Fri, March 07, 2025

Early dementia signs from the body not the brain

When you have dementia, being diagnosed early can help you and your loved ones manage the condition. It could also aid in treatment. A new study has found that in some cases, weight loss and lipid changes happened up to a decade before dementia was diagnosed. Also, concerns that people of a higher weight with restrictive eating disorders could access GLP-1s if doctors aren’t screening patients appropriately. And why type 1 diabetes is more commonly being diagnosed in adults, not just children and adolescents. 

Fri, February 28, 2025

Listening to influencers could give you an incidentaloma

On social media, an influencer's job is to influence you — to get you to strive for a particular lifestyle or buy a specific product.  In some cases they're pushing medical tests, telling people to take charge of their health with full body MRI scans and cancer detection tools that have very little, or no evidence to support them. Also, we take a comprehensive look at GLP-1s like Ozempic and Wegovy for weight loss. And who should be substituting table salt for potassium salt?

Fri, February 21, 2025

Why some women are in the dark about breast density

Victoria is starting to notify women when they have dense breasts on their mammogram, following Western Australia and South Australia.  So what does this information mean? And what should you be doing with it? Also, the concerning state of health policy in the United States. A correction on adolescent mental health. And what western medicine can learn from First Nations communities about autonomy and traditional living. 

Fri, February 14, 2025

Bowel cancer is happening younger — so why aren't people getting screened?

Australia has been highlighted in an international report on the rising incidence of bowel cancer in young people.  Our screening age was dropped last year to 45, however the overall uptake of bowel cancer screening remains at about 40 per cent.  Also, a private hospital opening in Melbourne is promising to cut the cost to its patients down to zero.  And what can be done to prevent depression and anxiety in adolescents?

Fri, February 07, 2025

As bird flu mutates, are eggs still safe to eat?

There's a shortage of eggs in Australia, and it might not let up as we brace for the arrival of the H5N1 strain of bird flu.  That strain has shown is can make the jump into humans. But how does it manage? Also, menopause hormone therapy is in high demand. What are the benefits and the risks? And with kids spending less time outside, short-sightedness is on the rise. But treatments are improving. 

Fri, January 31, 2025

How an online coach can keep your brain young

There are some things you can do to guard against cognitive decline, and a study has found a hands-on approach is best.  Also, rates of vaccination in pregnancy are falling in New South Wales.  Should Australia follow Italy's lead and screen everyone for coeliac disease? And we hear from two friends who've had strokes 20 years apart. 

Wed, January 29, 2025

A Stroke of Luck: Kylie's story

Kylie and Gillian had been friends for years when Kylie had a stroke in her early 30s.  It turned Kylie's work-driven life upside down, and forced her and husband Chris to re-evaluate everything. 

Wed, January 29, 2025

A Stroke of Luck: Gillian's story

When Gillian suffered a stroke at age 50, Kylie was one of the first friends she reached out to.  It wasn't Gillian's first life-altering medical emergency, having gone through cancer treatment years earlier. 

Wed, January 29, 2025

A Stroke of Luck: Downs and ups of recovery

Despite their strokes being 20 years apart, Kylie and Gillian were left with similar disabilities.  Both faced a long and often gruelling period of rehabilitation — thankfully with partners and friends by their sides. 

Wed, January 29, 2025

A Stroke of Luck: Asking for help

When Kylie had her stroke, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) didn't exist.  It took Gillian's stroke, 20 years later, for Kylie to fully understand how much support she was missing out on. 

Fri, January 24, 2025

Why BMI is being sidelined in the diagnosis of obesity

For a long time many have assumed they can tell how healthy a person is because of their weight. Now, a major global collaboration of experts is challenging that.  A Lancet commission has recommended changing the criteria for clinical obesity to move away from BMI as a sole measure of health.  Also, why a recent review into fluoride in drinking water is flawed — and a higher quality study done in our own backyard.  And how a genetic study of depression could unlock new treatments for people who are struggling to find medications that work. 

Fri, January 17, 2025

How much sugar are you feeding your toddler?

We try to give little kids the best start in life, and in supermarkets there's an ever-expanding range of foods marketed specifically for them But how much sugar is in them?   Plus, we peer into the evidence around ultra-processed foods.  References: Ultra-processed foods are ‘pushing aside’ all other food groups to dominate global diets Science Extra: Weight of the world

Fri, January 10, 2025

What's your sports bra got to do with your knees?

Bras might seem unrelated to knee injuries, but research suggests otherwise. Women are significantly more prone to tearing their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and wearing the right bra could help reduce this risk. It's a good thing because knee injuries can have devastating consequences for women's health and mobility. And why vaping become one of the biggest health issues of 2024.

Fri, January 03, 2025

Why aren't kids getting the food they need at childcare?

The first 2,000 days of life are crucial for brain development. Children learn and grow more during this time than at any other point in their lives. However, research shows many childcare centres are failing to provide proper nutrition: children are going hungry, and meals often don't meet basic dietary standards. Experts are calling for better food support in disadvantaged areas and improved nutritional guidelines for early childhood centres to help children get the nourishment they need.

Fri, December 27, 2024

Could a bacterial strain spark bowel cancer?

Scientists are increasingly concerned about the rising incidence of colorectal cancer among younger populations, and emerging research points to the gut microbiome as a key factor in understanding this trend. A study from the University of Melbourne uncovered a specific bacterial strain that can cause DNA damage, potentially triggering the development of colorectal cancer.

Fri, December 20, 2024

Should you exercise more or get surgery for knee pain?

Many individuals with knee osteoarthritis are being subjected to unnecessary tests and procedures, even though exercise is often the most effective treatment. New clinical care guidelines have been introduced, highlighting the importance of non-surgical approaches to manage pain and improve mobility. And do you ever worry you spend too much time sitting around? Well now you can find out. An international team of researchers has unpacked how long you should sit, stand, sleep and exercise for optimal health.  References: Osteoarthritis of the Knee Clinical Care Standard Associations of 24 h time-use compositions of sitting, standing, physical activity and sleeping with optimal cardiometabolic risk and glycaemic control: The Maastricht Study

Fri, December 13, 2024

Are they natty, or are they taking steroids to get buff?

Performance and image-enhancing drugs are more common than you might expect, especially if you're not enmeshed in gym culture.  Experts are worried the medical community has fallen behind the rise in steroid use, leaving users physically and mentally vulnerable.  Also, at-home testing kits promise to diagnose a range of illnesses from vitamin deficiency to cancers. Are they accurate? And motor neurone disease (MND) is affecting more Australians. With the environment likely to blame, researchers are trying to pin down the culprits.

Fri, December 06, 2024

Why these fertility experts are worried about plastic

There's already a lot to think about when you're trying to get pregnant. Should plastic be one of them?  Some fertility experts think that yes, cutting down your exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), a synthetic chemical used to make plastics, could help.  Also, the mission to come up with consistent guidelines for the testing of gestational diabetes. As early as possible, or wait until 24 to 28 weeks? And why rethinking dementia could improve our experiences of the condition. 

Fri, November 29, 2024

Chair yoga: as good as the real thing?

Sore back from sitting all day? A new study suggest virtual yoga — much of which can be done from a chair — could help relieve low back pain. AI-generated deepfakes of health professionals are promoting a supplement, and concerning new data on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Two stroke survivors challenge Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Bill Shorten, on NDIS accessibility and funding. And a pilot program examining how music therapy can help those affected by early onset dementia.

Fri, November 22, 2024

Why Australia's called the 'allergy capital of the world'

Some describe Australia as the allergy capital of the world, noting high rates of food allergies — what can parents do to help kids early?  Why the term 'Munchausen by Proxy' is making headlines, and how to spot Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another (FDIA). The global impact of Donald Trump's re-election on abortion access and funding. And a new study shows screening of parents can help identify couples with a higher chance of passing on genetic disorders to children.

Fri, November 15, 2024

Can your noisy knees predict the future?

Our joints are capable of making a cacophony of sounds, even more so as we get older. Is it ever a cause for concern? Research shows once more that vaccination protects against long COVID, but the timing of the jab may be important.  Generations of teenagers have found a way to smoke weed — legal or not. So what do we know about the effects on the brain? And the Declaration of Helsinki has turned 60 years old. Are these ethical principles that guide clinical research up to scratch?

Fri, November 08, 2024

Another Trump presidency could give kids more cavities

Donald Trump's re-election could spell big health policy changes for the United States, including the rolling back of a 20th century intervention.   Also, a major review into how health professionals operate in Australia, and how we can do better.  How checking blood pressure in childhood could prevent heart disease down the line.  Concerns about a common heart procedure. And, the last word on asthma treatment?

Fri, November 01, 2024

Inside the lab growing sheets of replacement skin

Spray-on skin already helps many burns patients, but what about those with deeper burns? Meet the team trialling a technique to grow sheets of replacement skin. Takeaways from the inquiry into Australia's COVID-19 pandemic response, and a dip in childhood vaccination rates. A new gene variant among some First Nations peoples in Oceania that could explain susceptibility to some diseases. And how physiotherapists are helping women who experience pain during or after sex.

Fri, October 25, 2024

The parkrun phenomenon — and which runners keep coming back

What keeps some people running while others drop off? New data from parkrun groups shows why some keep coming back to jogging. New draft limits on 'forever chemicals' PFAS in Australia's drinking water from national medical research body. Type 2 diabetes incidence seems to be edging down in Australian adults — but this decline isn't the same across all ethnic groups. And juvenile arthritis is as common as type 1 diabetes among children, but diagnosis is much slower and there are vastly fewer specialists to treat this autoimmune disease.

Fri, October 18, 2024

Why are thousands of bags of blood being binned instead of donated?

The ancient practice of blood letting is still a vitally important treatment for some people. But for years that blood was being discarded. The viruses behind the recent burst of infections this Spring, and why your recent blood pressure reading might have been incorrect. Self-harm is on the rise among for young people, a major new report recommends addressing social and cultural contributors to halt this rise. And meet the 'breech whisperer' helping deliver babies in the breech position — bottom first instead of head first. He wants to preserve the delicate art of this manoeuvre.

Fri, October 11, 2024

Not all screens are equal — some help kids with mental health conditions

There are plenty of app games on the market claiming to help kids with ADHD, depression or anxiety, a review examines if they do. MicroRNA researchers have won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. What's the big deal with these tiny molecules? Despite being common, there are few treatments for functional seizures and functional neurological disorder (FND). A new program is changing that. The rate of skin infections in Aboriginal children living in remote communities has halved over the course of a major five-year study, and this could prevent more severe life-threatening illnesses.

Fri, October 04, 2024

Got ADHD? There's a chance you have dyslexia too

There's long been an assumed link between ADHD and dyslexia, and now a study has looked at the genes of thousands of people to find the overlap.  Radon is a naturally occurring gas that can be found in homes and workplaces. Researchers have looked at a potential link between domestic levels of radon and childhood leukaemia. Can period-tracking apps be trusted to give you information about your fertility? And science fiction is becoming science fact in the field of brain-computer interfaces. 

Fri, September 27, 2024

The key to living past a hundred? Lie about your age

There are areas known as 'Blue Zones' where people were thought to live very long lives.  It was thought to have something to do with lifestyles in these spots, but one demographer has debunked the entire notion.  Also, we discuss the best way to maintain weight loss in adolescents with weight-related health problems.  How to screen for prostate cancer better, with fewer false alarms. And a new protocol that could reduce the toxicity of Hodgkin lymphoma treatment. 

