Health Report

Mexico has implemented labelling of processed foods with large warnings if the unhealthy ingredients exceed globally agreed thresholds.New research has been looking into why sitting is bad—and how to change that.Women are being mislead by fertility tests which promote anti-Mullerian hormone—or AMH testing—which are not designed for general screening in the community.One of the side effects of having had babies and ageing in general is what used to be called prolapse—or uterine descent. Sometimes no treatment is needed but there's been a debate among surgeons about which procedure is best.

We heard today about a new test for ovarian cancer. For a long time there's been a search for a way to reliably detect this cancer early on.Some men are prescribed testosterone-replacement therapy in middle age or older, but there's questions around how safe that is for their heart attack and stroke risk.In developing the cervical screening program one woman—Mary Papanicolaou—did a test every day, for 21 years—it's what we now call the PAP test.People tend to think they need seven or eight hours sleep a night. But what counts more is the quality of that sleep.

Measuring activity on Cradle Mountain—Norman and Tegan rise to the challenge.Polycystic Ovary Syndrome—a new guideline for doctors and women.Vigorous Incidental Lifestyle Physical Activity—micro-bursts of it can decrease the risks of developing various cancers.Cochlear implants—the latest intel on this transformative tech. As part of National Science Week.

wide health implications.The remote community of Balgo in the Tanami Desert has many years of hunting for bush tucker. People must leave their Country if they want dialysis care, but that's changing.

Metastatic cancer is for the spread of a cancer from a primary site to other parts of the body. There's no nationally consistent way of keeping track of how many of these cancer patients there are.A consortium of Australian cancer researchers has announced a program called the PrOSPect Initiative. It offers genetic profiling for people with advanced or rare cancers.Aerobic exercise reduces blood pressure, and resistance training prevents progression to diabetes in people at risk. But the evidence is being updated on which exercise is best for lowering blood pressure.Various studies show that regular aerobic exercise reduces blood pressure, and resistance training prevents progression to diabetes in people at risk of metabolic disease. But the evidence on which kinds of exercise are best for lowering blood pressure is being updated.

To assess the heart health and stroke risk factors of the population, Australian GPs and cardiologists have referred to a study from the population of Framingham, Massachusetts, but last week the Heart Foundation replaced it with a tool based on New Zealand and Australian populations.An abnormal heart rhythm can mean observations by a cardiologist with a cumbersome and expensive Holter monitor. A team at Westmead Hospital and the University of Sydney have compared a simple finger electrode linked to your mobile phone against Holter monitoring.Red and processed meats have an environmental cost and health implications. The World Health Organisation has flagged that, globally, we need to consume less. We discuss the evidence for cutting back, and what it could mean for Australia—a big producer and consumer of these meats.

In health news Norman and Tegan discuss changes in the health system for medical termination of pregnancy; and about life span vs life expectancy in Australia.Alongside MDMA and psilocybin as treatments for mental health issues is ketamine—which shows promise in treatment-resistant depression.A common fracture in children comes from a fall onto an outstretched arm. Parents instinctively want to get an X-ray but an ultrasound can work just as well for most these cases.

Strength training is fundamental to most athletes' regimes, but the guidelines are overwhelmingly based on male data.An analysis of labelling on sports foods—things like protein shakes and bars—finds that the nutritional claims they make often don’t tally with the ingredients panel.Worry about memory loss is not uncommon, and not confined to an older age group, but measuring memory accurately needs refinement.Many Australians are prescribed opioids as relief for back pain, but the a world-first trial led by the University of Sydney found that opioids don't offer significant benefit and guidelines for their use need to be changed.

If dementia is diagnosed before someone is 65 it's called 'younger onset' dementia, and it can occur while people still have family responsibilities. We talk with people who have been given this news, and to researchers looking to improve diagnosis and care.We think of breastfeeding as being quite natural, but it doesn't always come easily, and issues such as Breastfeeding Aversion Response (or BAR) are still under-researched.

A look at some of the big stories in health over the last week ... cough syrup, Duchenne gene therapy; chemo drugs in the US.Some new prescribing guidelines for opioids recommend an exit strategy—and the need for better support infrastructure.It was suspected that brain damage for some people with Parkinson's disease was due to chemical toxins—one of the probable culprits is an environmental contaminant.Having your tonsils out as a child used to be routine, but what about for adults? British authorities noticed an increase in tonsillectomy rates—which prompted a clinical trial to see if the surgery was merited.

