Health Report

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 gastro...

For 50 years we've known pulse oximeters are less accurate on darker skin, and it could lead to misdiagnoses.  Also, allergen starter packs are being advertised to parents. Are they safe? Guidelines have been released for male infertility care so men aren't left out.  And joint replacements don't last forever, but there are ways to extend their life. References Guidelines for the management of mal...

It's a tricky conversation to navigate, so researchers have tried to find out the best way to bring up weight in the doctor's office while dodging bias and stigma. Also, a look at the evidence surrounding transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for depression.  The international effort to improve survival from pancreatic cancer. And how a change in guidelines spared tens of thousands of children f...

Gene editing holds huge promise to cure disease and alleviate human suffering, but there are many ethical considerations when it comes to changing our DNA.  We map the story of Chinese scientist He Jiankui who was jailed for altering the genome of babies without proper consent.  Also, we take a look at the common skin condition rosacea and what treatments are available. And some changes to blood t...

Endometriosis is a complex condition, and the pain associated with it can persist despite medications and surgery. New guidelines have suggested lifestyle changes like diet or supplements could work for some.  Also, what you can do in your 40s to prevent heart failure later on. And anal cancer is rare but might be going under people's radar. Who should be screened? References Assessment of malnutr...

Daylight saving time kicks in this weekend for New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory. Time shifts can be controversial, and in recent years there's been research into the effects on our health. One study has looked into the incidence of strokes and obesity.  Also, why experts want to change the name of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and we take...

US President Donald Trump has told women they shouldn't take paracetamol (also known as Tylenol or acetaminophen) during pregnancy because it has been linked to autism.  We unpack the evidence with experts — where has this claim come from? Have we really found a treatment for autism spectrum disorder? And what are the dangers of taking health advice from Trump? Also, an unexpected result from a st...

Trump has suggested there's a link between pregnant women taking paracetamol and autism in children.  In a press conference Trump said pregnant women with fevers should "tough it out".

A major change has been made to Australia's asthma guidelines, but how long will it take everyone to catch on? Also, we know daily aspirin for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease isn't beneficial, but a new study shows there might be risks.  And should the one-time blood test for lipoprotein(a) be free for everyone? References: National Climate Risk Assessment | Australian Climate Ser...

The way we get information has changed, and when it comes to health and wellness more and more people are turning to social media.  There are pros and cons, but when it comes to something as important as birth control, there's a price to pay for taking guidance from influencers.  Also on the show, why parent-focused programs haven't been working to tackle obesity in toddlers. And a story about the...

Researchers have tricked participants with placebo pain relief in an effort to map the brainstem.  Also, how immunotherapy might be used to treat mental health conditions in some young people.  And delays in diagnosing frontotemporal dementia means some people are missing out on important care.  References Answering common questions about GLP-1s for weight loss GLP-1s and eating disorders — what a...

Lots of people develop a daily skincare routine for anti-ageing purposes, but what if there are benefits from starting even earlier — at just nine weeks old? Also, a discussion in the United States about SSRI antidepressants in pregnancy has caused lots of anxiety. We talk through the risks versus the benefits.  And a common drug used to treat everything from nerves to heart conditions could show...

Cognitive Functional Therapy can help relieve low back pain, and shows some positive long-term results. Ovarian cancer doesn't start in the ovaries, but in the fallopian tubes, and opportunistic surgery could prevent it. And is your gut microbiome responsible for your insomnia or is your insomnia changing your microbiome?

Dietary guidelines tell us what we should eat for good health, but at the moment it is possible to follow the guidelines and still eat predominantly ultraprocessed foods.  A new study has looked at the impact this has on your health, and compared it to a minimally processed diet chock full of whole foods.  Also, there are calls to change the criteria for diagnosing perimenopause. And the benefits...

If you reach for a no-sugar drink, thinking you're making a wise choice, you might need to think again.  A new study suggests artificially sweetened drinks carry a similar type 2 diabetes risk to sugar sweetened beverages.  Also, loneliness is a growing public health issue, especially among younger people. What can we do to address it? And gynaecological cancer survivors are flipping the script, t...

There are ways to rejuvenate old memories, but a new study has compared the process to the myth of Sisyphus, who was cursed to repeatedly roll a stone up a hill.  Also on the show, many doctors are already using artificial intelligence to help take notes. But are patients always aware these AI scribes are in the room? The emergence of vaping has slowed our progress when it comes to smoking cessati...

Just like human children, young bats have been found to harbour and spread lots of viruses.  Their susceptibility to contracting multiple viruses at once makes them the perfect breeding ground for new disease variants.  Also, we take a look at a study that seemed to show private hospital were better than public hospitals for childbirth. Is it that simple? And a survey of people with chronic condit...

Five risk factors explain 50 per cent of cardiovascular risk at age 50, according to a new study.  Addressing those risk factors can add years to your life, even if you address them in middle age.  Also, the UK demonstrates a cutting edge IVF technique is effective at avoiding mitchondrial disease.  ADHD treatment has real world positives, but the effects are lessening as more people get diagnosed...

The human exposome is the environmental equivalent of the human genome, and there's a project in the works to map it.  It's a huge project that needs to take into account our lifestyles, cultures, economics and politics. Essentially, everything but our genome.  Also, a concerning disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians when it comes to kidney transplants.  And a small risk come...

Immunotherapy uses the body's immune system to fight cancer. In blood cancer, a revolutionary t-cell therapy has cured patients and could show promise in solid tumours.  In bladder cancer, the tuberculosis vaccine is infused to treat non-invasive cancer. However a shortage of BCG means researchers are having to test out other methods.  Also, is Australia on the front foot when it comes to type 2 d...

In the burgeoning field of artificial intelligence, it can sometimes feel like the answer to everything is right around the corner.  A dog owner is testing this with the help of super-computing, to try and find another treatment for his dog's cancer.  Also, the national lung cancer screening program is about to begin. Who is eligible, and is the healthcare system prepared? And with syphilis cases...

Hyenas and vultures play a role in driving down the risk of disease outbreaks, but their decline due to human behaviour is putting our health in danger. Also, we discuss Lifeblood's changes which bring down some of the barriers facing gay and bisexual men, and transgender women, who'd like to donate blood or plasma.  Pain education could help people with osteoarthritis get the most out of exercise...

There are concerns people are getting their hands on medicinal cannabis to treat conditions where there's very little evidence of benefit — and the possibility of harm.  Also, why weight loss drugs could improve treatment for people with schizophrenia. The full breadth of corporate ownership of radiology clinics is revealed.  And what questions need to be asked with IVF in the spotlight, as Monash...

A structured exercise program has increased survival in people with colon cancer after they've undergone surgery and chemotherapy.  Also, a common genetic variant could double the risk of dementia in men — if they receive two doses of the mutation.  We provide an update on the flu, COVID and RSV circulating the community. And a study bringing together millions of lab tests has found is take a lot...

Our cognitive ability changes throughout our lives, but what happens when we're young can determine our intelligence in adulthood — especially if we don't do anything to bolster it.   Also, NSW follows other states in allowing GPs and diagnose and treat ADHD. There are updated guidelines for the treatment of osteoporosis.  And when you go into remission from cancer, you usually undergo regular tes...