Fri, September 20, 2024

Why don't we screen everyone for high risk genes?

The government bans life insurers from using genetic testing results to demand higher premiums.  Inflammation in childhood is linked to metabolic disorders and mental illness in later life.  Australian invention could revolutionise X-ray market.  And COVID antiviral gets put to the test. 

Fri, September 13, 2024

The man who dated his own kidney stone

A scientist carbon dated his own kidney stone to better understand the mysterious, and painful, formations.  How a new approach could curb the biggest killer of young people.  The Ebola vaccine is put to the test. And diabetes drugs now available for weight loss prescriptions in Australia. 

Fri, September 06, 2024

Playing sport might protect against concussion harms

You hear a lot about the dangers of concussion in sport, but maybe sport can actually mitigate the harms of concussion. We navigate the link between tablet use in children and angry outbursts.  How erectile dysfunction and other issues below the belt can be indicators of problems above the belt. And did Australian supermodel Elle MacPherson really beat cancer without treatment? 

Fri, August 30, 2024

Your phone might help you get a good night's sleep

Most people struggling with insomnia at least once in their life, and for some it's a long-term struggle. Can an app help with treatment? We give an update on all things COVID-19, including the latest research on vaccine effects.  How parents, childcare centres and policymakers can keep children safe from toxins.  And how accurate are food tracking apps, especially when it comes to complex meals?

Fri, August 23, 2024

Struggling to keep kids off screens? Here’s how to reduce the harm

Tips on how to fend off the behavioural problems and cognitive troubles that come with too much screen time, too young.  What a new paper has to say about semaglutide and suicidal ideation, plus promising results from a trial of antibiotics in sub-Saharan Africa.  What dietitians can do to help drive down the rising rate of obesity.  And a rare inner ear condition that could benefit from developments in gene therapy. 

Fri, August 16, 2024

Going for a bush walk? Your microbiome will thank you

We know a varied diet of veggies is good for our microbiome, but what about a varied environment?  Where we spend our time also influences the good bacteria in our bodies. Also, we take a look at the mpox outbreak that's now a cause of international concern.  And why surgeons don't want you to get knee surgery if you've got osteoarthritis.  

Fri, August 09, 2024

Sport has two sex categories, but biology isn't that simple

The Olympics has reignited a century-old debate about sex categories in sport — and what happens when policy doesn't align with biology.  A look at the Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Melbourne. Also, a response to union calls for reproductive leave to support women going through menopause.  Why people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are at an increased risk of severe injuries.  And the history of Hepatitis E, which one expert says Australia needs to take more seriously. 

Fri, August 02, 2024

The 'fertility' test that isn't a fertility test

Marketing of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) tests could be exploiting the anxiety women might feel about their fertility.  An update on influenza, COVID-19 and whooping cough in Australia.  Two more risk factors for dementia have been identified — what are the implications for preventing cognitive decline? And what impact does a double mastectomy have on breast cancer recurrence and deaths?

Fri, July 26, 2024

The running group chasing pain relief

Research is clear on the benefits of exercise for certain types of pain, including for pain associated with cancer treatment. A running group is putting this into practice.  An update on mammal-to-mammal transmission of bird flu, and a check in with a major AIDS conference.  Also, do we need to reconsider regulations around cigarettes in the wake of a crackdown on vaping? And heart attacks in young women can have a major psychological impact — especially when the person had no known risk factors. 

Fri, July 19, 2024

Small steps to boost teen mental health

Adolescence is a stressful time. Researchers have been investigating simple ways to help improve teen mental health. The US president tests positive for COVID, plus the results of a large study into COVID vaccines and pregnancy. Asthma action plans to help manage the condition. How reminiscing about the past can improve wellbeing in the present. And why you should stick to soap and water if there's gastro about.

Fri, July 12, 2024

Making pleasure accessible to every body

Sex tech is giving people with disability better access to their own bodies. What Australia is doing to prepare for the migration of birds that could be carrying a potentially catastrophic strain of avian influenza.  The argument for a sugar tax gets stronger, thanks to more evidence from countries that already have one.  And in the last 50 years of Aboriginal alcohol programs, what has worked? Plus a special NAIDOC issue of the Medical Journal of Australia. 

Fri, July 05, 2024

Your winter blues might be seasonal depression

Clarity on vaping changes and a look at the national diabetes inquiry. It turns out Australians are getting close to half of their energy needs from ultra-processed foods which can increase the risk of chronic disease Experts believe seasonal depression is more common in Australia than once thought. New research shows Indigenous Australians with hearing loss aren't getting the care they need.

Fri, June 28, 2024

Counting steps or minutes: How to track exercise

Is it 10 thousand steps or 30mins? How advice on regular exercise varies. What's being done in response to medication shortages. Deprescribing is when you wean off a prescription medication you no longer need, but it needs to be done safely, and it can be difficult to find the right advice. Experts want women to know they don't have to suffer through heavy periods. And when all the tests come back negative, initially it's a weight off your mind, but then you start to wonder, 'what the hell is wrong with me?'

Fri, June 21, 2024

What space travel tells us about ageing

Take a look at changing teaching methods in the classroom, and why that matters for future health. Australian researchers are developing a new drug to fight the potentially deadly condition of sepsis. Could a common drug be used to treat macular degeneration? And what effect does space travel have on ageing?

Fri, June 14, 2024

Can you cut a common cold short?

A comprehensive review has delved into the current research into zinc supplements and their effectiveness. Research has shown that people experiencing chronic pain see the world as a harsher place – distances are longer and hills are steeper. We blink more than we need to, and scientists have been trying to find out why. And, sharing memories of Michael Mosley.

Fri, June 07, 2024

A plan of attack for migraine sufferers

Many people with migraines suffer in the dark for years before they find the right treatment, but one neurologist has suggested a framework to ease the pain.  What's happening at the cellular level when an ageing brain is exposed to exercise? At least through the microscope, it looks like rejuvenation. 

Fri, May 31, 2024

Life-saving changes that could detect breast cancers earlier

Australia has a successful breast cancer screening program, but experts say it can (and should) be better.  New research drives home the importance of treating type 2 diabetes as early as possible for lifelong benefits.  An update on how COVID vaccines are faring with all the new variants circulating in the community.  And we take a look at some of the advancements being made in transplant technology. 

Fri, May 24, 2024

Maintaining your mental fitness – and a new culprit for Alzheimer's disease?

The top five things you can do to keep your mental health in check, plus an update on the virus everyone is talking about: bird flu. 

Fri, May 17, 2024

The 'sweet poison' fructose myth, and outgrowing childhood allergies

Correcting the record on fructose, and new research offers some clues about whose allergies might desist as they grow up.  Also, new insights from a vaccine complication, and the risk of catching a common virus during pregnancy. 

Fri, May 10, 2024

Are cows giving us bird flu? And everything we (don't) know about nanoplastics

How bird flu has (probably) gone from cows to humans, as well as the latest on psychedelics for depression and psychotropics in healthcare. How much time you should spend sitting, standing, moving and sleeping for the optimal 24 hours.  How sexuality might shorten your lifespan. And why the health effects of nanoplastics are so difficult to uncover. 

Fri, May 03, 2024

Iron for long-COVID, 'holy grail' flu shots, and prolonged grief disorder

Researchers have found a possible link between iron and long-COVID Each year the flu vaccine is reformulated to target the current strains of influenza A and B that are circulating globally — but what if it didn't need to be? A new review of Health at Every Size shows that, at least when it comes to measures like cholesterol and blood pressure, it's not enough on its own. One of the most common interventions for IBS is an elimination diet to try to identify a trigger. But that diet might carry its own risk – of triggering disordered eating – a new study warns. While grief effects everyone differently, a small group of people can find themselves 'stuck' in intense grief – it's not depression, it's prolonged grief disorder, and it can be treated. The Health Report mailbag features "stoolgazing" and when to collect your own samples… or not. You can email us at healthreport@abc.net.au

Fri, April 26, 2024

Sports bras support knees, bird flu in milk, and health after prison release

Avian influenza particles have been detected in US milk supplies, just how concerning is that? Why are COVID treatment recommendations different depending on what country you're in? And how much does the average Australian know about preventing dementia? The latest research on bras and knees. You might not think they have much to do with each other, but it turns out that wearing the right bra might actually reduce a woman's risk of a serious knee injury. Pregnancy has been linked to accelerated biological ageing — in simple terms, how old your cells are. And why being released from prison is a health risk.

Fri, April 19, 2024

Cow's milk for babies, therapy for trauma, and lives saved by COVID vaccines

Research into the influence of gender on autism spectrum disorder diagnoses. Calculating how many lives were saved by Australia's Covid-19 vaccine roll-out, and how to spot a fake Dr Karl, or Dr Swan, in the wilds of social media marketing. A review into how cognitive behavioural therapy can help young people who've experienced trauma. Recently updated WHO guidelines say babies as young as six months can start drinking cow's milk rather than infant formula, but that contradicts Australia's national guidelines. And the Federal Government has recently released more funds to build the local bone marrow donor system… but is it enough?

Mon, April 15, 2024

Norman Swan on what is schizophrenia?

In light of the Bondi Junction attack, there's been a lot of commentary about mental illness - including schizophrenia. So what is schizophrenia? While the exact cause isn't known, it's a serious mental illness that can affect how a person behaves.  It might also surprise you to learn that someone with a diagnosis is more likely to be harmed, than to harm others. On this special episode of Health Report, Dr Norman Swan talks about the medical facts about the disorder, how common it is and some of the successful treatments.

Fri, April 12, 2024

Treating UTIs (without cranberry juice) and re-examining gender care

Is a simpler solution to recurrent UTIs on the way? Plus when should you exercise to get the most benefit? A deep dive into the UK's reviews of gender affirming treatment, and how Australia's system differs.  Researchers say there's more PFAS in our water than previously thought, but how much do we know about the health harms? And a new way to deliver immunotherapy straight to the source in bladder cancer. 

Fri, April 05, 2024

When your private health won't pay, and flu vaccine options

In health news this week it's cows with bird flu, vaccines for human flu, and GLP-1s for Parkinson's and possibly bowel cancer prevention. When your private health insurer won't pay, have you read the fine print on your policy lately? A look at health literacy barriers, when it's not the apple a day keeping some people away from the doctors' office. How mRNA technology developed during COVID is now being used to target the proteins that cause Alzheimer's and dementia. And new technology allowing researchers to look beyond standard autopsy results to investigate possible causes of some cases of SIDS.

Fri, March 29, 2024

The bacteria causing bowel cancer, and how to make indoor air safer

How changes to codeine access impacted the use of PBS-listed opiods.  Pinpointing particular strains of bacteria that could lead to bowel cancer.  The Australian research that helped change our definition of anaemia.  And why aren't there already strict guidelines on indoor air quality?

Fri, March 22, 2024

ADHD medication a lifesaver? Will cancer treatment damage your ovaries?

Three recent scientific papers looking at ADHD treatment and other health outcomes. Why no one knows what your cancer treatment will do to your ovaries. In a small US study, brain cancer tumours shrank rapidly in the first few days when treated with chimeric antigen receptor, or CAR, T cells injected into the fluid around the brain. And suicidal thoughts are more common than researchers expected in people who do not fit with conventional diagnoses of depression or other psychiatric disorders.

