What's That Rash?
ABC Australia
300 episodes
Get answers to the health questions everyone's asking. Our experts give you the information you need to feel good and make the best decisions for your brain and body.
Episodes page 1 of 6
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Is 'old person smell' a thing?
We've received questions from listeners worried that other people can smell their age. So is "old person smell" a thing? And do you need expensive soap to combat it? Norman and Tegan discuss some of the science…
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How important is a social life?
Introvert or extrovert, we've all been told about the importance of social connection to our health. Isolation can have knock-on effects for your brain health – and the health of the rest of your body. Norman and…
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Should you exercise on an empty stomach?
You might've heard you'll burn more fat if you exercise in the morning before, or in lieu of breakfast. There is some research to back that claim up, but the science on fasted exercise isn’t clear cut. Norman and…
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Does hypnotherapy work?
Sit back and relax. Close your eyes. Imagine you're sitting on a calm beach. Now, do you feel more open to suggestion? Hypnotherapy has been around for centuries, and you might've heard about it being used for…
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NMN, NAD+ and other acronyms of anti-aging
As we age, levels of a vital molecule called nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) decline. Could reversing this be the key to eternal youth? There’s huge interest in NAD-boosting supplements like nicotinamide…
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How bad is shift work for your health?
Shift workers make a lot of sacrifices to keep the world running. What are they sacrificing in terms of their own health? There are harms associated with working at all hours against your body clock. Norman and Tegan…
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Eat the rainbow: what can food colour tell us?
When you're done with your weekly grocery shop, how colourful is your trolley? We know eating lots of fruits and vegetables is good for you, but colour could matter. Norman and Tegan discuss what gives fruit and…
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Mouthwash: good or bad for you?
How much time does your oral hygiene routine take? You brush, floss, interdent, maybe even use a tongue scraper. Is using a mouthwash going to give you any additional benefit? Or could you be doing some harm? Norman…
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Why wear a continuous glucose monitor?
Continuous glucose monitors, or CGMs, have transformed how people with diabetes manage their blood sugar. But in wellness circles, more and more people without diabetes are being encouraged to try these devices.…
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Are rest days from exercise necessary?
Not many people would argue that rest isn’t important, but how would you define a rest day? For an elite athlete a rest day could be going for a long walk. For your average person it could mean sitting on the couch.…
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What has your nose got to do with sleep?
Have you ever spritzed your pillow with lavender and wondered, is this actually doing anything? There are some surprising ways that smells can affect sleep, and it might have something to do with how our brains work.…
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Why do we cry?
Do you feel better after a good cry, or do you feel worse than ever? There can be a lot to cry about, good or bad: a break-up, a milestone, a tragedy, a sappy movie. Norman and Tegan discuss why we evolved to cry,…
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What is ultra-processed food?
You might be hearing a lot about ultra-processed foods, or UPFs, and how we should all be avoiding them. But you might be struggling with figuring out what exactly IS an ultra-processed food. Sweetened drinks, sure.…
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Body hair removal: healthy or not?
The modification and removal of body hair has been going on for centuries, but our reasons for it have evolved. Some believe it’s more hygienic to remove, others argue it’s against our nature to be so hairless.…
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Ashwagandha: what's the evidence?
Ashwagandha supplements are rising in popularity, but the herb has been used for hundreds of years in Ayurvedic medicine. The supposed benefits are broad – from stress to sleep, athletic performance and boosting…
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How does chronic stress affect the body?
When you're going through a stressful time it can have knock-on effects on your routine. Sleep, diet, exercise routines can be thrown out of whack. And when that stress goes for weeks or months, it can have a serious…
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Why do some people get motion sickness?
Sea sickness, car sickness, space sickness – when it comes down to it, it’s all the same. But not everybody suffers the same. Some people are even lucky enough to grow out of motion sickness. Norman and Tegan talk…
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How to drive down your cancer risk
Lately there have been lots of scary headlines about cancer rates rising in younger adults. What can you do to drive down your cancer risk? Norman and Tegan offer some practical tips, and discuss what's in your…
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Should you be taking calcium supplements?
Our calcium needs can increase as we age, especially for women going through menopause. Most Australians aren’t getting enough calcium from their diet, so are supplements a good option? Norman and Tegan discuss the…
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Can tapping calm your nervous system?
There's a scene in the Devil Wears Prada 2 where a character is so stressed she starts "tapping" to calm herself down. What is this self-soothing technique, and should you try it out? Norman and Tegan talk through…
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Is farting a sign your gut microbiome is happy?
Everyone wants a healthy gut, and your microbiome plays a big role in keeping you well. So how do you know your microbiome is in top shape? Are there stinky signs that things are going right, or wrong? Norman and…
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Still coughing — are you still infectious?
Cold season is upon us, so it’s no wonder you’re side-eyeing that person coughing on the bus. But does a cough mean someone is still infectious? How do you know you’re in the clear to go back to work? Norman and…
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Can your joints predict the weather?
Have you heard the phrases, "aches and pain, coming rains" or about "ill health due to evil winds"? Many people believe they can feel a change in weather coming on because pain flares in their joints. Norman and…
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Should you get a full-body MRI?
