Health Report - Separate stories podcast
Episodes
TGA to crack down on unregulated peptides
12 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In the news this week:Researchers at a diabetes conference ejected after handing out editorial criticising US President Donald Trump.Fewer egg allerg...
Could we screen genes for disease risk nation-wide?
12 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For many years it's been expensive and challenging to do genetic testing that works out if you're at greater risk of something like a heart attack or...
Who experiences pain in an IUD insertion and why?
12 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
IUDs -- intrauterine devices -- are a highly effective form of long-acting reversible contraception. But Australia lags behind other comparable count...
Researchers criticise peer review for scientific grants
12 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Australian researchers have published an editorial in Science critiquing the state of our peer review for scientific grants.They say the current stat...
Mailbag: mental health habits
12 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week.You can email us at [email protected]
Drug treatment for breast cancer and endometriosis to be pulled from Australian market
05 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In the news this week:The latest on the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda.Chatbot use for mental health help among young people.A drug for breast ...
Concerns over proposed changes to abortion access in multiple states
05 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Australia's specialist medical college for obstetrics and gynaecology is raising the alarm over proposed changes to abortion access in three Australi...
What's the link between physical activity and 'biological age'?
05 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If you're plugged into the world of longevity online, you might have seen chatter about 'DNA clocks' or 'biological age.'These purport to measure how...
Bulk billing changes and Aboriginal community-controlled healthcare
05 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Could coming changes to how bulk billing is administered affect the viability of Aboriginal community-controlled healthcare in remote parts of Austra...
Mailbag: diphtheria
05 Jun 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week.You can email us at [email protected]
Do calcium and vitamin D prevent falls and fractures?
29 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In the news this week:An update on the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda.Changes to bulk-billing for general practice.Calcium and vitamin D - a ne...
What's behind the diphtheria outbreak in Australia?
29 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Case numbers are now dropping in what has been the largest outbreak of diphtheria in Australia in decades.What does the epidemiology of the outbreak ...
Housing and health: it's about maintenance ... and climate change
29 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On last week's Health Report, Norman and Preeya discussed the links between unsafe housing and health in remote communities.To dig deeper into the ar...
Measuring the protective effect of mental health habits
29 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Regular sleep patterns, exercise, eating well, and thinking positive. They're all examples of healthy behaviours that work to protect our mental heal...
Mailbag: ARFID
29 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week.You can email us at [email protected]
How did the diptheria outbreak happen?
22 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In the news this week:New obesity medicines recommended for heart disease.Effectiveness of a vaccine program for RSV.An outbreak of diptheria across ...
Who's using peptides and do we know what's in them?
22 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
There's reportedly a major uptick in the number of people using or interested in peptides - injectable protein building-blocks.You may have seen them...
Sleep, memory and mood: key differences in how men and women experience Parkinson's disease
22 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Findings from a large study of Australians suggest the symptoms and experience of Parkinson's disease varies significantly between men and women.The ...
The treatment you don't need if you have heart failure
22 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For people with a heart defibrillator, it's been common to undergo a treatment that lets the device take over a particular part of your heart's funct...
Mailbag: plastic-associated chemicals
22 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week.You can email us at [email protected]
Renaming PCOS
15 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In the news this week:Review finds no direct link between aluminium adjuvanted vaccines and health conditionsPCOS renamed polyendocrine metabolic ova...
Reducing exposure to microplastics
15 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Microplastics are everywhere, including food processing and production.So is it inevitable that microplastics are a part of your diet?A new West Aust...
Rehab for ACL injuries
15 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) has most commonly been treated with surgery.But new research is showing there are rehab treatments that work ...
Tech shown to help treat eating disorders
15 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Digital interventions, like websites and chatbots, have shown positive effects in the treatment of some eating disorders according to a new study.Evi...
Mailbag: urgent care clinics
15 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week.You can email us at [email protected]
Australia eliminates eye disease that causes blindness
08 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In the news this week:Australia eliminates trachoma as a public health problem.Mpox vaccine coverage less than expected.An outbreak of hantavirus abo...
$1.8 billion in federal budget for urgent care clinics
08 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Urgent care clinics will receive $1.8 billion in the 2026-7 Budget to make them a permanent part of Australia's health system. We speak to the Healt...
'Fitspo' content - helping or harming?
08 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Could 'fitspiration' social media content be harming mental health?A new study from Northwestern has investigated the effects of consuming this conte...