Fri, March 15, 2024

Scrapping the term Long-COVID? Is toddler food bad? And the sick quitter effect

Queensland's Chief Health Officer says the term "long-COVID" should be scrapped, but there are different definitions of what long-COVID is and different ways data is collected Evidence suggests toddler or transition milks are unnecessary at best and harmful at worst. Numbers of alcohol related deaths may have been under reported because past abuse isn't captured when a reformed-drinker dies.

Fri, March 08, 2024

Short sleep and diabetes | Menopause and mood | VR patients and emergency

A 62-year-old man in Germany—called HIM—deliberately received the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination 217 times within a period of 29 months. Researchers were keen to know how he fared. Sleep has become a bit of an obsession and has us questioning just how much we need. A large study has compared participants' duration of sleep against their risk of Type 2 Diabetes. In pop culture and news coverage menopause and mood changes seem inextricably linked. A special series on menopause has just been published in the Lancet, with one paper specifically on mental health. In hospital emergency rooms emotions can run high, and tempers can get frazzled, which is confronting for both staff and other patients.

Fri, March 01, 2024

Exercise and depression | Melanoma and access to treatment | Comprehensive research on Sarcoidosis

Major depressive disorder is a leading cause of global disability, and exercise looks like a candidate for treatment. But which type? Skin cancer is a major health risk for Australians, but access to proper cancer screening and treatment is difficult, especially in some of our highest-risk areas, like Far North Queensland. Sarcoidoisis is an enigmatic condition that may attack different parts of the body. Diagnosis is difficult and there are few treatments. It's now being comprehensively researched.

Mon, February 26, 2024

CORONACAST BONUSCAST: New numbers around (super rare) vaccine side effects

When COVID vaccines first became available in 2021, they were met with celebration. Finally we had some defence against this virus that had struck down so many and triggered such heavy lockdowns. But once they started rolling out en masse, a new concern emerged – reports of side effects that, while rare, could be severe.  Just how rare these conditions are has now been better described by a new paper drawing on data from 99 million people from across the world.  The answer – as we already suspected, there is a link between the vaccines here in Australia and conditions like heart inflammation, blood clots and a usually temporary paralysis called Guillian-Barre syndrome, among others. But the data also show the risk of those conditions is small in comparison to the risk of the same conditions in someone who actually catches COVID.  References: COVID-19 vaccines and adverse events of special interest: A multinational Global Vaccine Data Network (GVDN) cohort study of 99 million vaccinated individuals

Fri, February 23, 2024

News on long COVID and indoor air quality | Visualising plaque in your arteries | An under-tested blood fat | Kids' risk of poor health in the youth justice system

News this week is The Government response to the long COVID inquiry, which looked into how many Australians are living with long COVID and what could be done to support them. And, a report on fine particulates in the air, and their relationship with coronary heart disease. A study has tested whether showing people actual pictures of the plaque inside their arteries is more persuasive than a simple risk score in promoting healthy changes. Turns out, it is. A senior cardiologist calls it The Hidden Killer, and it may contribute to about 50% of heart attacks, especially people who may be younger and with relatively normal cholesterol levels. It’s called Lipoprotein(a) or Lp(a). New data is showing that, for children, any contact with the criminal justice system means they’re more likely to die earlier, and have health problems of every kind. Are kids already at risk more likely to be targeted by the system—what would change this trend?

Fri, February 16, 2024

Insomnia, sun exposure | Low-carb diets | Sodium in food | Hepatitis in kids | Social prescribing

Health news: Insomnia: what kind of therapy and/or behaviour changes are more likely to work? And new advice on sun exposure that reflects Australia's diverse population. Low-carb diets have grabbed a lot of attention, promising weight loss and improved health, but they're not all the same. Diet is important for health, but foods high in sodium are a risk factor for high blood pressure, and stomach cancer. In early 2022, after nearly two years of the COVID pandemic, doctors started to notice another alarming trend: severe and unexpected liver disease in children all over the world. Some activities really make us feel good—like working up a sweat, or connecting with people. Might it be possible for a doctor to prescribe such activities?

Fri, February 09, 2024

Food for kids in childhood centres—are their brains being starved? | Getting an autism diagnosis as an adult

A groundbreaking study from the Queensland Brain Institute has found serious deficiencies in the amount and quality of food provided to kids by Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services. This can compromise kids' nutritional needs, and brain development. Getting a diagnosis for autism for a child or adolescent is a series of complicated and often expensive hoops to jump through—and it’s even harder for adults.

Fri, February 02, 2024

Why fentanyl isn't so big in Australia? | Risks of under-vaccination | Breast cancer after an early scare | AI shaking up radiology

The addictive painkiller fentanyl has swept through the USA—but its effects haven't been as big in Australia. Why? Vaccination against COVID-19 can save lives and reduce the risk of severe disease. Why are some people under vaccinated—and what's the risk for people not up to date with shots? An early form of breast cancer—ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)—is often found by women themselves, not as part of screening programs. The power and potential pitfalls of AI in medicine have been debated, but AI is already having an impact in radiology.

Fri, January 26, 2024

GLP1 agonists and weight loss | Opioids and cancer pain | Don't neglect dental care | Some back pain resolves, some lingers | Synaesthesia

The drug name on everyone’s lips is semaglutide—a seemingly magical substance that can solve all our ills. But it’s not just semaglutide, there’s a whole class of drugs called GLP-1 agonists. Opioids are commonly prescribed to patients who have cancer to help them with pain, but the drugs are not risk free and can have their downsides. Last year there was a Senate report into the state of dental care in Australia, and like a visit to the dentist—it wasn’t a fun read. Back pain affects so many people – but when doctors look at it, they find that while some people recovery quickly other continue to suffer in silence and agony. v

Mon, January 22, 2024

Australian immunisation rates drop | What are 'incidentalomas'?

What's happening with COVID Australian vaccination rates are dropping A new term for chance discoveries on scans

Mon, January 15, 2024

'Life and potential death': Being diagnosed with cancer while pregnant

The shock of a cancer diagnosis is familiar for far too many people. But when Na'ama Carlin was diagnosed with breast cancer, her health wasn't the only consideration.  If you're in need of support you can contact  Mummy's Wish  or  Hope for Two .

Mon, January 08, 2024

Care and detection of younger onset dementia | Breastfeeding aversion

First heard in July 2023 It’s called ‘young onset’ dementia if diagnosed before the age of 65—and can occur while people are still caring for kids and supporting a household. First heard in July 2023 We think breastfeeding is quite natural, but it doesn’t always come easily, and some issues—such as Breastfeeding Aversion Response (or BAR)—are still under-researched.

Mon, January 01, 2024

Where does Australia stand on drug decriminalisation?

Drug use has been increasing, whether it be cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy, hallucinogens, or ketamine. That includes recreational use and substance abuse. So it begs the question: Has criminalising drugs ever worked? And what needs to be done to drive down the harms associated with this increasing drug use? If you're in need of support, you can contact the National Alcohol and Other Drug hotline on 1800 250 015, or contact Counselling Online . 

Mon, December 25, 2023

ADHD clinics and the diagnosis explosion | Chat GPT and virtual health care

A new kind of ADHD clinic is cashing in on surging demand for diagnoses—and promising salaries of more than $900,000 to recruit psychiatrists. As the need for services has grown, so have waitlists. Given the choice between a ChatGPT bot or a real doctor, a panel of health care professionals found the bot's responses were both more empathetic and gave higher quality information.

Mon, December 18, 2023

Invigorating ice baths | Waves in the dying brain | Gaming and exercise

More and more people are tackling the bracing discomfort of ice bath sessions. Alongside several touted health benefits there are some serious risks. Norman is at Bronte Beach to chill. Researchers observed the cardiac and neural signals from a small number of ICU patients at the point when ventilatory support was withdrawn. They recorded the quite new phenomena of electrical activity in a particular area of the brain. Keeping motivated to exercise can be difficult, but for people getting over a traumatic brain injury it's even more so. An exercise program at Liverpool Hospital uses gaming to encourage activity.

Mon, December 11, 2023

Body dysmorphic disorder | Benefits of a low-salt diet | Primary aldosteronism | How a country buys its drugs

Feeling dissatisfied with their appearance can become an obsession for some people, and affect quality of life and relationships. Most people can benefit from reduced salt intake, and so reduce the risk of heart attack, atrial fibrillation, stroke, dementia, and kidney damage. A few months ago the program there was a story on an under-recognised cause of high blood pressure called primary aldosteronism. One listener asked to be tested. An area of Australian healthcare that might be a candidate for review is drug subsidy. We might consider what New Zealand's PHARMAC does, and conduct a competitive tender.

Mon, December 04, 2023

Concerns about a cancer therapy | Promise and risk in health AI | Where are all the psychiatrists? | Tackling high blood pressure

Bringing clarity to health and medical issues from social, scientific and political points of view.

Mon, November 27, 2023

Respiratory illnesses in China | ACL injury in women | GP referrals to psychiatrists

There are eerily familiar of clusters of respiratory infections being reported across China. We know that for some health conditions women are more likely to have a worse time than men. But for the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the chances of a woman sustaining an injury to it are up to 6 or even 10 times as likely as men. When someone has a complex or severe mental health issue, the specialist they really need is a psychiatrist. However, GPs are finding it now more difficult to track down a psychiatrist to accept their patients.

Thu, November 23, 2023

CORONACAST BONUSCAST: The latest wave, a new vaccine and let's talk about lockdowns

Another COVID wave, another COVID vaccine and another episode of Coronacast ... sort of? Norman and Tegan will be providing coronavirus updates when needed, so subscribe to The Health Report feed so you don't miss out! References: The unequal effects of the health–economy trade-off during the COVID-19 pandemic

Mon, November 20, 2023

Weighing the data on legal cannabis | Overuse of antimicrobials | Delayed cord cutting in premature babies

In 2016 Australia legalised cannabis for medicinal use and now the Greens party are advocating for its recreational use as well. The Australian Medical Association say that would send the wrong message. Antimicrobial resistance has been described an emerging public health emergency. A major cause is overuse of antibiotics and other drugs to combat microbes, like fungi. When a baby is born premature time is of the essence, and the idea of slowing things down in those first few moments seems counter-intuitive.

Mon, November 13, 2023

Senate report on ADHD | ABC Birth Project responses | Yellow fever and mosquito-borne diseases | Assessing our spending on health

In March 2023 a Senate inquiry began to review how the health system manages people with ADHD, and the Government has now three months to respond. The ABC's Birth Project invited people to share their experiences of birth in Australia—and if improvements could be made to the system. The responses indicate that there's plenty of scope Yellow Fever is spread by mosquitoes, and some U.S. researchers say that it's ripe for a comeback. The same species of mosquito is already either in Australia or nearby. The latest report on what we're spending on health in Australia has offered a clear picture of what COVID has cost. What's that rash contact details: What's that rash email: thatrash@abc.net.au on Instagram @abcheal

Mon, November 06, 2023

Narcolepsy and its strange symptoms | Body clocks and our sleep

If we don't get enough sleep we're apt to doze off in the day, but for some people, dozing off can signal rare disorder of the brain's sleep-wake cycles, and it plays havoc with their lives. In one 24-hour period our body undergoes a number of synchronised  biological changes, which are also linked to our mental health.