It’s good to be on top of your health – but how far would you go to ensure you’re staying healthy? Ads have popped up for full-body MRIs, promising to catch things from cancer to aneurysms. Norman and Tegan scan…
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Deep dive on progressive exercise
You might've heard the qualifier that exercise is good for you – but you need to be progressing that exercise over time. Running further, lifting heavier, exercising for longer. How important is it to up the stakes?…
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Hantavirus: what we know about the cruise ship outbreak
A cruise ship at the centre of a virus outbreak — sound familiar? Passengers and crew are beginning to disembark the MV Hondius after several cases of hantavirus sent them into quarantine. The virus is usually caught…
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Why is yawning contagious?
It’s easy to catch a yawn – you might even yawn while you’re reading this. It’s not just humans that yawn, but all kinds of verterbrates, even fish! But contagious yawning is rarer. Norman and Tegan unpack why we…
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Tonsils, appendix, gallbladder: is anything actually useless?
You might know them as "vestigial" organs, but we no longer overlook organs that aren’t vital for life. While they can be removed, your tonsils, appendix and gallbladder play important roles in the body. Norman and…
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Should you be eating more fruit?
Not a fruit lover, but eat plenty of veggies? Ever wondered if skipping that banana might actually matter? We all know a mix of fruit and vegetables is key to a long, healthy life. Norman and Tegan dig into whether…
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Red and other light therapy — can it work?
If you’re into skincare, you’ve probably been advertised light therapy face masks. These high-tech hockey masks promise to plump up or heal your skin through light – often red, but sometimes yellow, green, blue or…
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Why are some people right (or left) handed?
What determines whether you’re right or left handed? Is there really such a thing as being ambidextrous? It’s a surprisingly complicated story, and culture comes into play – some people are forced to go against their…
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Headaches: causes, cures and exercise?!
Headaches are common, but the causes are wide and varied, and some are more serious than others. Why do we get headaches? What's the difference between a headache and a migraine? Norman and Tegan talk through some…
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Is a vibration plate worth the cost?
We've all probably wished for a way to achieve our fitness goals without the strain and sweat that can come with exercise. So what if you could lose weight, gain muscle and improve circulation just by standing on a…
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Should you add snail slime to your skincare routine?
Snail slime, or snail mucin, has become a popular product in skin care. Some claim it has anti-ageing properties, but if the early research shakes out, snail mucus could have even more significant uses. Norman and…
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Could headphones be damaging our ears?
Walking down the street, most people you pass will be wearing headphones or ear buds. Chances are you are too! But is this trend of noise-cancelling harming your ears or the way your brain processes sound? Norman and…
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Vitamin C: can it cure colds and cancer?
Many people believe that taking vitamin C supplements helps their immune system fight off colds. But there are even bigger claims attached to this supplement – that it not only boosts immunity, but fights cancer.…
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Can peptides keep you young and buff?
Unless you're in certain corners of the internet, you won't be aware of the peptide craze promising to grow your muscles and slow ageing. That's because your average GP won't be printing a prescription for these…
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Can flossing benefit more than your teeth?
Your dentist might be nagging you to floss to avoid cavities, but does flossing have more to given than pearly whites? Interdental cleaning has been recommended for a while, but for many people it’s a habit hard to…
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Doing nothing: the benefits of boredom
With endless entertainment at your fingertips on your phone, how often do you really sit and do absolutely nothing? It turns out that even when you’re staring into the middle distance, your brain is firing away with…
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Should we all be taking fish oil?
How many times a week are you eating fish? What about oily fish, like salmon and tuna? Our dietary guidelines recommend the regular consumption of fish to potentially reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease,…
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Should you wait to swim after eating?
It’s so common to tell kids to wait an hour after eating to swim that many of us never question it. But what are the actual consequences of jumping straight back in the pool after you’ve had your lunch? Norman and…
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Is retirement bad for you?
Last year Norman made the shocking statement that people shouldn’t retire because it’ll be bad for their brains. After an influx of requests, we’ve looked at the evidence not only when it comes to brain health, but…
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Diet vs exercise: which is more important?
A few weeks into the new year you might be reassessing your resolutions and wondering where to put your energy. Is it possible to choose between diet or exercise? Or are the two inherently intertwined? Norman and…
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Why you don't need to avoid seed oils
It can be hard to keep up with food fads and diet trends (and spoiler: you don’t need to). But an intriguing assumption that has gained traction recently is that seed oils – think canola, sunflower, grapeseed – are…
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Should you opt for aluminium-free deodorant?
We haven’t always suppressed our sweat or our natural body odour, but in many cultures now it’s expected we’ll all try to smell our best. You might be seeing more ads for ‘natural’ deodorants that promise to keep you…
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Why do some people pee more often?
Do you find yourself complaining that you've got a small bladder, as you run to the toilet for the third time in an hour? There are many reasons a person might pee more than others, including some scary medical…
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Sunscreen spectacular: UV protection, SPF drama, endocrine disruptors
There have been many discussions this year about sunscreen, its effectiveness and its ingredients. While there are some unknowns, what we’re sure of is sunscreen’s ability to protect us from the sun’s ageing and…
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Do the benefits of creatine go beyond the gym?
Creatine is getting a lot of hype lately, at least according to our listeners. It’s being pushed for everything from menopause to dementia for its supposed energy-boosting, brain-boosting benefits. Norman and Tegan…
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Why do we dream?
Whether or not we remember our dreams, we all have them. But the answer to why we dream is complicated. There's a lot going on in our brains during sleep, especially during the rapid eye movement (REM) phase when most…
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What's the best time of day to exercise?
When you’ve got a busy schedule, it’s important to just exercise when you can. But if you have the luxury of choice, is there an optimal one? You might’ve even heard that exercising at certain times of day can lead to…
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