A recent bus crash in the Hunter Valley claimed 10 lives. Trying to make sense of such tragic events often prompts a reach for advice that sounds right, but might not be.Therapy using psychedelic drugs is generally safe yet a review of its use found that adverse events were not properly assessed or not reported.In Canada cannabis was legalised 5 years ago for non-medical and recreational use. Public health researchers have asked if this legalisation had health impacts on mothers and their babies if it was used during pregnancy—and how those babies were affected.An Australian clinical trial found that a form of psychotherapy called Cognitive Functional Therapy could help people with chronic disabling low back pain.

Bringing clarity to health and medical issues from social, scientific and political points of view.

A recent study has looked at correlations between rates of (Australian) population obesity and searching online for anti-obesity and diabetes drugs—searches for a class of drugs called the GLP-1 agonists.You probably know the Australian Government has general exercise recommendations for adults, but what if you're in a high risk group? Does that change the amount of activity you should be doing?Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is perhaps the ‘poor cousin’ of cardio-vascular disease. PAD puts people at risk of heart attack, stroke and amputations, and a really disturbing review of what's known about it in women finds it to be underdiagnosed and undertreated.

A new kind of ADHD clinic is cashing in on surging demand for diagnoses — and promising salaries of more than $900,000 to recruit psychiatrists.

The World Health Organisation has advised against artificial sweeteners for weight loss because they offer no long-term benefits.Australian research has found a link between diets high in ultra-processed foods and an increase in risk of depression.Healthcare is a large greenhouse gas emitter, but how do we reduce its environmental impact without compromising on health?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have voted that when they meet formally at the end of May, approval goes forward for a treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy—a disabling genetic disease.Post partum depression is a significant issue for both women and their babies, and it doesn't come out of the blue—depression can occur before or during pregnancy.Child neglect leads to both later poor physical health—with things like inflammation—and mental health, such as depression.Would you wear protective eyewear to play tennis, badminton or Aussie Rules?

When given the choice between a ChatGPT bot or a real doctor, a panel of health care professionals found the bot's responses were both more empathetic and also higher quality information.A study on the effect of hormonal contraception suggests that a history of hormonal contraceptive-associated depression could be a risk indicator of postpartum depression.Last week the Minister for Health and Aged Care announced over $500 million for a national lung cancer screening program. It targets high-risk individuals in the early stages.

Bringing clarity to health and medical issues from social, scientific and political points of view.

Bringing clarity to health and medical issues from social, scientific and political points of view.

Drug use has been increasing, whether it be cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy, hallucinogens or ketamine. That includes recreational use and substance abuse.So it begs the question: Has criminalising drugs ever worked? And what needs to be done to drive down the harms associated with this increasing drug use?If you're in need of support, you can contact the National Alcohol and Other Drug hotline on 1800 250 015, or contact Counselling Online. CreditsAbigail Leeder, ReporterShelby Traynor, Producer

The shock of a cancer diagnosis is familiar for far too many people.But when Na'ama Carlin was diagnosed with breast cancer, her health wasn't the only consideration. If you're in need of support you can contact Mummy's Wish or Hope for Two.

More people are injecting drugs than ever before. So what are the harms, and what are we doing to minimise them?People with schizophrenia have a life expectancy 25 years younger than the average Australian, and one of the reasons is heart attacks. Meanwhile, do surgeons need to change their approach to coronary bypass surgery? And Australian researchers uncover a potential new treatment for a rare blood disorder — that could replace blood letting.

Australia's bone marrow donor registry is funding a cheek swab program to recruit more donors, as it awaits government funding. Also, the latest in alopecia treatment for those who want to reverse hair loss — and the perspective of those who don't. And prostate cancer screening can be imprecise and invasive. Could delving into the genome help narrow things down?

Discussing the importance of addressing social determinants of health with a pioneer for health equity. Should vaping products be banned? Many young Australians are getting addicted to nicotine without always being aware that's what they're consuming. And eye drops could be used to slow the progression of short-sightedness, which is on the rise thanks to our screen-dominated world.

The debate continues on whether the TGA acted too soon on the rescheduling of psilocybin and MDMA for the treatment of some mental illnesses. Calls for Australia's cardiovascular disease guidelines to recommend coronary calcium scoring for patients at intermediate risk. And did you know ovarian cancer often originates in the fallopian tubes? A simple surgical procedure could drive down cases.

How much screen time is too much for young kids? Taking a looking at what digital playtime is doing to children's brains. Calls for better models of care for people living with lymphoedema, to avoid deterioration and costly hospital stays. And organ donation is yet to fully recover from a pandemic-driven dip. Why aren't more people consenting?

