Health Report - Separate stories podcast

3D printing is becoming an incredibly versatile modern tool — there’s scope in engineering, manufacturing, architecture and design — and very much 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. This story is one from our ar...

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.  Just 12 months after the stroke they decided to have children, and were soon navigating stroke recovery with raising Beren and Corey.   In episode one of A Stroke of Luck, we hear from Kylie and her fami...

A possible new tool to help quit smoking - psilocybin, the active component of magic mushrooms. But there are plenty of caveats. Significant differences between women and men after a diagnosis of cancer - both in their risk of death and adverse outcomes. And an update on a story from Health Report producer Shelby Traynor last year - about Paul and a pioneering cancer treatment for his dog Rosie wi...

Could diets high in ultra-processed food for kids be increasing their risk of anxiety, aggression and hyperactivity?  Researchers in Canada have been investigating that question. Guest Dr Kozeta Miliku, Assistant Professor, Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto.   References Ultraprocessed Food Consumption and Behavioral Outcomes in Canadian Children Multilevel predictors of ul...

The spotlight in women's health is often on conditions like endometriosis, menopause and perimenopause. But a new study finds that the top issues for women might include some very different areas. Guest Dr Sara Holton, Senior Research Fellow, Monash University References ‘Women deserve better’: a national mixed-methods exploration of the ‘silent’ health conditions and social issues affecting women...

STI testing has its challenges - the turnaround between the time a sample is taken and when the result is returned can mean delays in treatment, losing people to follow up and stress and anxiety as someone waits for results. To solve some of these problems, a new point-of-care treatment that can test for sexually transmitted infections in under an hour is currently being developed by the Doherty I...

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week: from pronunciation problems to the chemistry of heated citrus.  You can email us at healthreport@abc.net.au

A new review of screen use and sleep in young people finds no link between the amount of use and sleep quality or duration. When a young child comes to hospital with a broken bone or a bad sprain, how should their pain be managed? And could a multivitamin slow your rate of ageing? Spoiler - no, not really. But there's a little more to it ... and it involves epigenetic clocks. For more on that stor...

MDMA psychotherapy for PTSD was approved in Australia back in July 2023. Near to three years on, what do we know about how it’s being used, whether people are finding it effective and how well we’re tracking the possible side effects of these treatments? Guest/s Associate Professor Gill Bedi, Head of Substance Use Research, Orygen References Side-effects of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy: a systemati...

If you’ve fallen behind on vaccinations for yourself or your kids - does getting a nudge from the doctor reminding you to come in encourage higher vaccination rates? With vaccination among young children in decline post-pandemic, a new trial shows potential pathways to improving uptake. Plus, some insights on how the framing of the message might matter too - whether it's more neutral or persuasive...

With more tools at our fingertips than ever for capturing how we feel day-to-day - smartphones, apps, wearables and more - is there a way to better utilise that data to improve mental health outcomes? Researchers from the Brain and Mind Centre at the University of Sydney argue an approach to treatment that captures and analyses these data - called measurement-based care - can help clinicians more...

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week: too much salt or too little, hot orange juice (?!) and Norman's teeth-brushing obsession. You can email us at healthreport@abc.net.au

A brain training trial finds a reduction in dementia diagnoses after 20 years -- but for a very specific kind of training. New research into oral GLP-1 medications for diabetes and -- perhaps further down the track -- weight loss. And risk factors for developing an allergy. Some well known, others more peculiar. References Impact of cognitive training on claims-based diagnosed dementia over 20 yea...

Most Australian children are eating too much salt, according to new research. The study found Victorian school children were getting too much sodium, but not enough potassium. A high salt intake can lead to high blood pressure, which in children can be an early warning sign for cardiovascular disease later in life. Guest Dr Carley Grimes , Senior Lecturer in Population Nutrition, Deakin University...

Currently, breast screening is recommended for women aged 50 to 74. Women over 40 can also have a free mammogram every two years. But researchers have looked at what happens when the type of screening is adjusted depending on your risk. High-risk women would undergo more intense screening, while screening for low-risk women wouldn’t happen at all until they reach 50. Guest/s Professor Dorothy Keef...

The diagnosis and management of endometriosis can be complex and difficult to navigate. What are the different ways in which the condition can be diagnosed? When is a laparoscopy called for and when don't you need one? And how do you seek a second opinion? Guest Dr Nyasha Gwata, Gynaecologist, Obstetrician and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeon in Melbourne

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week. You can email us at healthreport@abc.net.au

A study has found self-collection swabs are enabling more women to be screened for HPV, which is the leading cause of cervical cancer.  Vaccination against HPV has also been shown not to wane in a long-term follow up of more than 300,000 girls and women.  And another win for exercise — moderate to vigorous physical activity has been associated with a lower risk of death among survivors of bladder,...

There have been some cases where chats between vulnerable people and AI bots have gone horribly wrong. But it shows that people are turning to generative AI when they’re in need of support – whether that’s for general life advice or actual therapy. Given psychologists can be expensive and difficult to access, how can a person seek support from AI without it going off the rails? Guest/s Professor J...

When you think of a pharmacist, you probably think of someone giving you medication to take. But for some, their whole job is to deprescribe – assess what drugs you’re on now, and which ones are no longer necessary. Research shows that for a portion of older adults, deprescribing drugs can even extend their life. Guest/s Deborah Hawthorne , consultant pharmacist in rural Victoria  References Pharm...

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week. You can email us at healthreport@abc.net.au

A report from the Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has raised concerns, after finding a steep increase in antibiotic resistance.  An initiative in the UK is trying to tackle the issue of bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites becoming resistant to treatments — starting in schools.  Also, unpacking the results of a study that found menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is not linked to increa...

A review of evidence has cast doubt on the idea that exercise improves symptoms of osteoarthritis. But experts are warning people not to change their routines, pointing to the limits of these types of studies. We discuss what the study can and cannot tell us about osteoarthritis, and the best approach when you’re dealing with the disease. Guest/s Professor Manuela Ferreira , program head in muscul...

Studies in middle-aged adults suggest that daily aspirin can reduce the risk of cancer, but it’s a different story for people aged 70 or older. The ASPREE study found no effect on overall cancer incidence for healthy older adults taking low-dose aspirin. In fact, during the period of the trial there was an elevated cancer mortality risk among participants taking the drug. Guest/s Dr Suzanne Orchar...

Gout is a type of arthritis where excess uric acid leads to sharp crystals forming in your joints. There are treatments available, but despite this, evidence shows gout is often poorly managed. Part of the problem can be stigma – meaning people delay addressing flare ups. Guest/s Professor Catherine Hill , head of the rheumatology unit at the Queens Elizabeth Hospital in Adelaide and clinical prof...