a presentation,” said Reid of the inspiration behind each episode. “As a team, we discuss the practical implications from a patient standpoint in terms of the advice and guidance we could provide. Then we contact the expert who has produced the content to see whether they are willing to participate in the process.”

The first ten episodes of The Heartwise Podcast are now available for streaming on Soundcloud. Summarized show notes appear below.

 

The Heartwise Podcast

Episode 1: Behaviour Change

Why is it the healthiest advice is often the hardest to implement? Guest host Karine Savard and Dr. Bob Reid examine the science behind changing behaviours and share solutions to help make positive efforts stick.

Episode 2: Top 10 Tips for Eating Healthy

Kathleen Turner knows a thing or two about nutrition. She is a registered dietitian with years of experience in family practice, diabetes, and cardiac rehabilitation, and she has a fail-proof recipe for healthier eating.

Episode 3: Getting Started with Exercise

Physical activity may be the “magic bullet” in the fight against cardiovascular disease. Evyanne Wooding, a clinical research manager at the UOHI, joins Dr. Bob Reid to share why and help us get moving safely.

Episode 4: Top 10 Tips for Healthy Sleep

Sleep is an important factor in heart health. Clinical Health and Rehabilitation Psychologist Dr. Adam Heenan and Dr. Bob Reid discuss the benefits of sleep and share helpful advice for developing healthier sleep habits.

Episode 5: How to Quit Smoking

It’s never too late to quit smoking. Marta Klepaczek is the clinical manager of the Quit Smoking Program at the UOHI. She joins Dr. Bob Reid to share how smoking affects the cardiovascular system and shares her best smoking cessation strategies.

Episode 6: Women’s Heart Health

Cardiovascular disease is the world’s leading killer of women. Dr. Thais Coutinho is the head of the Division of Cardiac Prevention and Rehabilitation at the UOHI, chair of the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Centre, and co-chair of the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Summit. She joins Dr. Bob Reid to share what the latest research says about women’s heart health.

Episode 7: High Intensity Interval Training

Studies have shown that regular exercise can help to prevent heart disease and even reverse some risk factors. Dr. Martin Gibala, a professor of kinesiology at McMaster University, has researched the health benefits of short, sharp, high-intensity interval workouts. He joins Dr. Bob Reid to share his findings.

Episode 8: Dog Ownership and Your Cardiovascular Health

Dog ownership has been associated with lower blood pressure, improved lipid profile, and better stress management resulting in a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. Dr. Caroline Kramer is an endocrinologist and clinician scientist at Mount Sinai Hospital. She joins Dr. Bob Reid to share how owning a dog can improve heart health.

Episode 9: Cannabis and the Heart with Dr. Paul Oh

Dr. Paul Oh is the medical director of the University Health Network’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, associate professor of clinical pharmacology at the University of Toronto, and the chair of the Reformulary Expert Committee, which provides evidence-based expert opinions and criteria for cannabis use. He joins the podcast to discuss cannabis and the heart.

Episode 10: Vaping with Dr. Andrew Pipe

Some have suggested that using electronic cigarettes or vaping is a way to ease the transition from traditional cigarettes to not smoking at all. But can vaping really help you quit smoking or does it represent a whole new set of dangers to your heart health? Dr. Bob Reid and Canada’s foremost expert on smoking cessation, Dr. Andrew Pipe, discuss.

Your feedback matters

The UOHI is seeking feedback from podcast listeners to improve the show and plan for future episodes.

What do you think of the podcast? What topics would you like to see addressed in a future episode? Have your say. Email your feedback to heartwisepodcast@ottawaheart.ca.