Mon, October 30, 2023

Vitamin C, COVID, and cancer | Hand arthritis, and new treatment | Birthing in the COVID world | Blood cancer treatment advances

A question asked about COVID-19 was whether high doses of intravenous vitamin C could fight it. Two randomised controlled trials showed no benefit for COVID-19. But high-dose Vitamin C can benefit cancer treatment. Arthritis of the hands is common, painful, a bit of a mystery, and hard to treat. Researchers have trialled a drug commonly used for rheumatoid arthritis, and found some benefit. In Victoria, hospital researchers have been watching how COVID and lockdowns affected births there. Some hospital adaptations persisted well past the lockdown phases—including shorter hospital stays after birth. Blood cancers often affect people younger than the average person who develops cancer, and Australian and New Zealand haematologists have been pioneers in trialling new treatments—this year marking the 50th anniversary of the clinical trial group that coordinates studies.

Mon, October 23, 2023

Atrial fibrillation, catheter ablation, stroke, and dementia | A bank for poo | Survey to improve care in general practice

Two of the most common causes of death in Australia, and globally, are stroke and dementia. One cause of stroke is atrial fibrillation—an abnormal heart rhythm—it may also cause dementia. Faecal microbe (or poo) transplants are something we've talked about on the program, but until recently, they've not been widely available. In fact, the product is made in Australia. Australia is to participate in a survey of the experiences of patients in general practice who have a chronic illness.

Mon, October 16, 2023

A new treatment for PTSD | Why blood pressure cuff size matters | Diversity of participants in cancer trials

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an extreme form of anxiety caused by the laying down of bad memories when someone is involved in a threatening situation. A new treatment has been developed for people to write about their experience, and feelings about the memory. Having your blood pressure checked at the doctor's or hospital is a health care basic. A recent trial has found a significant and possibly unexpected source or error: the size of the cuff, relative to the thinness or thickness of your upper arm. For people with cancer, being offered a place in a clinical trial can provide hope of a better outcome, but trial participants are far less likely to be from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds than the general population. Hosts: Dr Norman Swan and Tegan Taylor

Mon, October 09, 2023

The Voice is a health issue—hearing again the reasons why | Diabetes and cause of death

Australians will soon vote on changing the Australian Constitution to recognise First Nations people—the Voice to Parliament. When it comes to health, there's a strong evidence base for the Voice. In a slightly edited form, we hear again a conversation from a few weeks' ago with two key people working in this area. Over the past two decades, deaths from cardiovascular disease among people with diabetes have gone down, but is revealing other trends

Mon, October 02, 2023

The versatility of 3D printing in healthcare—for prosthetics, training surgeons, scaffolds, and new skin for burns

3D printing is becoming an incredibly versatile modern tool—there’s scope  in engineering, manufacturing, architecture and design—as well as in several aspects of health care. Today we tour the Herston Biofabrication Institute—part of the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital—where clinicians, academics, and industry work together in a state of the art facility.

Mon, September 25, 2023

Pre-operative assessments | Kids, sinusitis, and antibiotics | Kids, fainting, and an unusual heart rhythm | Knee replacements and digital rehab

To have you in the best physical condition before major surgery many surgeons send you for a pre-operative assessment by a physician—does it help? When a child has persistent cold symptoms, it might be sinusitis and require antibiotics. If a child faints it's really only a worry when it causes an injury. But there might be an abnormality of the heart's electrical system, called congential Long QT syndrome, and prompt parents to have their child checked.  Rehab after knee replacement is controversial because some hospitals keep you in for it, but if you go home soon after the surgery, maybe digital rehab will become an option.

Mon, September 18, 2023

The science of sleep

Humans spend around a third of their lives sleeping, and its management has created a multi-million dollar industry. We discuss the sleep of FIFO workers, the sleep of people with PTSD, and what we can do to improve our shut-eye time with a therapy called circadian medicine.

Mon, September 11, 2023

A clearer view of diagnostic error | Monkeys, semaglutide, and addiction | Exercise and gamification

A clearer picture of where and how mistakes are made in medical diagnoses. Monkeys on some Caribbean islands are helping researchers understand more about addiction. Sydney's Liverpool Hospital developed a program using gaming to spur on patients recovering from traumatic brain injury.

Mon, September 04, 2023

The latest research on Long COVID | Healing worms | Talking about weight loss

Australia's had probably its first conference on Long COVID. The idea of a worm infection evokes a visceral response—but there are potential health benefits to worms. GPs may hesitate to approach a discussion about weight loss because of the risk of body shaming and stigma.

Mon, August 28, 2023

Learning from Mexican food nutrition labels | Perils of sitting | Misleading fertility tests | Which uterine surgery is better?

Mexico has implemented labelling of processed foods with large warnings if the unhealthy ingredients exceed globally agreed thresholds. New research has been looking into why sitting is bad—and how to change that. Women are being mislead by fertility tests which promote anti-Mullerian hormone—or AMH testing—which are not designed for general screening in the community. One of the side effects of having had babies and ageing in general is what used to be called prolapse—or uterine descent. Sometimes no treatment is needed but there's been a debate among surgeons about which procedure is best.

Mon, August 21, 2023

New ovarian cancer test | Testosterone | How the PAP test began | A deep look at sleep

We heard today about a new test for ovarian cancer.  For a long time there's been a search for a way to reliably detect this cancer early on. Some men are prescribed testosterone-replacement therapy in middle age or older, but there's questions around how safe that is for their heart attack and stroke risk. In developing the cervical screening program one woman—Mary Papanicolaou—did a test every day, for 21 years—it's what we now call the PAP test. People tend to think they need seven or eight hours sleep a night. But what counts more is the quality of that sleep.

Mon, August 14, 2023

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome | Vigorous Incidental Lifestyle Physical Activity | Cochlear implants

Measuring activity on Cradle Mountain—Norman and Tegan rise to the challenge. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome—a new guideline for doctors and women. Vigorous Incidental Lifestyle Physical Activity—micro-bursts of it can decrease the risks of developing various cancers. Cochlear implants—the latest intel on this transformative tech. As part of National Science Week.

Mon, August 07, 2023

Importance of The Voice for Aboriginal health | Bush tucker and health in Balgo

wide health implications. The remote community of Balgo in the Tanami Desert has many years of hunting for bush tucker. People must leave their Country if they want dialysis care, but that's changing.

Mon, July 31, 2023

Metastatic breast cancer | Free gene analysis for rare cancers | Best exercises to lower blood pressure

Metastatic cancer is for the spread of a cancer from a primary site to other parts of the body. There's no nationally consistent way of keeping track of how many of these cancer patients there are. A consortium of Australian cancer researchers has announced a program called the PrOSPect Initiative. It offers genetic profiling for people with advanced or rare cancers. Aerobic exercise reduces blood pressure, and resistance training prevents progression to diabetes in people at risk. But the evidence is being updated on which exercise is best for lowering blood pressure. Various studies show that regular aerobic exercise reduces blood pressure, and resistance training prevents progression to diabetes in people at risk of metabolic disease. But the evidence on which kinds of exercise are best for lowering blood pressure is being updated.

Mon, July 24, 2023

New Australian guidelines for cardio vascular disease | Phone-connected device can collect heart rhythm data | Panel discussion on reducing red and processed meat consumption

To assess the heart health and stroke risk factors of the population, Australian GPs and cardiologists have referred to a study from the population of Framingham, Massachusetts, but last week the Heart Foundation replaced it with a tool based on New Zealand and Australian populations. An abnormal heart rhythm can mean observations by a cardiologist with a cumbersome and expensive Holter monitor. A team at Westmead Hospital and the University of Sydney have compared a simple finger electrode linked to your mobile phone against Holter monitoring. Red and processed meats have an environmental cost and health implications. The World Health Organisation has flagged that, globally, we need to consume less. We discuss the evidence for cutting back, and what it could mean for Australia—a big producer and consumer of these meats.

Mon, July 17, 2023

Ketamine for depression | Ultrasound instead of X-ray | WHO on Aspartame and dietary guidelines

In health news Norman and Tegan discuss changes in the health system for medical termination of pregnancy; and about life span vs life expectancy in Australia. Alongside MDMA and psilocybin as treatments for mental health issues is ketamine—which shows promise in treatment-resistant depression. A common fracture in children comes from a fall onto an outstretched arm. Parents instinctively want to get an X-ray but an ultrasound can work just as well for most these cases.

Mon, July 10, 2023

Women and strength training | sports food nutrition and labelling | subjective memory study in twins | opioids not beneficial for back pain

Strength training is fundamental to most athletes' regimes, but the guidelines are overwhelmingly based on male data. An analysis of labelling on sports foods—things like protein shakes and bars—finds that the nutritional claims they make often don’t tally with the ingredients panel. Worry about memory loss is not uncommon, and not confined to an older age group, but measuring memory accurately needs refinement. Many Australians are prescribed opioids as relief for back pain, but the a world-first trial led by the University of Sydney found that opioids don't offer significant benefit and guidelines for their use need to be changed.

Mon, July 03, 2023

Improving diagnosis and care in younger onset dementia | Recognising and overcoming breastfeeding aversion

If dementia is diagnosed before someone is 65 it's called 'younger onset' dementia, and it can occur while people still have family responsibilities. We talk with people who have been given this news, and to researchers looking to improve diagnosis and care. We think of breastfeeding as being quite natural, but it doesn't always come easily, and issues such as Breastfeeding Aversion Response (or BAR) are still under-researched.

Mon, June 26, 2023

Health in the news this week | opioid deprescribing | Parkinsons and contaminants | tonsillectomy in adults

A look at some of the big stories in health over the last week ... cough syrup, Duchenne gene therapy; chemo drugs in the US. Some new prescribing guidelines for opioids recommend an exit strategy—and the need for better support infrastructure. It was suspected that brain damage for some people with Parkinson's disease was due to chemical toxins—one of the probable culprits is an environmental contaminant. Having your tonsils out as a child used to be routine, but what about for adults? British authorities noticed an increase in tonsillectomy rates—which prompted a clinical trial to see if the surgery was merited.

Mon, June 19, 2023

Talking and tragedy | Psychedelic-assisted therapy and harms | Cannabis in pregnancy | Chronic low back pain

A recent bus crash in the Hunter Valley claimed 10 lives. Trying to make sense of such tragic events often prompts a reach for advice that sounds right, but might not be. Therapy using psychedelic drugs is generally safe yet a review of its use found that adverse events were not properly assessed or not reported. In Canada cannabis was legalised 5 years ago for non-medical and recreational use. Public health researchers have asked if this legalisation had health impacts on mothers and their babies if it was used during pregnancy—and how those babies were affected. An Australian clinical trial found that a form of psychotherapy called Cognitive Functional Therapy could help people with chronic disabling low back pain.

Mon, June 12, 2023

Electrical signals in the dying brain | A positive film about palliative care | New government system to assess trials

Bringing clarity to health and medical issues from social, scientific and political points of view.

Mon, June 05, 2023

Medication searches and obesity correlations | Diabetes and exercise benefits | Peripheral artery disease and women

A recent study has looked at correlations between rates of (Australian) population obesity and searching online for anti-obesity and diabetes drugs—searches for a class of drugs called the GLP-1 agonists. You probably know the Australian Government has general exercise recommendations for adults, but what if you're in a high risk group? Does that change the amount of activity you should be doing? Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is perhaps the ‘poor cousin’ of cardio-vascular disease. PAD puts people at risk of heart attack, stroke and amputations, and a really disturbing review of what's known about it in women finds it to be underdiagnosed and undertreated.

Mon, May 29, 2023

Could the shingles vaccine lower dementia risk? And ADHD clinics cashing in on demand

A new kind of ADHD clinic is cashing in on surging demand for diagnoses — and promising salaries of more than $900,000 to recruit psychiatrists.