Mind Medicine Australia share their thoughts on the recent approval of psychedelic compounds for treatment-resistant depression and PTSD. A study in Sweden has looked at a possible association of maternal and paternal primary antibody immunodeficiencies — and if this provides a natural test of a hypothesis about parental immune activation.An intriguing story about people who can't burp, and turn to the internet for answers. Turns out there's a surprising treatment to unlock their gas.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration recently approved the psychedelic compound psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression; and MDMA–or ecstasy–for treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder. A group of researchers think this is premature.More people are tackling the bracing discomfort of ice bath sessions—for the touted health benefits ... but there are some serious risks, so pay attention to the instructions before hopping in.Chronic, non-cancer-related pain is hard to treat and so alternate medications—like antidepressants—are used because of their action on the brain. A group of researchers has compiled the available evidence on their efficacy.

Australians will pay a lot to relieve the pain of arthritis—sometimes opting for unproven therapies using stem cells. Why does this happen?Women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Researchers have long looked for the reason why— it may be related to the amount of 'cognitive reserve' some groups have been able to accumulate.Researchers have found that a protein in the K'gari (Fraser Island) funnel web spider venom has the ability to stop heart cells dying. It could also help preserve organs prior to transplant.A genetic form of diabetes can occur later in life, and doesn't require insulin. A pilot project has looked at the benefits of early genetic testing for it.

The Strengthening Medicare Report was released recently, and the key recommendations include changes to the digital health environment; working to scope of practice; and modernising My Health Record.Psilocybin and MDMA are now approved as treatments for depression and MDMA—with caveats. And still need co-ordination between clinicians and manufacturers (the TGA has not approved or registered specific psilocybin or MDMA medications).A financial reward for obese people to achieve sustainable weight loss has proved successful—but the general health environment must also be considered.How to make healthy weight work for a whole population and working on how food is presented and for which particular age groups—so a healthy choice can be made

The prescription rate for medications to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder rose in recent years but was still below what's thought to be the extent of the condition.Organ donation is one of the great miracles of our time, but that's not to say it's easy. To be viable, a heart needs to be transplanted within four or five hours, and this is a huge logistical challenge for a country the size of Australia.The Garvan Institute has studied the combination of genetic profile alongside family history of people with cancers called sarcomas, and found genes to aid early diagnosis.

Sun Pharmaceuticals is a supplier of generic medications and they're in hot water about possible violations of the manufacturing process at their facility in Gujarat, India.Fasting diets like the 5:2 or the 16/8 have become very popular. While there's lots of evidence for the benefits of the 5:2 diet in animals, there's hasn't been much in humans. The results are not out from a trial of intermittent fasting in overweight men and women.One of the biggest puzzles for humans is the brain, or more precisely, the minds. It's a bit of a mystery but still possible to learn something about how to keep it in good order.Hosts: Dr Norman Swan and Tegan Taylor

Royals have a tendency to change the course of history — in life and in death. From King George III's apparent madness, to Queen Victoria's genetic legacy, the Health Report takes a look back at the illnesses (and deaths) that have shaped the world.Note that the change of broadcast time mentioned at the end of the program refers to our live program on Mondays.

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) affects 7 or 8 per cent of people in their 60s, and one in four people in their 80s. In an ageing population the number of those with mild cognitive impairment will increase.There's a new perspective on the cause and progress of Alzheimer's disease. Are we doing the right thing by removing accumulated amyloid protein from the brains of people with it?Some people experience a tingly feeling when they hear certain noises and this feeling might be a useful intervention for people with anxiety.Atrial fibrillation is a type of arrhythmia characterised by a rapid and irregular heartbeat. There is increasing evidence that relaxation methods like yoga and meditation can help manage the condition.Hosts:Dr Norman SwanTegan Taylor

More than two decades ago a major milestone in cancer research was reached with the discovery of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Inherited mutations to these genes can dramatically increase the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers. The discovery opened up new ways of knowing who is at risk of cancer, how to treat the cancer, and even how to prevent it happening in the first place. This moving feature describes what this genetic information means for families who have seen loved ones endure sometimes multiple cancers—and it explains the emerging frontier in medicine trying to change that.Guests:Michelle BradyAnna MurphyDr Mark Pinese, Team Leader Personalised Medicine, Children’s Cancer InstituteA/Prof Paul James, Clinical Geneticist and Director, Familial Cancer Centre, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne HospitalDr Laura Forrest, Senior Research Fellow and Genetic Counsellor, Peter MacCallum Cancer CentreHost: Dr Norman SwanInterviewer and Producer: Sarah Sedghi

With COVID we've focused on vaccines and masks but there is more we can do, and the situation parallels a public health revolution from the mid-1800s.If you're a modern human you likely carry a bit of tech on you to track how physically active you are. But how can we be sure it's really promoting activity?Telomeres are small 'caps' on the ends of your chromosomes—the length of telomeres is seen as an indicator of how fast we age. How accurate could they be?Hosts: Tegan Taylor and Dr Norman Swan

