Experts: Valentine’s Day | Heart Month 2024
February is Heart Month, a time to raise awareness about the importance of cardiovascular health and an opportunity to focus on what we can do to improve our heart health. Heart disease is the second leading cause of death for both men and women in Canada. (Government of Canada).
Valentine’s Day is a cultural touchstone that conjures up questions on consumerism, cultural shifts, and love in all its forms.
Here are some experts from McGill University who can provide comment on these topics:
Heart health
Christopher Labos, Associate, Office for Science and Society
“There are very simple things we can do to maintain our cardiovascular health. If you exercise regularly, don’t smoke, eat a healthy diet of mainly fruits and vegetables, and monitor medical factors like blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes, then you have controlled most potential cardiovascular risks.”
Christopher Labos is a cardiologist with a master’s degree in epidemiology. He is an associate with the Office for Science and Society, co-host of the award-winning podcast The Body of Evidence and author of Does Coffee Cause Cancer?
christopher.labos [at] mcgill.ca (English, French)
Abhinav Sharma, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Divisions of Cardiology and Experimental Medicine
"Maintaining physical activity is an important part of heart health. If you want to incorporate more physical activity in your daily routine, try taking small incremental steps where possible. For example, stop one floor below where you need to go and walk up one flight of stairs; take a walk around the block when you park your car at home or the garage; or even just stand for a few minutes an hour every day while you work. Done consistently, adding small amounts of exercise to your daily routine can have huge heart health benefits over time."
Abhinav Sharma is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine. His research focuses on cardiovascular outcomes and therapy optimization in patients with diabetes and heart failure, as well as the use of digital health to streamline follow-up and therapy selection in patients with heart failure.
abhinav.sharma [at] mcgill.ca (English)
Building healthy relationships
Marilyn Fitzpatrick, Professor Emerita, Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology
"We all like to think we have good values. The truth is spending time to understand your core values and making them a priority in your day-to-day life helps you lead a more satisfying and meaningful life. But what happens when you and your partner have different values? It's not necessary for partners to have precisely the same values. However, knowing what is important to your partner can help you navigate areas of difference and draw on each other's strengths to manage your life together."
Marilyn Fitzpatrick is a Professor Emerita in the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology. She is also a counselling psychologist who helps people clarify and live by their core values every day.
marilyn.fitzpatrick [at] mcgill.ca (English)
Consumer behaviour
Vivek Astvansh, Associate Professor, Desautels Faculty of Management
"Valentine's Day has evolved from being an expression of romantic love to a celebration of affection among friends and family. Yet another trend is that of self-love. Consequently, the consumer market has broadened to include personalized gifts and subscriptions that convey a deeper and longer-lasting appreciation for people who matter, including the self."
Vivek Astvansh is an Associate Professor of quantitative marketing and analytics in the Desautels Faculty of Management. His research guides shoppers and retailers on how to draw benefits and mitigate costs arising from their adoption of technology.
vivek.astvansh [at] mcgill.ca (English)
Love in the animal kingdom
Kyle Elliott, Assistant Professor, Department of Natural Resource Sciences
"Many animal species mate for life, including seabirds, though divorces do happen. In our exploration of seabird mating behaviors, we discovered that factors like breeding experience, nest site quality, and last year's fledging success play a significant role in whether thick-billed murres decide to call it quits. Interestingly, divorce didn't necessarily mean finding a better partner or securing a prime nesting spot. Instead, it seemed to stem from a rocky road in the reproductive journey. This sheds light on the intriguing dance of love and survival in the avian world.”
Kyle Elliott is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Natural Resource Sciences and the Canada Research Chair (Tier II) in Arctic Ecology. His areas of expertise include behavioural ecology, wildlife conservation and evolutionary physiology. He has been studying seabird partnerships at McGill for nearly a decade.
kyle.elliott [at] mcgill.ca (English and French)
Technology and online dating
Christopher Dietzel, Research Associate, iMPACTS
“It is easy to connect with others and explore potential connections via online platforms like dating apps and social media. But in today’s digital world, we need to be careful about getting caught up in fantasies. People should be aware how artificial intelligence (AI), algorithms, curated content, and the urge for constant connectivity can have an impact on their intimate relationships, mental health, and sexual experiences.”
Christopher Dietzel is a Research Associate on the iMPACTS Project at McGill University. His work explores the intersections of gender, sexuality, health, safety, and technology.
christopher.dietzel [at] mcgill.ca (English, French)
