Health Report

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Health in the news this week | opioid deprescribing | Parkinsons and contaminants | tonsillectomy in adults Jun 26, 2023

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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.

Talking and tragedy | Psychedelic-assisted therapy and harms | Cannabis in pregnancy | Chronic low back pain Jun 19, 2023

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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.

Electrical signals in the dying brain | A positive film about palliative care | New government system to assess trials Jun 12, 2023

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

Medication searches and obesity correlations | Diabetes and exercise benefits | Peripheral artery disease and women Jun 05, 2023

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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.

Could the shingles vaccine lower dementia risk? And ADHD clinics cashing in on demand May 29, 2023

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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.

Warnings about artificial sweeteners | ultra-processed foods and depression | strategies to reduce medical waste May 22, 2023

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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?

Gene therapy approval advances for Duchenne MD | Psychotherapy for depression in pregnancy | Child neglect links to poor health later | Protection against eye injury May 15, 2023

Show notes

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?

Health bots give good empathy but how about medical advice? | hormonal contraception and depression risk | new lung cancer screening program May 08, 2023

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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.

Normalising menopause | Prostate cancer treatment | Life after an organ transplant | New requirements for cosmetic procedures May 01, 2023

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

A virtual assistant fluent in sign language | Biodiversity loss and human health | Quitting vaping | RSV vaccine Apr 24, 2023

Show notes

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

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