Health Report - Full program podcast: Recent Episodes
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Specialist and mainstream audiences alike rely on the Health Report to bring clarity to health and medical issues from social, scientific and political points of view.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bringing clarity to health and medical issues from social, scientific and political points of view.
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.
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.
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?
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?
When given the choice between a ChatGPT bot or a real doctor, turns out patients preferred the bot—because they thought it conveyed more empathy.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.
Bringing clarity to health and medical issues from social, scientific and political points of view.
Bringing clarity to health and medical issues from social, scientific and political points of view.
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. CreditsAbigail Leeder, ReporterShelby Traynor, Producer
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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?
Mind Medicine Australia share their thoughts on the recent approval by the TGA for the use of the psychedelic compounds of psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression; and MDMA for treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder.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 very keen to find a fix for their discomfort. There's a surprising treatment to unlock their gas.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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 SwanTegan Taylor
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
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
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.
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.
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
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
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
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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
.
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
.
Bringing clarity to health and medical issues from social, scientific and political points of view.
Bringing clarity to health and medical issues from social, scientific and political points of view.
Bringing clarity to health and medical issues from social, scientific and political points of view.
Bringing clarity to health and medical issues from social, scientific and political points of view.
Bringing clarity to health and medical issues from social, scientific and political points of view.
Bringing clarity to health and medical issues from social, scientific and political points of view.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Exploring how changing your diet—or even your eating schedule—can improve your long-term health outcomes.
An option for cervical cancer screening could be a game-changer and miscarriages or stillbirths may bring an increased risk of stroke
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
The cancer risks that run through generations of families—and the growing frontier in medicine trying to change that.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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?
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.
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?
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.
What new research shows about the effect of substituting salt and health - can it save lives?
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.
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.
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?
What are people experiencing in intensive care as a result of the delta COVID outbreak and how are hospitals coping?
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.
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?
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?
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.
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?
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.
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.
Australian atlas of healthcare variation; dangerous sunburn; targetted radiation therapy; antibody testing for vaccine efficacy
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 QA
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Click-Sick, a three part Science Friction series from ABC Science and ABC Radio National, hunts down the sources, considers the harms, and shines a spotlight on fake health claims.
Patient Zero is a new podcast from ABC Science and RN that tells the stories of disease outbreaks: where they begin, why they happen and how we found ourselves in the middle of a really big one.
What's the story with vitamin D and COVID-19? Is there a link and could vitamin D supplements help?
The intersection of human societies, agricultural and wild animals ensures that new diseases — sometimes devastatingly infectious — spring up again and again.
Coronacast is a daily podcast that's all about answering your coronavirus questions, hosted by Dr Norman Swan and Tegan Taylor.
On the show today — what's going on in Italy and what are the chances mass quarantine will work?
Does air travel increase the risk of getting infected? And how does the COVID-19 testing process work?
Glasgow in the west of Scotland has some of the worst health outcomes and life expectancy gaps in Europe.
Australia is notorious for being the home of a huge number of the world's most venomous animals — funnelweb spiders, box jellyfish and brown snakes among them.
Antibiotics are obviously a very useful drug, and have been for decades. Trouble is, disease-causing bacteria get used to them, and become resistant. That's what leads to so-called superbugs that can't be treated with modern antibiotics.
After 30 years of intense effort and billions of dollars, the battle to rid the world of devastating polio virus seems almost won.
On the Health Report, we cover all sorts of nutritional research - the Mediterranean diet, what fat is right for you, how much salt is safe, diets to protect you from diabetes, early death, heart disease.
Millions of healthy older people with no history of heart attack or stroke take low-dose aspirin in the hope it will reduce their risk and prolong good health.
Researchers have found baby boys born with genital anomalies are more likely to develop infertility, and even testicular cancer, later in life.
Something's burning on the stove — you can smell it. But when you go to check, nothing's there. New research suggests more than five per cent of people experience 'phantom odour perception.' That's where you experience smells, often unpleasant, that aren't really there. But what causes this curious condition isn't always clear.
The Grattan Institute has today released a report saying that if all hospitals were as safe as the top 10 per cent then $1.5 billion would be saved each year.
Commercial DNA testing services and crowdsourced genetic databases are helping people find long-lost relatives.
Epilepsy is most common in the elderly — and it's what happens in your mid-life that can influence your risk.
A new Cochrane review says Omega-3 supplements don't reduce your risk of cardiovascular events. Plus: cannabis and pregnancy, accessing routinely collected hospital data in Australia, and using low-dose aspirin to prevent vascular events -- what's the right dose?
There's a possible treatment available for people with cancer that's free, evidence-based and associated with excellent health benefits. Exercise. Plus — building family trees using routinely collected hospital data, and returning research results to study participants.
It can feel like a game of Russian roulette. Whose interests are being served in clinical trials for cancer drugs?
As the voice ages, structural changes to the larynx occur which can change the way someone sounds. But new research has found something peculiar — among older people with this changing voice, termed presbyphonia, only some of them will actually notice it. Plus, breast cancer and chemotherapy, cytisine as a smoking cessation tool, and the changing drivers of death in Australia.
There are constant headlines about how people are losing confidence in private health insurance.
One reason is rising premiums but another is the gaps between what doctors charge you and what you get back from Medicare and your health fund.
We asked you to send in your medical bills if you were upset about your out of pocket expenses and hundreds of you did.
It was extraordinary and shocking. A urologist charging $27,000 for a prostatectomy. A potentially illegal under the counter fee of $6000. So it went on.
Professor Stephen Duckett says the private system is under strain, and there's no easy fix on the horizon.
Plus, men with slow-growing prostate cancers aren't being properly monitored and the evidence for a link between schizophrenia and urbanicity on shaky ground.
More Australians use sports supplements than almost any other country — but do we know what’s in them?
Many of us have a particular GP we see — a doctor who has known you for years and has a strong understanding of your medical history and health issues.
In Australia, the UK and the US schemes are being implemented to track the outcomes of surgeons — that is, following up with the people surgeons operate on to see whether they experience complications.
The idea is that measuring these outcomes can help us see the strengths and weaknesses between hospitals, and improve in areas where we aren't up to scratch.
But not everyone's a fan. Some surgeons argue such schemes will encourage doctors to avoid risky patients or 'game the system' by tweaking how their patient data is entered into the system.
Then there's the question of how widely the data should be shared. Should it be just surgeons who get to see how well they perform and compare, or do patients have a right to know too?
Australia is notorious for being the home of a huge number of the world's most venomous animals — funnelweb spiders, box jellyfish and brown snakes among them.
Epidemics of parechovirus are concerning doctors, especially because of the harm the virus can cause children. There's no vaccine, so how do we tackle it? Plus, eye specialists take aim at Irlen syndrome, a proposed condition to explain why some children have reading difficulties — new data on when cancers are being diagnosed in Australia — and the next steps in getting pneumonia vaccines to people across the world.
Australia has the highest rate of knee reconstructions in the world — what's going on, and how do we stop it? Plus, how weight loss can help with diabetes remission, the impact diabetes has on surgical outcomes, and the factors that play into higher rates of psychological distress among Aboriginal Australians.