First bacteriophage therapy in Victoria
08 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
'Phage therapy' is a novel form of treatment aimed at providing an alternative to antibiotics.What are bacteriophages, how does this therapy work and...
Mailbag: transient global amnesia
08 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week.You can email us at [email protected]
HPV vaccine lowers cancer risk in boys
01 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In the news this week: An outbreak of diptheria in the Kimberley.Lower risk of cancer for boys who get a HPV vaccine.Negotiations stall on adding Mo...
Biomarkers for IBS
01 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has long been a diagnosis of exclusion - doctors rule out a number of other conditions before they can say it's IBS.Th...
Follow up varies by postcode for bowel cancer symptoms
01 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Symptoms of bowel cancer can include blood in your stool, bloating, constipation, changes in bowel habit and unexplained weight loss.But two people p...
Spotting breast cancer on your digital health record
01 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The government's 1800MEDICARE app allows people to access their pathology and diagnostic results once uploaded to their digital health record.For Chr...
Mailbag: BRCA genes
01 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week.You can email us at [email protected]
Home cooking linked to lower dementia rates
24 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In the news this week: Free access to the RSV vaccine expanded.Home cooks in Japan found to have less dementia than those who ate out often.Another ...
Menopause and brain fog
24 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
There's an increasing recognition of the cognitive symptoms that come with perimenopause and menopause - sometimes termed 'brain fog'.A group of rese...
Blue puffer begone: new roadmap for asthma care
24 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
More than 2.8 million Australians have asthma, and it isn't always managed well.A new coalition of researchers has mapped out a blueprint for changin...
Mailbag: a saline saviour!
24 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week.You can email us at [email protected]
Gene changes behind childhood cancers
24 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A new Australian study suggests understanding the genes we're born with - our genome - could help to explain why some children get cancer in childhoo...
Fluoride and IQ
17 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In the news this week: How aggressively should cholesterol be managed when someone's at risk of heart disease?A new review finding no relationship b...
Is ChatGPT Health's advice accurate?
17 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In a medical emergency, how good is ChatGPT at guiding you towards the right treatment (whether that's the emergency department or the GP?).A new tri...
Who's using GLP-1 weight loss drugs?
17 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
We know that growth in the use of GLP-1 drugs for diabetes and weight loss has been dramatic over the past few years.But it's hard to tell exactly ho...
Suicide and self-harm in young people
17 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Australia's first clinical guidelines for preventing suicide and treating suicidal ideation or self-harm in young people have been released. What are...
Mailbag: vaccinations and B12
17 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week.You can email us at [email protected]
When should you have your appendix out?
10 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
New data on GLP-1 use for people with diabetes and its impact, if any, on mental health.The Lancet retracts a decades-old commentary on talcum powder...
Teen mental health trajectories
10 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A large study following more than 6,000 Australian kids finds four distinct trajectories when it comes to their mental health.What are the predict...
Imaging for shoulder injuries
10 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It's common for someone to visit the doctor with a shoulder injury - often suspected to be to the rotator cuff.You might be tempted to ask for imagin...
Medical emergencies in space
10 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In January, four astronauts were pulled early from the International Space Station after a medical emergency in orbit.As future missions plan for lon...
Mailbag: snoring and toenail fungus
10 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week, including snoring and toenail fungus.You can email us at [email protected]
Vaping likely to cause cancer
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A new Australian review finds vapes with nicotine are likely to cause lung and oral cancers.Treatment pathways for peanut allergy in kids and their c...
Changes to flu vaccines
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It's already that time of the year when we need to think about getting our flu vaccine - but there are some changes to the rollout this year.The chan...
Saline or surgery? Treating kids for sleep apnoea
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Could a saline nasal spray stop kids with sleep apnoea from having unnecessary surgery?It’s low-cost and simple to try – so how often does it wor...
Treatments for enlarged prostate
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is an enlargement of the prostate that can cause urinary problems - feeling like you need to pee often, waking up to go ...
Mailbag: iodised salt
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week.You can email us at [email protected]
Prosthetics, training, skin for burns: using 3D printing in healthcare
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
3D printing is becoming an incredibly versatile modern tool — there’s scope in engineering, manufacturing, architecture and design — and very ...
Life and kids after stroke
27 Mar 2026
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...