Mon, May 22, 2023

Warnings about artificial sweeteners | ultra-processed foods and depression | strategies to reduce medical waste

The World Health Organisation has advised against artificial sweeteners for weight loss because they offer no long-term benefits. Australian research has found a link between diets high in ultra-processed foods and an increase in risk of depression. Healthcare is a large greenhouse gas emitter, but how do we reduce its environmental impact without compromising on health?

Mon, May 15, 2023

Gene therapy approval advances for Duchenne MD | Psychotherapy for depression in pregnancy | Child neglect links to poor health later | Protection against eye injury

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have voted that when they meet formally at the end of May, approval goes forward for a treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy—a disabling genetic disease. Post partum depression is a significant issue for both women and their babies, and it doesn't come out of the blue—depression can occur before or during pregnancy. Child neglect leads to both later poor physical health—with things like inflammation—and mental health, such as depression. Would you wear protective eyewear to play tennis, badminton or Aussie Rules?

Mon, May 08, 2023

Health bots give good empathy but how about medical advice? | hormonal contraception and depression risk | new lung cancer screening program

When given the choice between a ChatGPT bot or a real doctor, a panel of health care professionals found the bot's responses were both more empathetic and also higher quality information. A study on the effect of hormonal contraception suggests that a history of hormonal contraceptive-associated depression could be a risk indicator of postpartum depression. Last week the Minister for Health and Aged Care announced over $500 million for a national lung cancer screening program. It targets high-risk individuals in the early stages. 

Mon, May 01, 2023

Normalising menopause | Prostate cancer treatment | Life after an organ transplant | New requirements for cosmetic procedures

Bringing clarity to health and medical issues from social, scientific and political points of view.

Mon, April 24, 2023

A virtual assistant fluent in sign language | Biodiversity loss and human health | Quitting vaping | RSV vaccine

Bringing clarity to health and medical issues from social, scientific and political points of view.

Mon, April 17, 2023

Where Australia stands on drug decriminalisation

Drug use has been increasing, whether it be cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy, hallucinogens or ketamine. That includes recreational use and substance abuse. So it begs the question: Has criminalising drugs ever worked? And what needs to be done to drive down the harms associated with this increasing drug use? If you're in need of support, you can contact the National Alcohol and Other Drug hotline on 1800 250 015, or contact Counselling Online .  Credits Abigail Leeder, Reporter Shelby Traynor, Producer

Mon, April 10, 2023

'Life and potential death': Being diagnosed with cancer while pregnant

The shock of a cancer diagnosis is familiar for far too many people. But when Na'ama Carlin was diagnosed with breast cancer, her health wasn't the only consideration.  If you're in need of support you can contact  Mummy's Wish  or  Hope for Two .

Mon, April 03, 2023

Rise in injecting drug use | Schizophrenia and sudden death | Change needed in bypass surgery | Breakthrough in cause of fatigue

More people are injecting drugs than ever before. So what are the harms, and what are we doing to minimise them? People with schizophrenia have a life expectancy 25 years younger than the average Australian, and one of the reasons is heart attacks.  Meanwhile, do surgeons need to change their approach to coronary bypass surgery?  And Australian researchers uncover a potential new treatment for a rare blood disorder — that could replace blood letting. 

Mon, March 27, 2023

Bone marrow registry's recruitment drive | Trials and errors of alopecia treatment | Prostate cancer screening

Australia's bone marrow donor registry is funding a cheek swab program to recruit more donors, as it awaits government funding.  Also, the latest in alopecia treatment for those who want to reverse hair loss — and the perspective of those who don't.  And prostate cancer screening can be imprecise and invasive. Could delving into the genome help narrow things down?

Mon, March 20, 2023

What changed TGA's mind on psychedelics | The health gap | Proposed vaping ban | Eye drops for short-sightedness

Discussing the importance of addressing social determinants of health with a pioneer for health equity.  Should vaping products be banned? Many young Australians are getting addicted to nicotine without always being aware that's what they're consuming.  And eye drops could be used to slow the progression of short-sightedness, which is on the rise thanks to our screen-dominated world. 

Mon, March 13, 2023

Psychedelic decision under scrutiny | Calcium scoring for heart health | Removing fallopian tubes to prevent cancer

The debate continues on whether the TGA acted too soon on the rescheduling of psilocybin and MDMA for the treatment of some mental illnesses.  Calls for Australia's cardiovascular disease guidelines to recommend coronary calcium scoring for patients at intermediate risk.  And did you know ovarian cancer often originates in the fallopian tubes? A simple surgical procedure could drive down cases. 

Mon, March 06, 2023

Screen time for kids | Lymphoedema awareness | Impact of COVID on organ donation

How much screen time is too much for young kids? Taking a looking at what digital playtime is doing to children's brains.  Calls for better models of care for people living with lymphoedema, to avoid deterioration and costly hospital stays.  And organ donation is yet to fully recover from a pandemic-driven dip. Why aren't more people consenting?

Mon, February 27, 2023

Psilocybin promotor's response | Mothers immune system and mental health | Relief for those who can't burp

Mind Medicine Australia share their thoughts on the recent approval of psychedelic compounds for treatment-resistant depression and PTSD.  A study in Sweden has looked at a possible association of maternal and paternal primary antibody immunodeficiencies — and if this provides a natural test of a hypothesis about parental immune activation. An intriguing story about people who can't burp, and turn to the internet for answers. Turns out there's a surprising treatment to unlock their gas.

Mon, February 20, 2023

Psilocybin and MDMA | ice baths | antidepressants for pain

The Therapeutic Goods Administration recently approved the psychedelic compound psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression; and MDMA–or ecstasy–for treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder. A group of researchers think this is premature. More people are tackling the bracing discomfort of ice bath sessions—for the touted health benefits ... but there are some serious risks, so pay attention to the instructions before hopping in. Chronic, non-cancer-related pain is hard to treat and so alternate medications—like antidepressants—are used because of their action on the brain. A group of researchers has compiled the available evidence on their efficacy.

Mon, February 13, 2023

Knee arthritis and stem cells | Alzheimer's and women | spider venom and hearts | Maturity-onset diabetes and genetic testing

Australians will pay a lot to relieve the pain of arthritis—sometimes opting for unproven therapies using stem cells. Why does this happen? Women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Researchers have long looked for the reason why— it may be related to the amount of 'cognitive reserve' some groups have been able to accumulate. Researchers have found that a protein in the K'gari (Fraser Island) funnel web spider venom has the ability to stop heart cells dying. It could also help preserve organs prior to transplant. A genetic form of diabetes can occur later in life, and doesn't require insulin. A pilot project has looked at the benefits of early genetic testing for it.

Mon, February 06, 2023

Health news—for Medicare, and for psilocybin and MDMA | kilo creep and knee osteoarthritis | financial reward for weight loss | making healthy weight possible for a population

The Strengthening Medicare Report was released recently, and the key recommendations include changes to the digital health environment; working to scope of practice; and modernising My Health Record. Psilocybin and MDMA are now approved as treatments for depression and MDMA—with caveats. And still need co-ordination between clinicians and manufacturers (the TGA has not approved or registered specific psilocybin or MDMA medications). A financial reward for obese people to achieve sustainable weight loss has proved successful—but the general health environment must also be considered. How to make healthy weight work for a whole population and working on how food is presented and for which particular age groups—so a healthy choice can be made

Mon, January 30, 2023

ADHD and access to care | heart transplant tech | sarcoma and heritability

The prescription rate for medications to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder rose in recent years but was still below what's thought to be the extent of the condition. Organ donation is one of the great miracles of our time, but that's not to say it's easy. To be viable, a heart needs to be transplanted within four or five hours, and this is a huge logistical challenge for a country the size of Australia. The Garvan Institute has studied the combination of genetic profile alongside family history of people with cancers called sarcomas, and found genes to aid early diagnosis.

Mon, January 23, 2023

Safety of generic medicines in Australia | Intermittent fasting | Keeping track of mental well-being

Sun Pharmaceuticals is a supplier of generic medications and they're in hot water about possible violations of the manufacturing process at their facility in Gujarat, India. Fasting diets like the 5:2 or the 16/8 have become very popular. While there's lots of evidence for the benefits of the 5:2 diet in animals, there's hasn't been much in humans. The results are not out from a trial of intermittent fasting in overweight men and women. One of the biggest puzzles for humans is the brain, or more precisely, the minds. It's a bit of a mystery but still possible to learn something about how to keep it in good order. Hosts: Dr Norman Swan and Tegan Taylor

Mon, January 16, 2023

What do royals die of—and how have their deaths shaped history?

Royals have a tendency to change the course of history — in life and in death.  From King George III's apparent madness, to Queen Victoria's genetic legacy, the Health Report takes a look back at the illnesses (and deaths) that have shaped the world. Note that the change of broadcast time mentioned at the end of the program refers to our live program on Mondays.

Mon, January 09, 2023

Mild cognitive impairment | Alzheimer's | ASMR | atrial fibrilation

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) affects 7 or 8 per cent of people in their 60s, and one in four people in their 80s. In an ageing population the number of those with mild cognitive impairment will increase. There's a new perspective on the cause and progress of Alzheimer's disease. Are we doing the right thing by removing accumulated amyloid protein from the brains of people with it? Some people experience a tingly feeling when they hear certain noises and this feeling might be a useful intervention for people with anxiety. Atrial fibrillation is a type of arrhythmia characterised by a rapid and irregular heartbeat. There is increasing evidence that relaxation methods like yoga and meditation can help manage the condition. Hosts: Dr Norman Swan Tegan Taylor

Mon, January 02, 2023

The cancer risks that run through generations

More than two decades ago a major milestone in cancer research was reached with the discovery of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Inherited mutations to these genes can dramatically increase the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers. The discovery opened up new ways of knowing who is at risk of cancer, how to treat the cancer, and even how to prevent it happening in the first place. This moving feature describes what this genetic information means for families who have seen loved ones endure sometimes multiple cancers—and it explains the emerging frontier in medicine trying to change that. Guests: Michelle Brady Anna Murphy Dr Mark Pinese , Team Leader Personalised Medicine, Children’s Cancer Institute A/Prof Paul James , Clinical Geneticist and Director, Familial Cancer Centre, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital Dr Laura Forrest , Senior Research Fellow and Genetic Counsellor, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre Host: Dr Norman Swan Interviewer and Producer: Sarah Sedghi

Mon, December 26, 2022

Ventilation | Wearables | Telomeres

With COVID we've focused on vaccines and masks but there is more we can do, and the situation parallels a public health revolution from the mid-1800s. If you're a modern human you likely carry a bit of tech on you to track how physically active you are. But how can we be sure it's really promoting activity? Telomeres are small 'caps' on the ends of your chromosomes—the length of telomeres is seen as an indicator of how fast we age. How accurate could they be? Hosts: Tegan Taylor and Dr Norman Swan

Mon, December 19, 2022

The lowdown on longevity

It's expected now that on the whole we will live longer, but individuals want to know how to spend a longer life in good health—and to set a good foundation. This program was first heard on 25 April, 2022 Dr Norman Swan's book was published in July 2022. Guest: Prof Luigi FontanaLeonard P Ullman Chair in Translational Metabolic HealthDirector, Healthy Longevity Research and Clinical ProgramCharles Perkins Centre | Sydney Medical School (Central Clinical School)Faculty of Medicine and Health,  University of Sydney Host: Dr Norman Swan

Mon, December 12, 2022

Genes, macular degeneration, and Alzheimer's disease | Glaucoma | Blood pressure control

A new study has found a genetic link between macular degeneration and Alzheimer's disease—with implications for drug development. The wellness space often refers to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide—or NAD. It's found in products promoting longevity—so may give you pause for thought—but shows promising results for human eyesight. High blood pressure is one of the most toxic risk factors for heart attack, stroke, kidney damage, dementia, and probably premature ageing—so it's incredibly important to get blood pressure under control. Hosts: Dr Norman Swan and Tegan Taylor

Mon, December 05, 2022

Omega 3 fatty acid supplements in pregnancy | The ageing process and autophagy | Dark Winter: a book about biological attacks, accidents, and COVID-19

Fish oil supplements—aka omega 3 fatty acids—are taken by some women during pregnancy. What are the benefits, and who gets them? Research into ageing has revealed a number of processes controlling its rate. Autophagy helps cells do a clean up. Researchers are wondering if it could be manipulated. Is it possible to say whether a pandemic is a natural spillover from an animal, or an accidental release from a lab? In her new book, Dark Winter, Professor Raina MacIntyre warns that scientists may not be the people to identify the source of pandemics—rather that Intelligence and law enforcement services could have a better toolkit.

