Home Podcasts Health Report - Separate stories podcast
Health Report - Separate stories podcast

Health Report - Separate stories podcast

ABC Australia 50 Episodes Jul 11, 2026

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

Are pharmacist prescribing programs working? Jul 11, 2026 0:13:13 In the news this week:Research commissioned by the RACGP shows limited evidence for benefits of community pharmacists prescribing drug treatments for around 20 common and minor conditionsA law change means registered nurses will soon be able to prescribe some PBS medicinesA US study shows disparities in cancer screening rates for LGBTI+ populations, what's happening here in Austr
Dementia is now the leading cause of death in Australia Jul 11, 2026 0:07:45 The AIHW's Australia's Health 2026 report shows that dementia is now the leading cause of death in Australia, rising by 39 percent over the past decade and overtaking coronary heart disease.Guest/sMichelle Gourley, Head, Burden of Disease and Mortality Unit, Australian Institute of Health and Wellbeing  ReferencesAustralia's health 2026 (AIHW)
What should you eat to prevent dementia? Jul 11, 2026 0:06:33 A study comparing the diets of Swedish participants at risk of dementia, as well as those who were not provides more evidence for the importance of a healthy diet in prevention of the condition.Guest/sAnja Mrhar, Visiting researcher, Aging Research Center at Karolinska Institutet and PhD candidate in Biosciences – Nutrition, University of Ljubljana ReferencesDiet Quality and Deme
How to prevent sepsis and septic shock Jul 11, 2026 0:10:29 People diagnosed with septic shock in intensive care units are more likely to die within 5 years of hospitalisation. Researchers say more needs to be done to raise awareness of early warning signs to prevent these conditions, and more targeted post admission care and follow up for those who have experienced septic shock.Guest/sProfessor Andrew Udy, Deputy Director of the Australi
Mailbag: coeliac disease and immune cells Jul 11, 2026 0:04:25 A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week.You can email us at healthreport@abc.net.au
Asthma management practices not what they should be Jul 4, 2026 0:11:45 In the news this week:Asthma is getting worse in Australia. Are prevention treatments being used widely enough?Australia's medicine safety black triangle scheme aims to encourage people to report drug side effects, but new research shows most users don't know it exists.New pneumococcal vaccine has wider coverage and is available to more people.US based drug company to remove opio
Melatonin could help reduce chronic pain Jul 4, 2026 0:07:22 Musculoskeletal health researchers went looking for alternative treatments for those with chronic pain. They're now studying the impact of sleep and have found a moderate reduction in pain for those who took melatonin.If you live in Brisbane of Sydney and would like to take part in the SLEEP-FIT study, click here.Guest/sMichelle Hall, Associate Professor within Sydney Musculoskel
Test may help identify people at risk of coeliac disease Jul 4, 2026 0:10:36 A study into the behaviour of immune cells in coeliac disease patients showed surprising results. Instead of being overactive, T cells in coeliac disease were subdued, and didn't survive as long as T cells from healthy people. Researchers say this effect isn’t simply driven by inflammation or diet, but suggests an underlying difference linked to genetic risk, and the test could o
Do spinal stimulators help people walk again? Jul 4, 2026 0:08:30 Standing and walking exercises are standard treatment for those with spinal cord injuries. A recent study tested the addition of transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) to rehab training to see if it can improve walking mobility.Guest/sDr Liz Bye, research fellow and physiotherapist from spinal cord injury research collaborative, University of Sydney ReferencesTranscutaneou
Mailbag: Paraquat use continues in Australia Jul 4, 2026 0:05:17 A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week.You can email us at healthreport@abc.net.auThe little-known cause of heart attack in young women
Evidence for IVF add-on treatments is weak Jun 27, 2026 0:08:50 In the news this week:Evidence for IVF add on treatments weak or non-existentHealth risks of toxic weight-loss peptides like unapproved "Retatrutide" purchased onlineBird flu update, WA Health says they are monitoring humans who have been exposed, but risk is lowReferencesSafety and effectiveness of ten common in-vitro fertilisation add-onsNo evidence most IVF add-on treatments i
Parkinson's specialist says regulator's decision is wrong Jun 27, 2026 0:09:39 The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) decision to restrict but not ban the use of paraquat by farmers has disappointed some in the medical and scientific community.Movement disorder specialist says the APVMA decision on the use of pesticide paraquat ignores evidence of the link with cases of Parkinson's disease.Guest/sAssociate Professor Wes Thevath

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