Sex differences after a cancer diagnosis
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A possible new tool to help quit smoking - psilocybin, the active component of magic mushrooms. But there are plenty of caveats.Significant differenc...
Ultra-processed foods and kids’ behaviour
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Could diets high in ultra-processed food for kids be increasing their risk of anxiety, aggression and hyperactivity? Researchers in Canada have been...
Going beyond the bikini line in women's health
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Testing for STIs in under an hour
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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, losi...
Mailbag: vaccine reminders
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 he...
Can a multivitamin slow the ageing process?
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
The side effects of MDMA psychotherapy
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Do vaccine reminders work?
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
A new way to measure mental health
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 u...
Mailbag: hot orange juice
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 obsessio...
Brain training lowers dementia risk decades on
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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-...
Aussie schoolkids eating too much salt
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Most Australian children are eating too much salt, according to new research.The study found Victorian school children were getting too much sodium, ...
Risk-based breast cancer screening
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Navigating endometriosis diagnosis and treatment
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The diagnosis and management of endometriosis can be complex and difficult to navigate.What are the different ways in which the condition can be diag...
Mailbag: pap smears
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week.You can email us at [email protected]
Self-collect improves cervical screening access
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
Is there a case for AI psychotherapy?
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 generat...
Medication detectives: deprescribing for better health
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 – asses...
Mailbag: Metabolic osteoarthritis?
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week.You can email us at [email protected]
Teaching kids about superbugs
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A report from the Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has raised concerns, after finding a steep increase in antibiotic resistance. An initi...
Benefits of exercise on osteoarthritis 'inconclusive'
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Aspirin doesn't cut cancer risk in older adults
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Gout is more common than you might think
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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, e...
Mailbag: Home birth and AI pathology
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week.You can email us at [email protected]
Treating herpes didn't slow Alzheimer's progression
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
After studies showed certain vaccines had a protective effect against Alzheimer's, researchers wanted to see if treating the virus might slow disease...
Effects of exercise on depression and anxiety
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Cardio might be the most effective way to relieve depression and anxiety symptoms, according to a new review of the evidence.It also suggests the kin...
Respecting women's choices in pregnancy and birth
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In recent years more women have been opting for home births, and in some extreme cases women have eschewed medical support entirely.In some states, i...
Back and forth on beta blockers after heart attacks
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Beta blockers, which can slow down the heart rate, are often prescribed after a heart attack.But recent studies have painted a conflicting picture of...
Mailbag: Specialist costs
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week.You can email us at [email protected]
What to know about Nipah virus
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Two cases of Nipah virus have been identified in India, but this isn't the first outbreak of the bat-borne disease. The World Health Organization sa...
The unexpected costs of specialist care
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Becoming unwell is stressful enough, but now patients are fighting back on the financial stress that often follows.Close to one in five Australians s...
Daycares can be germ factories. Can we do more?
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Getting sick more often in the first few years of life can have flow-on effects throughout childhood, according to a new study.Children who caught mo...
Mailbag: Breast density follow up?
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week.You can email us at [email protected]
Telehealth concerns prompt national medicines database
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The government has announced it will establish a database that provides a complete picture of a patient's medicines history. At the moment, this inf...
Health AI outpacing regulation
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
ChatGPT is about to open up its dedicated health AI bot, and it has people wondering about the safety of relying on Big Tech for this advice. Many p...
Reducing stigma, improving access to abortions
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
There are many reasons someone might need to terminate a pregnancy.At the moment women should be able to access medications up to nine weeks.But in s...
In defence of the fat cell
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Fat has gotten a bad wrap, but one expert is determined to educate people on its importance.Fat cells are responsible for storing energy, insulating,...
Mailbag: Breast density
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week.You can email us at [email protected]
Trading 'dry' January for 'high' January
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In the US, companies have jumped on the trend of people abstaining from alcohol in January and offered THC as an alternative.It raises the question –...
Early palliative care eases suffering at end of life
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Palliative care is designed to support people with life-limiting illnesses, but many people aren’t accessing it until they’re close to death.That...
Finding out breast density can cause anxiety, confusion
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In some places in Australia, women are notified of how dense their breasts are after they’ve undergone their routine mammogram.Dense breasts can be...
First Christmas without a COVID spike
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For the first time since the pandemic began, we haven't seen a significant spike in COVID-19 cases over the holidays. However there has been a rise ...
Mailbag: Will B6 changes change anything?
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week.You can email us at [email protected]