Mon, November 28, 2022

The Birth Project | A decision aid when considering genetic screening in pregnancy | Australia's national strategy for maternity care

The ABC’s Birth Project call out is discovering the good and bad of pregnancy and birth in Australia—one of the safest places in the world to give birth, but which sometimes fails women, their families, and clinicians. Parents-to-be now have access to simple blood tests that can indicate whether their baby might have a chromosome issue. But parents who want peace of mind or want to know the sex of their baby can feel blindsided when the result predicts high risk—or for something they didn't know they were being screened for. The Birth Project has shown us that the kind of care you might get if you're pregnant varies wildly across Australia. A national strategy around improving maternity care was launched in 2019.

Mon, November 21, 2022

Effect on the body of zero G | Measuring mental health services | Genetic analysis and cerebral palsy

With humans set to spend more time in spacer, one of the physical things to overcome will be gravity, and it's very important for how our bodies work. We hear frequent stories of mental health issues, but there is more investment in services, so are services effective or overwhelmed? An estimated 34,000 people in Australia have cerebral palsy. The cause can be a mystery but looking at a child's genes may supply information for parents and treatment teams.  Hosts: Dr Norman Swan Tegan Taylor

Mon, November 14, 2022

14 November: Paracetamol overdoses | Health literacy is a societal responsibility | Can spine stimulators treat back pain?

There's been talk of changing the packet size of paracetamol tablets, to reduce the self-harm of overdose—but it would be better to investigate and remedy why this harm occurs. The idea that society—as well as an individual—is responsible for this 'health literacy' is central to a new World Health Organisation report. Results of a randomised trial in people with low back pain who used a spinal cord stimulator were published recently, and the researchers are surprised by what they found. Hosts: Dr Norman Swan and Tegan Taylor

Mon, November 07, 2022

How we safeguard big health data | Linked data predicts health trends | More clarity needed on harms in clinical trials | Assessing mitochondrial donation as a preventive measure for some disorders

How analysts are making health data safer | Linked health data can see the bigger picture of healthcare use  | Clinical trials need more clarity on the kind of harms incurred | Donating mitochondria may mitigate the risk of some genetic disorders—but it's not a given.

Mon, October 31, 2022

October 31: Magda's Big National Health Check | The shocking rise in alcohol-induced deaths

The ABC series  Magda's Big National Health Check  us an immersive and personal journey about health in Australia today. It''s hosted by Magda Szubanski, who wants to know why Australia has a high level of chronic illness—and what to do about it. The latest statistics on causes of deaths in Australia show that deaths caused by alcohol rose by 6% last year—it's avoidable and advocates for greater alcohol control measures have been warning for years that there are not enough of them. Hosts: Dr Norman Swan and Tegan Taylor

Mon, October 24, 2022

More needs to be known about concussion | what is it about elections and hospital building | ultra-processed foods affect your diet | a music pillow calms pre-op patients

Severe chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) can be defined in pathology, yet only be diagnosed after someone has died and their brain examined. The Victorian state election is on 26th November and hospitals feature in political healthcare promises. Labor anticipates spending more than $6 billion on new hospitals and upgrading existing ones. Guest: Assoc Prof Michael Buckland Head of Dept of Neuropathology Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Director, Australian Sports Brain Bank

Mon, October 17, 2022

17 October: new thinking on Alzheimer's | wider health effects of weight stigma | Danish cardio-vascular screening trial results

There's a new perspective on how we think about the cause and progress of Alzheimer's disease. Are we actually doing the right thing by removing accumulated amyloid protein from the brain of people with it? Health practitioners are often still operating under the assumption that obesity is an individual's responsibility, even though science now tells us otherwise. It makes intuitive sense that if you screen people for disease the outcome will be good - because you get on top of the problem. But how far should you go.

Mon, October 10, 2022

10 October: When is memory decline a worry? | How to change your eating habits | Robotic surgery for prostate cancer | A leading researcher in women and cancer has died

The debate may be over about robotic surgery for men with prostate cancer—but can hospitals afford the robots? How do you know if memory lapses are a part of slowing down—or an early sign of dementia? The psychology of moving more—and eating better. An Australian researcher in women and cancer has died .

Mon, October 03, 2022

3 October: The silent rise of chronic kidney disease | Improving care for Indigenous youth with diabetes

Bringing clarity to health and medical issues from social, scientific and political points of view.

Mon, September 26, 2022

26 September: The benefit of 10,000 steps | The risk of too much TV | Getting restless kids to sleep

Bringing clarity to health and medical issues from social, scientific and political points of view.

Mon, September 19, 2022

What do royals die of — and how have their deaths shaped history?

From King George III's apparent madness, to Queen Victoria's genetic legacy, the Health Report takes a look back at the illnesses (and deaths) that have shaped the world.

Mon, September 12, 2022

12 September: Safe drinking | Obesity and cancer | Cardiovascular risk in autoimmune disorders | A new malaria vaccine

Vital health and medical news.

Mon, September 05, 2022

5 September: Melanoma detection | Yoga for heart health | Stroke risk | Life-changing gene therapy

Vital health and medical news.

Mon, August 29, 2022

29 August: Plant-based vs keto diets | Vitamin toxicity | Added sugar labels | COVID-19 genetics

Vital health and medical news.

Mon, August 22, 2022

22 August: Early time-restricted eating | Healthy produce prescriptions | Weight management with GPs

Exploring how changing your diet—or even your eating schedule—can improve your long-term health outcomes. 

Mon, August 15, 2022

15 August: Myocarditis | Alcohol marketing | Methadone stigma | Social housing

Vital health and medical news.

Mon, August 08, 2022

8 August: Cervical cancer screening | Miscarriage and stroke risk | BCG vaccine and kids | Shingles update

An option for cervical cancer screening could be a game-changer and miscarriages or stillbirths may bring an increased risk of stroke

Mon, August 01, 2022

1 August: Ventilation | Vitamin D | Shingles

With COVID there are more protective measures to take—and there's a historical parallel | The results of a trial of vitamin D supplementation find no evidence to support vitamin D supplements | Shingles can be a painful disease and those over 70 can have a free vaccination, but not the costly and most effective one.

Mon, July 25, 2022

25 July: Health services in the final year of life; clarity for legal wording on voluntary assisted dying; social inequity and heart attack; climate and mental health

The amount of money to spend on health care in the last year of someone's life is debatable. | The vital eligibility criterion for voluntary assisted dying in Australia is a problematic issue for doctors. | For a heart attack you want the best care possible—but where you live can affect limit that. Climate change is becoming more obvious—it now includes a noticeable mental health aspect.

Mon, July 18, 2022

18 July: Living with COVID ain't rosy; Why vax boosters are necessary; Exercise won't fix poor diet

Some immunologists are concerned that COVID-19 is not travelling as expected. An internationally respected immunologist had four doses of COVID vaccine but now recovering from heart failure after getting the virus. There are still community questions about the value of getting a fourth vaccine dose—we asked a vaccine development expert to explain why you should. Fitness and living longer are more than just how much you eat and how much you exercise?

Mon, July 11, 2022

11 July: Tackling obesity | Standards on how to handle sepsis | The right amount of Vitamin D

In 2009 Australia launched a National Preventive Health Strategy with the aim of being the healthiest country in the world by 2020—where we're at with it now. The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare has created a national clinical care standard for diagnosis and treatment. Many people are told to take a vitamin D supplement, especially in winter when there's less sunshine, but you can have too much of it.

Mon, July 04, 2022

4 July: Coming to terms with long COVID; Vaxes for variants; An artificial pancreas; Protecting pandemic teens

Australia has many stories from people who say they have long COVID but who are unable to access help | Updated versions of coronavirus vaccines targeting the Omicron variant have been announced, yet the virus still mutates | People with Type 1 diabetes need to monitor their blood glucose but automatic systems are being trialled to assist them | A study on the behaviour of teens undertaken during the pandemic identified some of the particular health risks for this group.

Mon, June 27, 2022

Speculating on an Australian Centre of Disease Control and Prevention; How Indigenous culture can protect the heart; Associations between mental health and mortality

What an Australian Centre for Disease Control might aim to be; An Indigenous perspective and research to engage culture for protection against cardiovascular disease and stroke; Research on links between mental health and mortality concludes that both mental and physical health can be adversely impacted.

Mon, June 20, 2022

Breast density and MRIs, diet and mental health, genomics and osteoarthritis

There may be a link between what you eat and your mental health—also, avoiding overtreatment for breast cancer; predicting your risk of osteoarthritis; and whether mammogram results should inform women about breast density.

Mon, June 13, 2022

The cancer risks that run through generations

The cancer risks that run through generations of families—and the growing frontier in medicine trying to change that.

Mon, June 06, 2022

Cancer treatment and 'time toxicity'; youth mental health and smoking; a paradox for cholesterol levels

The term 'time toxicity' expresses the idea that if treatment to extend a patient's life means lengthy periods in medical facilities, it may be time wasted; In Australia smoking has decreased generally, but tobacco use is higher than average in young people with mental health issues; The bad form of cholesterol is LDL — low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein is the good form. An new study suggests there's a limit on how high HDL should be.

Mon, May 30, 2022

Abortion access, lipid profiling; quality of life and cancer drugs; exercise and kids' heart surgery

Those at greatest risk from unplanned pregnancy are often least able to access it; Study on 800 different lipids to check your metabolic risk and health profile; It's important to ask if someone's life will be improved by taking cancer drugs; Heart defects in kids may need surgery but new research considers exercise as a key to improving their life expectancy.

Mon, May 23, 2022

What is monkeypox and where is it coming from? treating the rise in melanoma cases; better stroke management; comparing data on mental health conditions against immune-related diseases

Combating monkeypox with increased vaccination—and monitoring polio cases in Ukraine; Treating the increasing number of melanoma cases; A faster and more mobile way to diagnose stroke; Comparing data on some mental health conditions against immune disorders.

Mon, May 16, 2022

Considering health issues ahead of an election

Ahead of the election, The Health Report hosts a discussion between experts about the pressing health issues. What are the most pronounced problems, and what health questions have not been raised at all?

