Health Report
Episodes
Markers of irritable bowel syndrome
01 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A new review suggests there may be biomarkers linked to irritable bowel syndrome, typically a diagnosis of exclusion.How you get followed up after go...
What do we know about brain fog in menopause?
24 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Two thirds of women report concerns over memory loss, concentration or other cognitive symptoms during menopause. What do we understand about what's ...
Can ChatGPT Health tell when you should go to hospital?
17 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Can you trust the advice ChatGPT Health gives about whether you should go to the hospital or not?Who is using GLP-1 weight loss drugs and how common ...
Treating a medical emergency ... in space
10 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When a medical emergency happens in space, how is it treated? And what does life in Antarctica have to teach us about staying healthy on a spacefligh...
What to expect this flu season
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Which flu strains are likely to be dominant this flu season - and what's the story with the new nasal spray vaccine?Speaking of sprays ... there's a ...
3D printing in healthcare
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
3D printing is becoming an incredibly versatile modern tool - with scope to apply it to engineering, manufacturing, architecture and design challeng...
Ultra-processed foods and behaviour in kids
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
There's been major buzz in recent years over ultra-processed foods and whether they may be harmful to our health. A new study out of Canada has measu...
MDMA therapy's side effects
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
MDMA psychotherapy was approved in Australia three years ago. Who's using it and what do we know about treatment side effects?Vaccine reminders can h...
Are Australian kids eating too much salt?
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Are Australian schoolkids eating too much salt? And does it put them at risk of high blood pressure?A new approach to breast cancer screening based o...
Can AI chatbots be good therapists?
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
We know many people are turning to generative AI for health advice, including tips on how to manage stress, anxiety and low mood. When is it safe to...
Wait, does exercise help osteoarthritis?
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A paper has suggested exercise has minimal, short-term effects on osteoarthritis. But experts are warning people with the condition that they shouldn...
Prescribing exercise for mental health
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Researchers have pin-pointed the best exercise routines for depression or anxiety symptoms, and they might be equal to medication and talk therapy.Al...
The cost shock of specialist care
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
When you pay for private health insurance, you might assume you'll be well covered if you get injured or fall ill. But a new report has revealed the...
Going to ChatGPT for health advice?
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Many people turning to AI for health advice are doing it for valid reasons — it's cheap, fast and isn't bound by a 15-minute timer. But the checks...
What are the benefits of having a dry January?
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If you're having a month off the beers to kick off the year, do you know what a short stretch of sobriety could achieve?Some companies in the United ...
Can AI make personalised medicine accessible?
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How far would you go to save your dog? One owner has used ChatGPT and other AI models to find a treatment for his pup's cancer. Also, we could be mi...
Walking the Camino with knee osteoarthritis
09 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
People with osteoarthritis used to be told to take it easy and avoid overdoing exercise. But the advice has changed drastically. Also, should everyo...
Is Dr Google fuelling your hypochondria?
02 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Anxiety can manifest in an excessive worry about your health, and it can be debilitating. But there are effective treatments. Also, antidepressants ...
Uncovering the brain circuit for creativity
26 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There's a paradox in neurodegenerative disease – sometimes as the brain deteriorates, creativity flourishes.Researchers have used imaging techniq...
Swapping salt for a heart healthier option
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Substituting your table salt for something with lower sodium could drive down your risk of heart attack and stroke. Also, what expectant parents mig...
Indigenous babies born with more gut bugs
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Despite facing an increased risk of chronic disease later in life, remote Indigenous babies start life with a more diverse gut microbiome. A new stu...
Taking women's pain seriously in healthcare
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Historically women have had a hard time being heard in the doctor's office, with dismissiveness and delays in diagnosis all too common. The state go...
Why do people become dentists?
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Could you give up caffeine for six months?
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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, c...
Got gut issues? Don't assume it's gluten
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 re...
Pain isn't all in your head — but psychotherapy can help
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 pa...
Racial inequity in our medical devices
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Challenging weight bias in the doctor’s office
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 bi...
Does human genome editing cross a line?
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Gene editing holds huge promise to cure disease and alleviate human suffering, but there are many ethical considerations when it comes to changing ou...
Low FODMAP diet for chronic endometriosis pain
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Endometriosis is a complex condition, and the pain associated with it can persist despite medications and surgery. New guidelines have suggested life...
Daylight saving: Can changing clocks harm your health?
