Health Report

There's been major buzz in recent years over ultra-processed foods and whether they may be harmful to our health. A new study out of Canada has measured what toddlers eat and how much of it is ultra-processed - and then followed up two years later to examine the behavioural outcomes of those same children.New findings on 'silent' women's health issues and where women would like the focus of healthcare research and spending to be - what the authors are saying is a call to go 'beyond the bikini line.'It takes days for...

MDMA psychotherapy was approved in Australia three years ago. Who's using it and what do we know about treatment side effects?Vaccine reminders can help nudge people back on track, but how the message is framed matters.A new review of screen use and sleep in young people finds no link between the amount of use and sleep quality or duration.And a different way of looking at mental health outcomes - whether digital tools can help us forecast someone's future needs and provide better, more personalised care.References:Within-Person...

Are Australian schoolkids eating too much salt? And does it put them at risk of high blood pressure?A new approach to breast cancer screening based on risk could reduce the number of screens needed for some women.There's been a lot of hype around brain training to protect against cognitive decline, but the results haven't always measured up. Now a new long-term study has promising results. Plus, navigating the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis -- when can the condition be medically managed and when should you consider surgery?References:I...

We know many people are turning to generative AI for health advice, including tips on how to manage stress, anxiety and low mood. When is it safe to turn to a chatbot, and when do you need to see a real human being? And what if you can't afford it?Also, a home review program that aims to get people off drugs they don't need to be on that might be negatively impacting their lives. And good news when it comes to Australia's goal to eliminate cervical cancer by 2035. References:Upt...

A paper has suggested exercise has minimal, short-term effects on osteoarthritis. But experts are warning people with the condition that they shouldn't stop moving. Also, school kids are being called on to help in the fight against superbugs. A new study shoots down low-dose aspirin for older people wanting to prevent cancer. And we take a look at another form of arthritis: gout. It's under-recognised and under-treated, but what can be done about it, and why is it such a complicated story?References:Menopausal hormone therapy and long term mortality: nationwide, register ba...

Researchers have pin-pointed the best exercise routines for depression or anxiety symptoms, and they might be equal to medication and talk therapy.Also, why states and territories are making changes to their maternity care guidance for doctors. An update on Alzheimer's disease off the back of important vaccine discoveries. Why the packaging of statins might need an upgrade.And some clarity on beta blockers after a heart attack. Does everyone need to be taking them?References:Valacyclovir Treatment of Early Symptomatic Alzheimer Disease: The VALAD Randomized Clinical TrialAssessment of adverse e...

When you pay for private health insurance, you might assume you'll be well covered if you get injured or fall ill. But a new report has revealed the huge costs that catch people off guard, and sometimes prevent them from receiving care. Also, a study hints that constant colds in childhood might not be business-as-usual and should be taken more seriously. And we talk through the Nipah virus outbreak in India, and changes in Victoria to ADHD medication prescribing.References:Nipah and Hendra Viruses: Deadly Zoonotic Paramyxoviruses with the Potential to...

Many people turning to AI for health advice are doing it for valid reasons — it's cheap, fast and isn't bound by a 15-minute timer. But the checks and balances companies use to ensure their products are safe, or even accurate, aren't open to public scrutiny.Also on the show, medical abortion is available up to nine weeks in Australia. There's a push to allow access later. And the much-maligned fat cell gets a look-in from a world-leading expert.ReferencesFirst step towards a national medicines recordNational medicines database promised after tele...

If you're having a month off the beers to kick off the year, do you know what a short stretch of sobriety could achieve?Some companies in the United States are even pushing people to trade their alcohol for THC, for "high" January. Also, there hasn't been a big COVID spike over the holidays, but the flu has been going around. People aren't accessing palliative care early enough to reap the benefits, but are there enough services to go around?And a study finds women notified of their breast density are of...

How far would you go to save your dog? One owner has used ChatGPT and other AI models to find a treatment for his pup's cancer. Also, we could be missing cases of liver disease because of differences between pathology centres. The final instalment of Stroke of Luck, a series on the experience of having a stroke and the recovery process. And a look back at the year: does artificial intelligence have a place in your local doctors' office?ReferencesWhat AI scribes can (and can't) do for healthcare - the...

People with osteoarthritis used to be told to take it easy and avoid overdoing exercise. But the advice has changed drastically. Also, should everyone going onto GLP-1 medications for weight loss be screened and monitored for eating disorders? Another instalment of Stroke of Luck, a series on the experience of having a stroke and the recovery process. And a look back at the year: Robert F. Kennedy Jr and his hyperfixation on autism as an epidemic. ReferencesTrump links paracetamol to autism, urges parents to delay vaccinesThe EPIPHA-KNEE trial: Explaining Pain...