Mon, May 09, 2022

Mortality mapped to electorates, prostate surgery and relationships, how doctors can better treat Indigenous patients

The risk of premature mortality has been mapped on to federal electorates and Australia's lack of response to the disparity contrasts with that of the UK. The effects of prostate surgery affect the man and his partner—and sometimes it means a change to sexual function. Doctors can struggle to communicate with Aboriginal patients—a podcast featuring Aboriginal elders offers advice on delivering culturally safe healthcare.

Mon, May 02, 2022

Climate and new virus vectors; advice on prescribing opioids for pain; triggers for an oesophagal problem; cost of macular disease medication

Global warming will probably mean that wildlife travels more and mixes with other species—and an effect will be to spread unfamiliar viruses; There is new guidance to help hospital doctors and clinicians prescribing opioids for pain; A disorder of the oesophagus creates symptoms similar to reflux or allergies, but the cause of the disorder is not known; The non-availability of a treatment for age-related macular degeneration has eye surgeons arguing for change.

Mon, April 25, 2022

The lowdown on longevity

It's expected now that we will generally live longer, but what really interests people is how to spend their longer life in good health—what to do now in order to set a good foundation.

Mon, April 18, 2022

Chimeras in medicine, Pt2—avatars; What's to be done about tinnitus

Oncologists don't always know which chemotherapy drug will work best, and even then, one treatment won't suit everyone. So there's growing research on potential therapies using animal 'avatars'. And later ... an estimated one in six Australians lives with tinnitus but told nothing can be done to help it.

Mon, April 11, 2022

Chimeras in medicine: xenotransplantation

Many people are waiting for an organ donation and some of them may die before a suitable organ is found. Some researchers think that in the near future we will be able to grow organs in animals to be safely transplanted into humans. The first of two features about medicine's use of animals for organ and tissue transplantation. This program was originally broadcast in October 2021.

Mon, April 04, 2022

Effect of pain medication on immunity; impact of the Budget on GPs and healthcare; importance of planning global vaccination

A review of multiple studies on common painkillers found that they have a marked effect on our resistance to infection—which is sometimes bad and sometimes good. Some of these medications could also reduce our response to a vaccination—especially if taken straight before one. Doctors, nurses and other health professionals keep you healthy. But despite Australia's relative good health it has major problems with general practice. By international standards we are probably overproducing medical graduates, but not enough go into general practice. New variants of the COVID-19 virus continue to appear, especially as there are low income countries with low levels of immunisation. The 2022-23 Australian Budget allocated A$85 million to COVAX, the international program for delivering COVID-19 vaccines particularly to low income countries. Is it enough?

Mon, March 28, 2022

Research on passive antibodies to combat Omicron | Is Transient Ischaemic Attack an obsolete term? | Treating blood pressure may affect blood flow to the brain? | How hormones and hypertension are related

Assessing the continuing ability to treat COVID-19 with antibody infusions. | A 'temporary stroke' means people get the signs of a stroke but the symptoms go away it's a called a Transient Ischaemic Attack - but that could be a misnomer. | If you have high blood pressure and lifestyle controls are not helping - by how much should pressure be reduced? | Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a hormonal cause of high blood pressure; it's treatable and there's a simple test.

Mon, March 21, 2022

The changing demographic of blood groups; diet to ease MS; relationship of mental health and dementia

What we know about the diversity of blood group types in Australia has just been updated—it reflects patterns in immigration. And we discuss the potential benefits of modifying diet to treat multiple sclerosis. And whether mental health issues may raise the risk of cognitive decline.

Mon, March 14, 2022

Japanese Encephalitis vectors; climate change and effect on health; archival heart transplant; and data behind decreased heart attacks

Japanese Encephalitis (JEV) is common in Asia but now causing concern in Australia. The rise of JEV in Australia happened when the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (the IPCC) were reporting on climate change—a key aspect of which was the effect of climate on health. There's unique archival audio from the 1980s of the surgeon who performed a heart transplant operation on Baby Fae - using a baboon heart. And the records of 80 million people have been assessed to see why there are now less deaths from heart attack.

Mon, March 07, 2022

Out of pocket health costs; faecal microbiome transplants; stomas

Australia is lucky to have free healthcare services—but there can be big gaps in who receives it; reports on two people with bipolar disorder finding benefit from a faecal microbiota transplant; and how stomas help the intestine heal.

Mon, February 28, 2022

COVID didn't come from a lab; can you trust blood pressure monitors; your preference for more—or perhaps less—health care; studying concussion and head knocks

Two recent scientific publications show that the pandemic originated in the Huanan Wholesale Seafood Market, in Wuhan, China. The publications are not yet peer reviewed but seem to put paid to the theory that the virus escaped from a Wuhan virology lab.

Mon, February 21, 2022

Developments in heart transplants; Achilles tendon rupture intel; and cardiomyopathy in meth users

An Achilles tendon rupture is sometimes heard as a loud 'snap'—so then what? And how the cardiologists are developing new devices for heart transplants; And the complexity of treating cardiomyopathy in methamphetamine users.

Mon, February 14, 2022

Living younger for longer; tingles as intervention for anxiety; finding pancreatic cancer early

Mon, February 07, 2022

Tech and physical activity; Insomnia and depression; Retinal age; and early intervention as treatment for BPD

Mon, January 31, 2022

What happens after omicron; action on blood pressure; coronary artery disease; BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations

Mon, January 24, 2022

What COVID-normal might mean; hearing loss and screening kids; depression and inflammation; genes and the heart

Brendan Crabb on how we best understand and get to a COVID-normal life. Also, there's reason to consider screening kids at primary school age for hearing loss problems. Inflammation and how it may affect your risk of depression; And, congenital heart disease and genes not necessarily specific to the heart.

Mon, January 17, 2022

Navigating the pandemic: Dr Anthony Fauci

From the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, one expert came to the fore as a trusted voice, not just in his home country of the United States, but around the globe: Dr Anthony S Fauci, the director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Mon, January 10, 2022

Substance use omnibus: Protecting kids from drug and alcohol misuse; the relationship of alcohol in pregnancy and kids later use; drinking culture and avoiding the pressure to drink;

An omnibus episode about protecting kids from drug and alcohol misuse.

Mon, January 03, 2022

Rising ICE use in Australia; and an account of the difficulty in quitting

What you need to know about ICE-crystal meth, and a first-hand account of how difficult it is to quit an ICE addiction. Both items in this programs were originally broadcast in June 2021.

Mon, December 27, 2021

The enduring stigma surrounding Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder is one of the most stigmatised and misunderstood mental health conditions. It affects a significant number of people in the community, a large proportion of them having suffered trauma early in life. The emotional instability, fear of abandonment and patterns of self-harm can alter someone’s life and that of their loved ones in profound ways. But the enduring stigma around BPD means it often goes unrecognised or not properly treated and many fall through the cracks. This program was originally broadcast in September 2021

Mon, December 20, 2021

The day I lost my mind

If you mention Transient Global Amnesia – TGA – the chances are that nobody has heard of it. When Dasha Ross lost her memory for a day she was diagnosed as having experienced this mysterious ‘neurological enigma'. This enigma affects over a thousand Australians a year, and Dasha was determined to find out why, and what causes it. This program was originally broadcast in April 2021

Mon, December 13, 2021

Psychedelic drugs and psychotherapy; evaluating a cancer therapy; mental health and your heart; exercise and your brain

Mon, December 06, 2021

Report on Omicron reinfection rates; screen use after concussion; exercise after concussion; infant formula and cognitive development

Mon, November 29, 2021

The new variant Omicron; platelet-rich plasma in knees and ankles; and Parkinson's possible connection to influenza

Mon, November 22, 2021

Stillbirth in lockdown, health risks for adolescents, sleep disorder with fly-in fly-out rosters, senescent cancer cells

Mon, November 15, 2021

Youth mental health care; COVID vaccines of the future; balancing cancer treatment and vaccination

Mon, November 08, 2021

Women's health: menopause and cardiovascular risk; efficacy of vaginal laser use; remedies for incontinence; tools to improve breast cancer screening

Mon, November 01, 2021

What to know about buying and using rapid antigen tests | chimeras in medicine part 2 | more snakebite information

Rapid antigen tests can now be purchased by the general public, and what you need to know. There's Part 2 of our Chimeras in medicine—the use of animal avatars. And further responses to questions about snakebite treatment from the expert toxinologist.

Mon, October 25, 2021

Chimeras in medicine: xenotransplantation

Many people are currently waiting for an organ donation, and some of those waiting may die before a suitable organ is found. However some researchers think that we will be able to grow organs in animals to be then safely transplanted into humans. This is the first of two features about medicine's use of animals for human tissue and organ transplantation.

Mon, October 18, 2021

COVID-19 boosters; the big uptake for digital health; cholesterol in different age groups; amputation decision aid

As the world opens up after COVID-19, what should we know about further vaccination; cholesterol studies in different age groups; digital health and how it helps health care.

Mon, October 11, 2021

Malaria and vector-borne diseases, the Hippocratic Oath, the best way to treat snake bite

Malaria and the implications of a vaccine for it; a new book about what happens to the Hippocratic Oath when it's in the real world; and, if you are bitten by a snake - what next?

Mon, October 04, 2021

The widespread gender bias in healthcare

The gender bias in healthcare is pervasive and causes harm when women receive worse treatment during a heart attack, are denied proper pain relief when in pain or when less likely to receive timely access to critical health interventions.

Mon, September 27, 2021

Who gets care if hospitals become overwhelmed?; colorectal cancer risks; and the myth of placebos

What may happen if the hospital systems in NSW and Victoria are overwhelmed when we open up at 70 and 80% and the expected surge in cases occurs? New research sheds light on colorectal cancer risks. And are the potential benefits of placebos overblown?

Mon, September 20, 2021

The enduring stigma surrounding Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder is one of the most stigmatised and misunderstood mental health conditions. It affects a significant number of people in the community, a large proportion of them having suffered trauma early in life. The emotional instability, fear of abandonment and patterns of self-harm can alter someone’s life and that of their loved ones in profound ways. But the enduring stigma around BPD means it often goes unrecognised or not properly treated and many fall through the cracks.

Mon, September 13, 2021

The first year of COVID; the 'molecular messages' sent during exercise; is orthopaedic surgery over prescribed?; and can a combination pill transform how blood pressure is treated?

How did Australia fare in the first year of the pandemic? What are the 'molecular messages' our body sends during exercise and how can they be used to help treat disease? Are the most common elective orthopaedic surgeries prescribed always the most effective option? And can a pill that combines four low-dose medications transform how high blood pressure is treated?

Mon, September 06, 2021

Vaccine rates in Indigenous communities; the origins of The Black Death; understanding illness caused by ticks; and the trial of Theranos founder begins

The COVID outbreak in regional New South Wales is highlighting the comparatively low vaccination rates in Indigenous communities. New research uncovers more on the origins of The Black Death. Researchers try to understand more about the experience of chronic illness after tick bites. And in the US, the trial of the founder of biotech company Theranos begins.

Mon, August 30, 2021

Can substituting salt save lives?; the science of the COVID modelling; and Toxoplasma Gondii and cognitive decline

What new research shows about the effect of substituting salt and health - can it save lives?

