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Whether winter decides to linger or spring arrives early, Groundhog Day is a reminder that brighter, longer days are ahead. As families move through the final stretch of winter and begin thinking about spring routines, it’s a natural time to check in on health, refocus on wellness, and make sure care stays on track.

This Black History Month, Centrum Pharmacy honours Black Canadians who have broken barriers in health care and helped shape the Canadian health system. From Dr. Anderson Ruffin Abbott, the first Canadian-born Black physician, to other trailblazers who made space for greater inclusion in medicine, these stories remind us why representation and equity in healthcare matter.

The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) is once again sounding the alarm: Ontario’s family doctor shortage is worsening, with serious implications for patients and the health care system as a whole.

According to OMA President Dr. Zainab Abdurrahman, more than 2.5 million Ontarians currently do not have a family doctor—a number projected to rise to 4.4 million in the coming years. The reasons are clear and concerning: a growing number of family physicians are planning to retire, while too few new graduates are entering family medicine.

With growing public interest in GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide (Ozempic®, Rybelsus®, Wegovy®) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro®, Zepbound®) for diabetes management and weight loss, Canadians are increasingly encountering these products through online sellers, social media ads, and unauthorized retailers.

Unfortunately, not all GLP-1 products being sold in Canada are legitimate or safe.

Acetaminophen—commonly known by the brand name Tylenol—is one of the most widely used pain and fever medications in the world. Yet despite its long history of safe use when taken correctly, it remains one of the leading causes of emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and acute liver failure in North America.

Recent announcements from U.S. regulators have brought important clarity to patients using — or considering — popular GLP-1 weight-loss medications such as Wegovy, Saxenda, and Zepbound.

As Canadians, we spend a significant portion of the year without sufficient sunlight to naturally produce vitamin D. Health Canada estimates that one in five Canadians does not get enough vitamin D, a deficiency that becomes even more pronounced during the winter months. In response, new federal food fortification rules came into effect at the end of 2025, requiring higher levels of vitamin D in commonly consumed foods such as milk and margarine.

Alzheimer’s disease remains one of the most feared and life-altering diagnoses for patients and families alike. For decades, treatment options have been limited to symptom management rather than meaningful disease modification. That landscape has now begun to change.

In today’s fast-paced world, stress has become an inevitable part of our daily lives. While a certain amount of stress can be motivating and even beneficial, chronic stress can have serious consequences on both our physical and mental health. Understanding how stress affects your body and finding ways to manage it is essential for maintaining overall well-being.

For centuries, rosemary has been linked to remembrance and cognitive clarity. From ancient herbal practices to Shakespeare’s Ophelia saying, “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance,” this fragrant herb has had a long-standing reputation in traditional healing. But does science back up the claim?