Anxiety can manifest in an excessive worry about your health, and it can be debilitating. But there are effective treatments. Also, antidepressants can be difficult to come off because of the withdrawal symptoms. An expert highlights the need to better educate patients and doctors on deprescribing. Another instalment of Stroke of Luck, a series on the experience of having a stroke and the recovery process. And a look back at the year: infectious diseases. ReferencesWhy the US measles outbreak is so concerningHow Australia's measles vaccine coverage compares to the USAn...

There's a paradox in neurodegenerative disease  – sometimes as the brain deteriorates, creativity flourishes.Researchers have used imaging techniques to map creativity in the brains of people with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.Also, the exercise program that could change the game for colorectal cancer survivors. And a look back at the year: GLP-1 medications for weight loss. ReferencesAnswering common questions about GLP-1s for weight lossWeight loss drugs could help people with schizophreniaGLP-1s and eating disorders — what are the risks?Structured Exercise after Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer - NEJM Mapp...

Substituting your table salt for something with lower sodium could drive down your risk of heart attack and stroke. Also, what expectant parents might not know about screening for genetic diseases before conceiving. Artificial intelligence (AI) could soon be used to help predict decisions a person might make at the end of life. And a look back at the year: Make America Health Again. ReferencesSalt Substitution and Recurrent Stroke and Death: A Randomized Clinical TrialMackenzie's MissionNationwide, Couple-Based Genetic Carrier Screening - NEJMUnlocking the secrets of your DNA - the Heal...

Despite facing an increased risk of chronic disease later in life, remote Indigenous babies start life with a more diverse gut microbiome. A new study in Nature also found the infants have bacteria that have completely disappeared from non-Indigenous populations. Also, a guide to living healthy after a fatty liver disease diagnosis. And why fewer people are getting the HPV vaccine. ReferencesEating For Your Liver - Liver Foundation2025 Cervical Cancer Elimination Progress ReportIndigenous infants in remote Australia retain an ancestral gut microbiome despite encroaching Westernization

Historically women have had a hard time being heard in the doctor's office, with dismissiveness and delays in diagnosis all too common. The state government in Victoria has held an enquiry into women's pain to come up with recommendations aimed at shifting that experience to a more positive one. Also, we get a better sense of what's nature vs nurture when it comes to our attributes and our disease risks. And research suggests antibiotics, and their effects on the gut microbiome, could weaken vaccine response. ReferencesThe effect of shingles vacc...

The dentists' chair is not everyone's favourite place. Have you ever sat there wondering, why would anyone become a dentist?We take a trip to dental school to find out why so many people get into dentistry, and the skills it takes. Also, are we doing enough to weigh up the risks vs benefits of CT scanning? And how an autoimmune skin condition actually affects the whole body, particularly the heart.References:Stronger safety controls to be introduced for products containing vitamin B6 - TGABird flu confirmed in elephant seal po...

No coffee for six months, not even decaf. That's what participants of a trial looking into the effect on atrial fibrillation were asked to do.Also, could we be on the verge of changing guidelines for asthma care in children? Or is it too early to call?And catching cancer early can be important. How far away are we from harnessing blood, urine and even saliva tests to help?ReferencesPFAS inquiry hands down 47 recommendations to better regulate 'forever chemicals' in Australia - ABC News The Lancet series on ultra-processed foodsOrforglipron, an o...

There has been a rise in people that cut gluten out of their diet to address gut symptoms, despite not having a diagnosis of coeliac disease. New research is shedding light on what might actually be at play in non-coeliac gluten sensitivity. Also, how a common antibiotic might lower the risk of developing schizophrenia when given to young people at risk. And a look at the cancer prevention strategies that could have a big impact, but that most countries aren't taking on board. ReferencesGovernment expenditure on public health activities in A...

If you live with chronic pain, getting referred to a psychologist for pain management can feel like another dismissal. What does a session with a pain psychologist look like, and how effective can it be if you don't have any mental health diagnoses?Also, some practical information for parents introducing allergens to their babies. And how the nervous system might inadvertently be fuelling gastrointestinal cancers. ReferencesDeaths due to acute respiratory infections in Australia - ABSNeurodevelopmental Outcomes of 3-Year-Old Children Exposed to Maternal Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infection in UteroPain Ma...