Health Minutes: Recent Episodes
ABC Health & Wellbeing
Carrying extra body fat is linked to an increased risk of cancer of the lining of the womb, known as uterine or endometrial cancer.
Itching or burning around a woman's genitalia can have many causes; one rare cause you don't want to ignore is cancer.
Can a Pap smear detect ovarian cancer and do you still need a Pap smear if you've had the cervical cancer vaccine?
Researchers have trialed a new treatment that could help those whose high blood pressure doesn't respond to the usual medications.
Safety concerns mean certain popular painkillers are no long available over the counter.
Clostridium difficile has been causing problems overseas and now it has arrived in Australia.
Aspirin may not be the best treatment for peripheral artery disease, research has found.
Researchers have compared how GPs from 13 countries use antibiotics to treat pneumonia.
Take extra care when giving pain relief medications to small children. They can respond differently to adults and are particularly sensitive to overdose.
Researchers have looked into which is the best treatment for insomnia: CBT or sleeping pills.
Mistakes related to taking medication are common but preventable. How can you reduce the risk?
Research finds higher resting heart rate can point to increased likelihood of heart disease in women too.
A review of 57 studies involving almost a million people confirms obesity increases the risk of early death.
A national health survey has found a significant number of Australians have mental health issues.
Having a partner can be good for you in many ways, including helping to maintain a healthy brain.
Treating high pressure in the eye is often used to prevent glaucoma – damage to the optic nerve that prevents vision. But is the pressure treatment really worth it?
Supervised exercise program can reduce pain in those with arthritis of the hip, research finds.
People use acupuncture for all sorts of things, from insomnia to weight loss. But a core use is for pain relief. And some countries actually reimburse for acupuncture, so it's worthwhile knowing whether or not it works.
Exercises aimed at improving your sense of control of ankle movements can help prevent re-occurrence of ankle sprains.
A British trial comparing oral with topical NSAIDs has found that the creams and gels are relatively safe and effective compared to tablets.
'White coat hypertension' is when a person's blood pressure goes up when they visit the doctor and down again when they leave. How harmful is it?
The largest trial of its kind to date has found that testosterone supplements for older men had no real benefits.
Some experts argue there is an epidemic of heart failure in Australia, but a new analysis of the figures shows that's not the case.
One in three people with daily headaches may have so-called medication overuse headaches - which are due to the very pain relievers they take to kill the pain.
Scientists have discovered that weight training is an anti-ageing treatment - it can rejuvenate old and damaged muscle tissue.
Could a single pill be enough to help people over 55 reduce risk factors like cholesterol, blood pressure and thrombosis?
Scans for back pain are usually unnecessary, unless there are other warning signs, researchers say.
Telephone counselling can reduce women's risk of developing postnatal depression, say Canadian researchers.
The American Academy of Otolaryngology has released guidelines for doctors on how to treat ear wax.
Should a person thinking of taking up competitive sport have their heart checked first? Experts are divided.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have looked at how people's social network can influence them to put on or lose weight.
If you have diabetes, regardless of your blood pressure, there's a case for being on blood pressure lowering medications, according to a study.
Vive la difference! Risk factors for dementia vary between the sexes, say French researchers.
A US study shows that most people who have tears of the meniscus cartilage in their knee don't have symptoms - and so don't need treatment.
An Israeli trial has compared three diets: a traditional low-fat/low-calorie diet, a reduced-calorie Mediterranean diet, and a low-carb diet.
The link between food colouring and preservatives and hyperactivity in kids has been strengthened by a recent UK study.
Researchers have linked sugars in the diet with an increased risk of gout in older men.
There's no difference in rates of prematurity or birth weight in pregnant women who drink caffeinated versus decaffeinated coffee.
A review of the medical literature shows cannabis use is linked to psychotic illness and the more cannabis, the higher the risk.
The National Breast Cancer Centre has released an online calculator to help women get an idea of their risk of developing breast cancer.
Sleeping pills are commonly prescribed for older people, but any benefit is outweighed by the side effects - unsteadiness, falls and memory problems, researchers say.
A Japanese study showed green tea is linked to reduced chances of death from heart disease, but not cancer.