It's expected now that on the whole we will live longer, but individuals want to know how to spend a longer life in good health—and to set a good foundation.This program was first heard on 25 April, 2022Dr Norman Swan's book was published in July 2022.Guest:Prof Luigi FontanaLeonard P Ullman Chair in Translational Metabolic HealthDirector, Healthy Longevity Research and Clinical ProgramCharles Perkins Centre | Sydney Medical School (Central Clinical School)Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of SydneyHost: Dr Norman Swan

A new study has found a genetic link between macular degeneration and Alzheimer's disease—with implications for drug development.The wellness space often refers to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide—or NAD. It's found in products promoting longevity—so may give you pause for thought—but shows promising results for human eyesight.High blood pressure is one of the most toxic risk factors for heart attack, stroke, kidney damage, dementia, and probably premature ageing—so it's incredibly important to get blood pressure under control.Hosts: Dr Norman Swan and Tegan Taylor

Fish oil supplements—aka omega 3 fatty acids—are taken by some women during pregnancy. What are the benefits, and who gets them?Research into ageing has revealed a number of processes controlling its rate. Autophagy helps cells do a clean up. Researchers are wondering if it could be manipulated.Is it possible to say whether a pandemic is a natural spillover from an animal, or an accidental release from a lab? In her new book, Dark Winter, Professor Raina MacIntyre warns that scientists may not be the people to identify the source of pandemics—rather that Intelligence and law enforcement services could have a better toolkit.

The ABC’s Birth Project call out is discovering the good and bad of pregnancy and birth in Australia—one of the safest places in the world to give birth, but which sometimes fails women, their families, and clinicians.Parents-to-be now have access to simple blood tests that can indicate whether their baby might have a chromosome issue. But parents who want peace of mind or want to know the sex of their baby can feel blindsided when the result predicts high risk—or for something they didn't know they were being screened for.The Birth Project has shown us that the kind of care you might get if you're pregnant varies wildly across Australia. A national strategy around improving maternity care was launched in 2019.

With humans set to spend more time in spacer, one of the physical things to overcome will be gravity, and it's very important for how our bodies work.We hear frequent stories of mental health issues, but there is more investment in services, so are services effective or overwhelmed?An estimated 34,000 people in Australia have cerebral palsy. The cause can be a mystery but looking at a child's genes may supply information for parents and treatment teams. Hosts:Dr Norman SwanTegan Taylor

There's been talk of changing the packet size of paracetamol tablets, to reduce the self-harm of overdose—but it would be better to investigate and remedy why this harm occurs.The idea that society—as well as an individual—is responsible for this 'health literacy' is central to a new World Health Organisation report.Results of a randomised trial in people with low back pain who used a spinal cord stimulator were published recently, and the researchers are surprised by what they found.Hosts: Dr Norman Swan and Tegan Taylor

How analysts are making health data safer | Linked health data can see the bigger picture of healthcare use | Clinical trials need more clarity on the kind of harms incurred | Donating mitochondria may mitigate the risk of some genetic disorders—but it's not a given.

The ABC series Magda's Big National Health Check us an immersive and personal journey about health in Australia today. It''s hosted by Magda Szubanski, who wants to know why Australia has a high level of chronic illness—and what to do about it.The latest statistics on causes of deaths in Australia show that deaths caused by alcohol rose by 6% last year—it's avoidable and advocates for greater alcohol control measures have been warning for years that there are not enough of them.Hosts: Dr Norman Swan and Tegan Taylor

Severe chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) can be defined in pathology, yet only be diagnosed after someone has died and their brain examined.The Victorian state election is on 26th November and hospitals feature in political healthcare promises. Labor anticipates spending more than $6 billion on new hospitals and upgrading existing ones.Guest:Assoc Prof Michael BucklandHead of Dept of NeuropathologyRoyal Prince Alfred HospitalandDirector, Australian Sports Brain Bank

There's a new perspective on how we think about the cause and progress of Alzheimer's disease. Are we actually doing the right thing by removing accumulated amyloid protein from the brain of people with it?Health practitioners are often still operating under the assumption that obesity is an individual's responsibility, even though science now tells us otherwise.It makes intuitive sense that if you screen people for disease the outcome will be good - because you get on top of the problem. But how far should you go.

The debate may be over about robotic surgery for men with prostate cancer—but can hospitals afford the robots?How do you know if memory lapses are a part of slowing down—or an early sign of dementia?The psychology of moving more—and eating better.An Australian researcher in women and cancer has died.

Bringing clarity to health and medical issues from social, scientific and political points of view.

Bringing clarity to health and medical issues from social, scientific and political points of view.

From King George III's apparent madness, to Queen Victoria's genetic legacy, the Health Report takes a look back at the illnesses (and deaths) that have shaped the world.