Podcasts · Health & Fitness

Health Report

ABC Australia

300 episodes

Covering the health stories that make a difference. Dr Norman Swan and Dr Preeya Alexander dissect the latest and breaking news in the medical world.

Episodes page 2 of 6

  1. Why do people become dentists?

    · 43 min

    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…

  2. Could you give up caffeine for six months?

    · 42 min

    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…

  3. Got gut issues? Don't assume it's gluten

    · 45 min

    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…

  4. Pain isn't all in your head — but psychotherapy can help

    · 44 min

    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…

  5. Racial inequity in our medical devices

    · 42 min

    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…

  6. Challenging weight bias in the doctor’s office

    · 43 min

    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…

  7. Does human genome editing cross a line?

    · 40 min

    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…

  8. Low FODMAP diet for chronic endometriosis pain

    · 42 min

    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,…

  9. Daylight saving: Can changing clocks harm your health?

    · 41 min

    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…

  10. Why does Trump think paracetamol causes autism?

    · 43 min

    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…

  11. Trump links paracetamol with autism. What’s the evidence?

    · 12 min

    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".

  12. Time to ditch the blue puffer for asthma

    · 40 min

    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…

  13. Do you take health advice from influencers?

    · 42 min

    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,…

  14. Mapping the brain using the placebo effect

    · 41 min

    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…

  15. Could your baby’s skincare routine have lifelong benefits?

    · 42 min

    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…

  16. Long term relief for low back pain

    · 44 min

    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…

  17. Can an ultraprocessed diet ever be healthy?

    · 45 min

    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…

  18. Is your no-sugar drink really the healthier option?

    · 44 min

    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…

  19. The pros and cons of mental time travel

    · 41 min

    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…

  20. What bat parents and human parents have in common

    · 43 min

    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.…

  21. How to add 14 years to your lifespan

    · 43 min

    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…

  22. Mapping the environmental exposures that impact human health

    · 40 min

    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…

  23. Harnessing the immune system to fight cancer

    · 36 min

    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…

  24. The man using AI to try treat his dog's cancer

    · 37 min

    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…

  25. What do hyenas have to do with human health?

    · 44 min

    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…

  26. Is it too easy to get a prescription for medicinal cannabis?

    · 39 min

    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…

  27. Exercise packs a punch in fending off cancer

    · 41 min

    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…

  28. Can you predict how smart a baby will be in adulthood?

    · 43 min

    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…

  29. Deepfake scammers have stolen Norman’s voice

    · 42 min

    If you've come across ads of Norman pushing a product for you to buy — no you haven't. These ads are actually deepfake scams using an AI Norman to sell unproven supplements. Also, why a new Alzheimer's drug coming…

  30. Want to heal your gut? Here's the evidence

    · 41 min

    Gut health is more complicated than social media influencers might have you believe. It can be impacted by diet, exercise, the medications you take, the colds you catch. And any one of these factors can lead to…

  31. You don’t have to snore to have sleep apnea

    · 44 min

    It's a common sleep disorder that can have knock-on effects on your cardiovascular and overall metabolic health. But sleep apnea doesn't always present how people think, especially in women. Also, we take a look at…

  32. Left or right arm? The site of your booster vaccine matters

    · 40 min

    The immune system seems to respond faster, and better, when you get a booster vaccine in the same arm as your initial vaccine. Also, your GP might miss something going wrong with your liver because of the way…

  33. Would you trust AI to make a life or death decision?

    · 40 min

    When you can't make medical decisions for yourself, it's often the responsibility of a loved one, or sometimes a doctor who doesn't know you at all. Some researchers are suggesting artificial intelligence could be…

  34. Is misinformation fuelling our measles outbreaks?

    · 44 min

    In Australia, we've already seen more cases of measles this year than we saw during the whole of 2024. It's believed misinformation is to blame, leading to vaccine hesitancy and exposing the community to a highly…

  35. Using food to help treat depression

    · 41 min

    Australia has been at the forefront of research into how what we eat affects our mental health. What do we know so far, and what are some small changes you can make to see improvements? Also, the doctors strike in…

  36. Helping pregnant women stop smoking — safely

    · 38 min

    Quitting smoking can be tough, and for many women who've fallen pregnant their only option has been to go cold turkey. Researchers are trying to figure out whether medications to help are safe for mum and bub. Also,…

  37. The key to creativity? You might be overthinking it

    · 40 min

    A study of people with neurodegenerative disease has discovered that bursts of creativity can happen when the brain is shutting down. Also, there's a lot of misinformation out there about back pain and how to treat…

  38. Why there's no quick fix for osteoarthritis

    · 40 min

    A new resource has launched to provide information to the millions of Australians living with osteoarthritis. It pushes back against the idea that an injection or surgery will fix all your woes when it comes to this…

  39. Dr Google could be making your health anxiety worse

    · 42 min

    What used to be called hypochondria is now health anxiety — an excessive worry about developing a serious illness. While experiences of health anxiety vary, for some people it can take over their lives and even lead…

  40. Early dementia signs from the body not the brain

    · 44 min

    When you have dementia, being diagnosed early can help you and your loved ones manage the condition. It could also aid in treatment. A new study has found that in some cases, weight loss and lipid changes happened up…

  41. Listening to influencers could give you an incidentaloma

    · 45 min

    On social media, an influencer's job is to influence you — to get you to strive for a particular lifestyle or buy a specific product. In some cases they're pushing medical tests, telling people to take charge of their…

  42. Why some women are in the dark about breast density

    · 41 min

    Victoria is starting to notify women when they have dense breasts on their mammogram, following Western Australia and South Australia. So what does this information mean? And what should you be doing with it? Also,…

  43. Bowel cancer is happening younger — so why aren't people getting screened?

    · 41 min

    Australia has been highlighted in an international report on the rising incidence of bowel cancer in young people. Our screening age was dropped last year to 45, however the overall uptake of bowel cancer screening…

  44. As bird flu mutates, are eggs still safe to eat?

    · 41 min

    There's a shortage of eggs in Australia, and it might not let up as we brace for the arrival of the H5N1 strain of bird flu. That strain has shown is can make the jump into humans. But how does it manage? Also,…

  45. How an online coach can keep your brain young

    · 42 min

    There are some things you can do to guard against cognitive decline, and a study has found a hands-on approach is best. Also, rates of vaccination in pregnancy are falling in New South Wales. Should Australia follow…

  46. A Stroke of Luck: Kylie's story

    · 9:00

    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.

  47. A Stroke of Luck: Gillian's story

    · 9:00

    When Gillian suffered a stroke at age 50, Kylie was one of the first friends she reached out to. It wasn't Gillian's first life-altering medical emergency, having gone through cancer treatment years earlier.

  48. A Stroke of Luck: Downs and ups of recovery

    · 8:00

    Despite their strokes being 20 years apart, Kylie and Gillian were left with similar disabilities. Both faced a long and often gruelling period of rehabilitation — thankfully with partners and friends by their sides.

  49. A Stroke of Luck: Asking for help

    · 7:00

    When Kylie had her stroke, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) didn't exist. It took Gillian's stroke, 20 years later, for Kylie to fully understand how much support she was missing out on.

  50. Why BMI is being sidelined in the diagnosis of obesity

    · 40 min

    For a long time many have assumed they can tell how healthy a person is because of their weight. Now, a major global collaboration of experts is challenging that. A Lancet commission has recommended changing the…

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