Dr. Christiane Laberge: Healthy aging
After practicing pediatric emergency medicine, Christiane Laberge found her calling as a family doctor.
Through various media, she has informed the public on many topics related to health. She has proven to be an outstanding communicator who is skilled at finding simple explanations for complex topics. Dr. Laberge has kindly agreed to talk with us about herself and her career.
What led you to pursue a career in healthcare?
Coincidence. Back in the days when cégeps (colleges) had just started existing, the boarding school where I was studying didn’t offer a fifth year in high school. I was very disruptive—I used to talk all the time—but I got good grades, so a nun asked me to tutor other students when I was in my third year. That’s when I learned to educate, to explain and simplify concepts. I took right to it! So much so that after my fourth year in high school, the nuns offered to enroll me in cégep right away. Why not! The advisor at the Collège de Valleyfield suggested that I enroll in health sciences rather than social sciences, so I attended summer school before taking health sciences at the cégep. When I was 18, I was admitted to a medical program in university.
After more than 40 years of practice, what do you love about being a doctor?
The thirst for knowledge. This field is constantly evolving. I also love working with people. Every day, I get to play detective. I try to find the causes, to see if a health problem is hiding others. I love it!
You’re a family doctor. What led you to also take part in TV and radio programs?
Coincidence, once again! I spent ten years working in the pediatric emergency room at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital. I was asked to take part in the program Droit de parole with Claire Lamarche, in an episode on youth rights. Afterwards, I regularly made appearances on the TV show Top 50 with Michel Jasmin. Then came the lifestyle program C’est simple comme bonjour, which is similar to Marina Orsini, where I am currently a regular guest. I have also participated in the TV program Salut Bonjour and Cogeco radio shows. That’s what I do in the morning before really going to work!
What does the communication field bring you?
I talk to more people. I give them information to keep in mind. But in my head, I feel like I’m just talking to one single person. When people tell me that they’ve seen me on TV, I like to answer that they look good in their pyjamas! Some people tell me that I am part of their daily lives. It creates familiarity and lets me build real relationships.
What lifestyle habits should we adopt for healthy aging?
Healthy aging is about overcoming isolation, having a good diet and exercising enough to keep you physically and mentally healthy. Food is responsible for about 70% of chronic illnesses. A healthy diet, coupled with 30 minutes of exercise a day, has many benefits for general health. That exercise doesn’t have to mean hitting the gym, either; it can be something as simple as vacuuming while listening to lively music.
Physical and mental health are equally important. How can we balance both?
It’s important to stay informed by doing things like reading newspapers or watching public affairs programs. They give us the tools we need to communicate with the people around us. Volunteering also motivates us to go out, meet people and talk with each other, which stimulates our memory.
People between the ages of 50 and 70 are currently holding society at arm’s length. Who takes care of the children when their parents have crazy schedules? Who takes care of the great-grandparents in nursing homes? In the multigenerational homes I see, the grandparents are really taking care of their children, not the other way around! Let’s hope that the opposite becomes true when grandparents lose autonomy.
What do you say to patients who come and see you because their hearing is declining?
Since hearing loss is progressive, patients don’t notice it that much. We notice it more than they do. I explain to them that they may have no problems hearing me right now, but if I hid my mouth with my hands or if we were talking in a restaurant, they would probably have difficulty hearing me. In my office, I’ll sometimes turn the fan or the dehumidifier on while I speak to help them understand my point. That’s when they realize that they have trouble hearing.
They may even find that they no longer eat out or have the whole family over because it takes so much effort to follow conversations and it’s exhausting. We just need to encourage them to consult an audiologist for a hearing assessment, where they can learn more about presbycusis—they often don’t know what that is.
Thank you for this interesting interview, Dr. Laberge!