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Daylight saving time kicks in this weekend for New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.Time shifts ...
Why does Trump think paracetamol causes autism?
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
US President Donald Trump has told women they shouldn't take paracetamol (also known as Tylenol or acetaminophen) during pregnancy because it has bee...
Trump links paracetamol with autism. What’s the evidence?
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Trump has suggested there's a link between pregnant women taking paracetamol and autism in children. In a press conference Trump said pregnant women...
Time to ditch the blue puffer for asthma
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 pri...
Do you take health advice from influencers?
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 an...
Mapping the brain using the placebo effect
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Researchers have tricked participants with placebo pain relief in an effort to map the brainstem. Also, how immunotherapy might be used to treat men...
Could your baby’s skincare routine have lifelong benefits?
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Long term relief for low back pain
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Cognitive Functional Therapy can help relieve low back pain, and shows some positive long-term results.Ovarian cancer doesn't start in the ovaries, b...
Can an ultraprocessed diet ever be healthy?
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Is your no-sugar drink really the healthier option?
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
The pros and cons of mental time travel
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ston...
What bat parents and human parents have in common
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Just like human children, young bats have been found to harbour and spread lots of viruses. Their susceptibility to contracting multiple viruses at ...
How to add 14 years to your lifespan
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 you...
Mapping the environmental exposures that impact human health
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Harnessing the immune system to fight cancer
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Immunotherapy uses the body's immune system to fight cancer. In blood cancer, a revolutionary t-cell therapy has cured patients and could show promis...
The man using AI to try treat his dog's cancer
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
What do hyenas have to do with human health?
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 dang...
Is it too easy to get a prescription for medicinal cannabis?
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There are concerns people are getting their hands on medicinal cannabis to treat conditions where there's very little evidence of benefit — and the...
Exercise packs a punch in fending off cancer
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A structured exercise program has increased survival in people with colon cancer after they've undergone surgery and chemotherapy. Also, a common ge...
Can you predict how smart a baby will be in adulthood?
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our cognitive ability changes throughout our lives, but what happens when we're young can determine our intelligence in adulthood — especially if w...
Deepfake scammers have stolen Norman’s voice
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Want to heal your gut? Here's the evidence
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Gut health is more complicated than social media influencers might have you believe. It can be impacted by diet, exercise, the medications you take,...
You don’t have to snore to have sleep apnea
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 pres...
Left or right arm? The site of your booster vaccine matters
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 m...
Would you trust AI to make a life or death decision?
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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. ...
Is misinformation fuelling our measles outbreaks?
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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, lea...
Using food to help treat depression
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 chan...
Helping pregnant women stop smoking — safely
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 fig...
The key to creativity? You might be overthinking it
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A study of people with neurodegenerative disease has discovered that bursts of creativity can happen when the brain is shutting down. Also, there's ...
Why there's no quick fix for osteoarthritis
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A new resource has launched to provide information to the millions of Australians living with osteoarthritis. It pushes back against the idea that a...
Dr Google could be making your health anxiety worse
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What used to be called hypochondria is now health anxiety — an excessive worry about developing a serious illness. While experiences of health anx...
Early dementia signs from the body not the brain
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 f...
Listening to influencers could give you an incidentaloma
28 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 case...
Why some women are in the dark about breast density
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Victoria is starting to notify women when they have dense breasts on their mammogram, following Western Australia and South Australia. So what does ...
Bowel cancer is happening younger — so why aren't people getting screened?
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Australia has been highlighted in an international report on the rising incidence of bowel cancer in young people. Our screening age was dropped las...
As bird flu mutates, are eggs still safe to eat?
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 i...
How an online coach can keep your brain young
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 i...
A Stroke of Luck: Kylie's story
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 he...
A Stroke of Luck: Gillian's story
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 eme...
A Stroke of Luck: Downs and ups of recovery
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Despite their strokes being 20 years apart, Kylie and Gillian were left with similar disabilities. Both faced a long and often gruelling period of r...
A Stroke of Luck: Asking for help
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 full...
Why BMI is being sidelined in the diagnosis of obesity
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 chal...
How much sugar are you feeding your toddler?
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We try to give little kids the best start in life, and in supermarkets there's an ever-expanding range of foods marketed specifically for themBut how...
What's your sports bra got to do with your knees?
10 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bras might seem unrelated to knee injuries, but research suggests otherwise.Women are significantly more prone to tearing their anterior cruciate lig...
