Dr. Shazma Mithani, MD, FRCPC

23/06/2025

Save and share to your stories. This is going to be a hot week across the country, meaning a significantly increased risk of heat stroke.

Heat Stroke is a life threatening illness that can progress very rapidly if you’re not doing things to protect yourself.

Here are important things to keep in mind to avoid heat illness and heat stroke:
🥵 Avoid exercise outdoors, especially from 11-4, and try to exercise early in the morning or indoors. Exertion in the heat is one of the biggest risk factors for heat stroke.
🥵Wear light coloured and loose clothing. Tight clothes make it more difficult for sweat to help cool you down. When sweat evaporates from the skin, it helps cool the body down. Looser clothing will also allow airflow for better evaporation and cooling.
🥵Stay well hydrated - sweat is an important way that the body cools down in the heat, and staying hydrated helps with normal sweat production. Avoid alcohol, as this acts as a diuretic (makes you p*e more) and will dehydrate you.
🥵Take breaks in the shade and indoors to help cool down.
🥵 Use cool compresses or mist water to help with cooling by evaporation from the skin, as well as from applying cold to the skin. Adding a fan will help with cooling as well.

Make sure to follow for more helpful health content and share with your friends and family work to keep them safe too.

12/06/2025

Poor air quality due to wildfire smoke is a growing public health concern, even if you don’t live in a province with active fires.

In my latest column for I talk about wildfire smoke, how it affects short and long term health and how you can protect yourselves from the effects.

Questions? Leave them in the comments!

03/06/2025

Hi! It’s been awhile since I’ve (re)introduced myself on here.

I’m Dr. Shazma Mithani - an ER doctor in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I love what I do in the ER, but I’m an ideal world, I’d like to keep you away from me there. That’s why I’m here. My mission is to arm all of you with trustworthy and reliable health information to keep you out of the emergency room.

Notice how I used the words, “trustworthy and reliable?” There is too much misinformation and disinformation in the health and wellness space. I’m also here to help debunk and cut through the noise so that you know what real and what’s just too good to be true.

You’ll also find can also find me as the co-host (with my amazing friend and colleague, Sheila Wijayasinghe) of where we dive into all sorts of medical topics and break them down in an easy to understand way for all of you.

You’ll also find a whole bunch of everyday stuff on my platform too. I love spending time with my family, playing tennis, being outdoors, traveling and, of course, fashion.

Thanks for joining me in this space. I look forward to this ongoing journey with you all.

26/05/2025

Have you heard of smelling salts?

The health and wellness industry, along with professional sport, has popularized these in recent years. Companies make claims about how smelling salts act as a “natural alternative to energy drinks” to increase energy, focus and endurance.

There is no evidence to substantiate any of these claims, and serves as yet another example of how the multi-trillion dollar supplement industry benefits from making claims that sound scientific and believable.

Recently, Hockey Quebec actually banned these from use because they were found to have been promoted by a coach to a U11 hockey team there!

Smelling salts can cause negative side effects, including triggering asthma attacks, causing allergic reactions and even skin burns.

Thoughts?

18/05/2025

12/05/2025

Did you know that much of the injury and illness that I see every shift is entirely preventable?

In my debut writing with I discuss 5 things you can do to stay out healthy and out of the ER.

What other topics would you like to see in this column? Let me know in the comments!

19/03/2025

FINALLY! My love of and tennis come together with this absolutely perfect Crosscourt Dress.

When this tennis dress came up as one of the gifting options this month I just had to get my hands on it.

The dress does not disappoint. It’s the most comfortable dress I’ve worn. It has excellent support and I didn’t feel like I constantly had to pull up the neckline. The fabric is soft and moisture wicking and very easy to move around in. Most importantly, the built in shorts stay put and hold tennis balls securely.

Not to mention, it’s super flattering with a great silhouette and cute cut out in the back.

The white dress is already in my cart!

What are your must have features for active wear?

12/03/2025

The recent and tragic death of Betsy Arakawa due to Hantavirus has brought up many questions and concerns about what exactly it is.

Hantavirus can cause severe symptoms and carries a mortality of up to 50%. It is a very rare disease, but it’s important to know what to look for so diagnosis and treatment can be done early.

It’s also important to know how to safely clean up rodents and their droppings. The has excellent resources around this.

Leave any questions you have about hantavirus in the comments and be sure to share with your friends and family.

10/01/2025

Save this one, because you’ll likely need it down the road!

Viral gastroenteritis is very common in the fall and winter months, and is usually caused by norovirus. This is an extremely contagious virus that is spread by droplet and contact and tends to tear through families over the course of several days.

Wash your hands!! This is the most effective way to reduce spread. It’s also important to clean surfaces with a dilute bleach solution.

Return to school and work can occur once symptoms have resolved for at least 24h.

Questions? Leave them in the comments.

Please be sure to share! ‘Tis the season 😬

05/01/2025

An absolute honour to receive this award. Fighting misinformation is a team endeavor and so thankful to all of my teammates!

Congratulations to The Medical Post Media Engagement Trailblazer Award Winner, Dr. Shazma Mithani, MD, FRCPC!
Watch their video interview: https://ow.ly/WRvv50UzC46
Read their profile: https://ow.ly/tcAZ50UzC43
Alberta Medical Association, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - University of Alberta, Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation

06/12/2024

Should you be worried about bird flu?

Avian influenza comes up in news cycles every few years, usually related to outbreaks among animals and the rare human case. It has never felt so close to home as it has in recent weeks, though, after a teen in British Columbia contracted the virus. This teen developed severe symptoms from the bird flu.

The short answer to, “should I be worried,” is no. However, we have to stay vigilant. Just like with COVID, every time any virus replicates, it can mutate. Each of these mutations carries the potential to allow the virus to infect humans more readily and/or allow it to be transmitted between humans.

The most important things to remember to protect yourself against bird flu are:
- wash your hands often
- avoid contact with sick animals (be especially careful with curious kids)
- do not consume undercooked meat/eggs or raw milk

Let me know your thoughts.