Mon, August 23, 2021

Have we misunderstood the Doherty modelling?; High viral loads in vaccinated people; COVID risks to children; and substance use and the developing teenage brain

Australia is pinning its hopes on modelling that says restrictions can start to ease once we hit vaccination targets, but will the high case numbers in NSW disrupt that plan? New research finds that people who are fully vaccinated but contract COVID can still carry high viral loads. Why are some countries seeing high numbers of children in ICUs, while others are not? And why are some teenagers more at risk of regular substance use? The answer - partly at least - may lie within the brain.

Mon, August 16, 2021

How can ventilation be improved to protect against COVID; post-op lung complications in patients who isolated before surgery; what's it like living with tinnitus?; and calls to do more to prevent chronic disease

How can ventilation be improved to help reduce the spread of COVID? The surprising discovery that patients who isolate prior to surgery are more likely to develop post-operative lung complications. What's it like living with tinnitus and can anything be done about it? And calls to do more to prevent chronic disease.

Mon, August 09, 2021

The modelling on the pathway out of the pandemic; why critical care for women having heart attacks is being delayed; and alcohol use and anxiety

We now have modelling to guide our way out of the pandemic, but some researchers say we will need to vaccinate even younger age groups to reach sufficient immunity. Why are so many women having critical medical care delayed when experiencing a heart attack? And research shows people living with anxiety are more likely to use alcohol. But what happens when drinking becomes a problem and where can you get help?

Mon, August 02, 2021

The frontline of the NSW COVID outbreak; the race to find more effective COVID treatments; and COVID risk for people living with mood disorders

What are people experiencing in intensive care as a result of the delta COVID outbreak and how are hospitals coping?

Mon, July 26, 2021

COVID vaccine trials for young children; COVID's mental health toll on Indigenous communities; should bilateral cataract surgery be done on the same day?; and the link between bone loss and cognitive decline

Right now overseas, several covid vaccines are being trialled in children as young as babies 6 months of age. So how long will it be until younger kids can get vaccinated? How pandemic prevention measures have been particularly tough on the mental health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Cataract surgery can and is sometimes done in both eyes on the same day. But what does a review of the data tell us about whether this is best? And a puzzling link between two things that can cause disability as we age: cognitive decline, and fractures.

Mon, July 19, 2021

Managing resources in the pandemic; review of COVID research; low value care; and how to prevent kids misusing alcohol

What's the best way to manage finite resources in the middle of a pandemic and what can Australia learn from other countries; what a review of COVID research exposes about waste and missed opportunities; low value care has little or any benefit and a new study finds patients agree; and what does research tell us about preventing alcohol and drug misuse in kids?

Mon, July 12, 2021

Growing COVID crisis in NSW; the origins of COVID; vaccine protection for people with blood cancers; and can exercise help those with poor sleep quality?

What does modelling tell us about what it will take to bring the NSW COVID cluster under control; scientists try to settle the debate about the origins of Covid-19; how can people with blood cancers stay safe in the pandemic; and can exercise help counter the toll poor sleeps takes on our health?

Mon, July 05, 2021

The pathway out of the pandemic; the harms of alcohol in pregnancy; supporting pregnant women with SUDs; and is low carb always best?

While NSW is still trying to contain COVID cases, the Prime Minister last week outlined a four stage pathway out of the pandemic. Singapore is already underway with its plan that uses a layered public health response including high vaccinations rates. Is this the path out of the pandemic? Just how dangerous is even small amounts of alcohol in pregnancy? Research shows it can set children up for unusual behaviours with alcohol while still very young. What help is out there for women with substance use disorders and their babies, and why are some falling through the cracks? And could a high-carbohydrate, low-protein diet be linked to a healthier life? Well, it depends on what kind of carbs you're talking about.

Mon, June 28, 2021

COVID threats emerge across Australia; trial shows promise for managing diabetes and hypertension; could a new class of drugs help prevent end stage kidney disease?; and the harm of long working hours

Around the country, the threat of COVID has emerged again. What does the modelling show about where this is heading? The World Health Organisation finds it's the biggest workplace hazard - long working hours. And it says long hours can be deadly. UK research finds type 2 diabetes might be reversible without drugs for some people, as well as the other conditions that often come with it. Also on diabetes, could a new class of drug slash the number of people who go on to need dialysis or kidney transplants?

Mon, June 21, 2021

Alzheimer’s drug has experts divided; rising ICE use in Australia; the disappointing results of a study aimed at improving ovarian cancer survival rates

This week, the first of a new series on substance use and what you need to know about ICE - crystal meth. Does early diagnosis of ovarian cancer through screening make a difference to survival rates? And the search for an Alzheimer's disease treatment is as controversial as ever. The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the first drug for Alzheimer's disease in nearly two decades, but not everyone is welcoming the decision.

Mon, June 14, 2021

Navigating the pandemic: Dr Anthony Fauci

From the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, one expert came to the fore as a trusted voice, not just in his home country of the United States, but around the globe: Dr Anthony S Fauci, the director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Mon, June 07, 2021

Are grommets over prescribed in children?; Kangaroo care and infant mortality; long term survival following a heart attack; should biological sex be considered in cancer care?

Are grommets over prescribed for children with recurring ear infections?

Mon, May 31, 2021

Australian atlas of healthcare variation; dangerous sunburn; targetted radiation therapy; antibody testing for vaccine efficacy

Australian atlas of healthcare variation; dangerous sunburn; targetted radiation therapy; antibody testing for vaccine efficacy

Mon, May 24, 2021

Spend less time sitting; cumulative weight gain; ancestors and our microbiome; new look biobanking

Taking a look at how long we spend sitting, and what to do about it; assessing the cumulative affect of yearly weight gain; the oral microbiome and our ancestors; aiming for a brain biobank; and Q&A

Mon, May 17, 2021

Male and female life expectancy; sinonasal inflammation and your brain; eye injury prevention; the virus and RNA transcription

Mon, May 10, 2021

Modelling vaccination plans; development of preterm babies; bronchiolitis in infants; Q&A

Modelling COVID vaccination targets to achieve pandemic prevention and control in Australia; the developmental outcomes of preterm babies is becoming clear; a study on who has followed over 4000 of these kids to the age of 5; and treatment in hospital of a common respiratory condition of babies.

Mon, May 03, 2021

Effectiveness of paracetamol, cannabidiol over the counter, the health of Australians in 2030, and depression in people with dementia

An Australian research group has undertaken a wide study on paracetamol to see what evidence exists for its use in different types of pain. We also ask whether medicinal cannabis is we would like it to be as a pain reliever; and if antidepressants are effective be in your elderly relatives with dementia.

Mon, April 26, 2021

Firearms regulation; multiple sclerosis and a new approach, Italian findings about schizophrenia, the ongoing health of cancer survivors

Gun policy and regulation; new approaches in treatment for multiple sclerosis; Italian findings about recovery for people with schizophrenia; the continued health of cancer survivors.

Mon, April 19, 2021

Urinary tract infections | heart disease differences | cancer prognosis tool | Australia and U.S. COVID-19 comparison

What's best for urinary tract infections; heart disease differences between men and women; online tool for cancer patients; differences between the U.S. and Australia for COVID-19

Mon, April 12, 2021

Thumb-base osteoarthritis; blood biomarkers and Alzheimer's diagnostics; Aged Care Commission expectations; better childbirth experiences for Indigenous women ; Q&A

Mon, April 05, 2021

The day I lost my mind

If you mention Transient Global Amnesia – TGA – chances are that nobody has heard of it. When Dasha Ross lost her memory for a day she was diagnosed as having experienced this mysterious ‘neurological enigma'. It affects over a thousand Australians a year, and Dasha was determined to find out why it happened and what caused it.

Mon, March 29, 2021

Historical pandemics - their past and future; and assessing prediabetes

One of the sessions at the recent World Science Festival was The Pulse of the Pandemic with Michael Osterholm, who spoke about pandemics past, present, and future. He's researched them for most of his career and was one of the first to warn that the current one was going to be bad. Plus recent research on pre-diabetes - which sometimes does not lead to diabetes.

Mon, March 22, 2021

Less sugar in soft drinks; prescribing sociality; cervical cancer screening and Indigenous women; pandemic pregnancy

Mon, March 15, 2021

Testosterone and exercise; veracity of people with mental health difficulties; and doctors' comments curtailed

Recently the issue has been raised about the credibility of people with mental health issues - what does psychiatric research and evidence tell us about the issues? And concern from doctors that their capacity to comment on COVID-19 vaccines is being reduced. And a West Australian group of researchers has looked at whether testosterone can really do all we think it can.

Mon, March 08, 2021

Genetic testing with online services, the effect of genetics on a population, safer pregnancy and antenatal care services, and why nano stuff and stem cells are like teenagers

Mon, March 01, 2021

Auckland lockdown, microplastics, mapping mortality, breast cancer drug

The Auckland COVID-19 Lockdown; Microplastics and seafood - what do we actually know about its effect on our health; a team of researchers from Monash University has discovered that a cardiac drug (carvedilol) could greatly reduce breast cancer progression; and the lifespan of Australians in capital cities can vary by 30 years, depending on where someone lives. In regional Australia there’s a greater difference.

Mon, February 22, 2021

Reducing smoking in Indigenous populations, oncology trials - practice, efficacy, and reliability

What you can find out in cancer drug trials when you follow then for years, and the huge disparity in cancer clinical trials between rich, and low to middle income countries, and how there's a mismatch between burden of disease and what's actually studied.

Mon, February 15, 2021

CSL, WHO visit, stroke, cholesterol

Mon, February 08, 2021

Breastfeeding mothers in COVID-19 trials, immunity and breast milk, alcohol reduction interventions, and salt reduction in packaged food

Breastfeeding mothers want more advice about whether it's safe to have a COVID-19 vaccine whilst they are breastfeeding; and what we know about the immunising properties of breast milk; weighing up the means to decrease our alcohol consumption; and how to reduce salt in packaged food.

Mon, February 01, 2021

Depression in adolescents, cancer analytics and screening, saunas and reduced dementia risk, unusual cervical cancer transmission article

Mon, January 25, 2021

Coronavirus vaccine hesitancy, breast cancer genes, low carb diets and COVID-19 mobility data

Mon, January 18, 2021

Psychedelic drugs and the brain

Mon, January 11, 2021

How much do you want to know about the secrets in your DNA?

Mon, January 04, 2021

The Spanish flu: Understanding a devastating pandemic

Mon, December 28, 2020

Defending against dementia and who should you trust?

Mon, December 21, 2020

Coronavirus — our pandemic year in review

Mon, December 14, 2020

Baby brain, child neglect, health star ratings and research funding

Mon, December 07, 2020

Alcohol and brain health, junk food in the movies and smoking's impact on your respiratory system

Mon, November 30, 2020

Antibiotics for kids, physical activity guidelines, heart health and lung cancer drugs

Mon, November 23, 2020

Dementia, cancer care and chronic disease: how has medicine changed in the past 20 years?

Mon, November 16, 2020

Bat viruses, fish oil supplements, endometriosis and coronavirus trials for older people

Mon, November 09, 2020

Magic mushrooms for depression, breastfeeding during coronavirus, cow's milk allergies and the ethics of genetics

Mon, November 02, 2020

Dentist check-ups, coronavirus treatments, prostate cancer and cochlear implants

Mon, October 26, 2020

Thunderstorm asthma, bariatric surgery and years lost to suicide

Mon, October 19, 2020

Meat-eating diets, skin and tongue cancers and preventing suicide

Mon, October 12, 2020

High intensity exercise, cloth masks, vaccine misinformation and coronavirus genetics