Why aren't kids getting the food they need at childcare?
03 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The first 2,000 days of life are crucial for brain development.Children learn and grow more during this time than at any other point in their lives.H...
Could a bacterial strain spark bowel cancer?
27 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Scientists are increasingly concerned about the rising incidence of colorectal cancer among younger populations, and emerging research points to the ...
Should you exercise more or get surgery for knee pain?
20 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many individuals with knee osteoarthritis are being subjected to unnecessary tests and procedures, even though exercise is often the most effective t...
Are they natty, or are they taking steroids to get buff?
13 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Performance and image-enhancing drugs are more common than you might expect, especially if you're not enmeshed in gym culture. Experts are worried t...
Why these fertility experts are worried about plastic
06 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There's already a lot to think about when you're trying to get pregnant. Should plastic be one of them? Some fertility experts think that yes, cutti...
Chair yoga: as good as the real thing?
29 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sore back from sitting all day? A new study suggest virtual yoga — much of which can be done from a chair — could help relieve low back pain.AI-g...
Why Australia's called the 'allergy capital of the world'
22 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Some describe Australia as the allergy capital of the world, noting high rates of food allergies — what can parents do to help kids early? Why the...
Can your noisy knees predict the future?
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our joints are capable of making a cacophony of sounds, even more so as we get older. Is it ever a cause for concern?Research shows once more that va...
Another Trump presidency could give kids more cavities
08 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump's re-election could spell big health policy changes for the United States, including the rolling back of a 20th century intervention. ...
Inside the lab growing sheets of replacement skin
01 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Spray-on skin already helps many burns patients, but what about those with deeper burns? Meet the team trialling a technique to grow sheets of replac...
The parkrun phenomenon — and which runners keep coming back
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What keeps some people running while others drop off? New data from parkrun groups shows why some keep coming back to jogging.New draft limits on 'fo...
Why are thousands of bags of blood being binned instead of donated?
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The ancient practice of blood letting is still a vitally important treatment for some people. But for years that blood was being discarded.The viruse...
Not all screens are equal — some help kids with mental health conditions
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There are plenty of app games on the market claiming to help kids with ADHD, depression or anxiety, a review examines if they do.MicroRNA researchers...
Got ADHD? There's a chance you have dyslexia too
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There's long been an assumed link between ADHD and dyslexia, and now a study has looked at the genes of thousands of people to find the overlap. Rad...
The key to living past a hundred? Lie about your age
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
There are areas known as 'Blue Zones' where people were thought to live very long lives. It was thought to have something to do with lifestyles in t...
Why don't we screen everyone for high risk genes?
20 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The government bans life insurers from using genetic testing results to demand higher premiums. Inflammation in childhood is linked to metabolic dis...
The man who dated his own kidney stone
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A scientist carbon dated his own kidney stone to better understand the mysterious, and painful, formations. How a new approach could curb the bigges...
Playing sport might protect against concussion harms
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
You hear a lot about the dangers of concussion in sport, but maybe sport can actually mitigate the harms of concussion.We navigate the link between t...
Your phone might help you get a good night's sleep
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Most people struggling with insomnia at least once in their life, and for some it's a long-term struggle. Can an app help with treatment?We give an u...
Struggling to keep kids off screens? Here’s how to reduce the harm
23 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Tips on how to fend off the behavioural problems and cognitive troubles that come with too much screen time, too young. What a new paper has to say ...
Going for a bush walk? Your microbiome will thank you
16 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We know a varied diet of veggies is good for our microbiome, but what about a varied environment? Where we spend our time also influences the good b...
Sport has two sex categories, but biology isn't that simple
09 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Olympics has reignited a century-old debate about sex categories in sport — and what happens when policy doesn't align with biology. A look at...
The 'fertility' test that isn't a fertility test
02 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Marketing of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) tests could be exploiting the anxiety women might feel about their fertility. An update on influenza, COVI...
The running group chasing pain relief
26 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Research is clear on the benefits of exercise for certain types of pain, including for pain associated with cancer treatment. A running group is putt...
Small steps to boost teen mental health
19 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Adolescence is a stressful time. Researchers have been investigating simple ways to help improve teen mental health.The US president tests positive f...
Making pleasure accessible to every body
12 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sex tech is giving people with disability better access to their own bodies.What Australia is doing to prepare for the migration of birds that could ...