Health Report

Latest Episodes:

Mortality mapped to electorates, prostate surgery and relationships, how doctors can better treat Indigenous patients May 09, 2022

Show notes

The risk of premature mortality has been mapped on to federal electorates and Australia's lack of response to the disparity contrasts with that of the UK.

The effects of prostate surgery affect the man and his partner—and sometimes it means a change to sexual function.

Doctors can struggle to communicate with Aboriginal patients—a podcast featuring Aboriginal elders offers advice on delivering culturally safe healthcare.

Climate and new virus vectors; advice on prescribing opioids for pain; triggers for an oesophagal problem; cost of macular disease medication May 02, 2022

Show notes

Global warming will probably mean that wildlife travels more and mixes with other species—and an effect will be to spread unfamiliar viruses; There is new guidance to help hospital doctors and clinicians prescribing opioids for pain; A disorder of the oesophagus creates symptoms similar to reflux or allergies, but the cause of the disorder is not known; The non-availability of a treatment for age-related macular degeneration has eye surgeons arguing for change.

The lowdown on longevity Apr 25, 2022

Show notes

It's expected now that we will generally live longer, but what really interests people is how to spend their longer life in good health—what to do now in order to set a good foundation.

Chimeras in medicine, Pt2—avatars; What's to be done about tinnitus Apr 18, 2022

Show notes

Oncologists don't always know which chemotherapy drug will work best, and even then, one treatment won't suit everyone. So there's growing research on potential therapies using animal 'avatars'.

And later ... an estimated one in six Australians lives with tinnitus but told nothing can be done to help it.

Chimeras in medicine: xenotransplantation Apr 11, 2022

Show notes

Many people are waiting for an organ donation and some of them may die before a suitable organ is found. Some researchers think that in the near future we will be able to grow organs in animals to be safely transplanted into humans.

The first of two features about medicine's use of animals for organ and tissue transplantation.

This program was originally broadcast in October 2021.

Effect of pain medication on immunity; impact of the Budget on GPs and healthcare; importance of planning global vaccination Apr 04, 2022

Show notes

A review of multiple studies on common painkillers found that they have a marked effect on our resistance to infection—which is sometimes bad and sometimes good. Some of these medications could also reduce our response to a vaccination—especially if taken straight before one.

Doctors, nurses and other health professionals keep you healthy. But despite Australia's relative good health it has major problems with general practice. By international standards we are probably overproducing medical graduates, but not enough go into general practice.

New variants of the COVID-19 virus continue to appear, especially as there are low income countries with low levels of immunisation. The 2022-23 Australian Budget allocated A$85 million to COVAX, the international program for delivering COVID-19 vaccines particularly to low income countries. Is it enough?

Research on passive antibodies to combat Omicron | Is Transient Ischaemic Attack an obsolete term? | Treating blood pressure may affect blood flow to the brain? | How hormones and hypertension are related Mar 28, 2022

Show notes

Assessing the continuing ability to treat COVID-19 with antibody infusions. | A 'temporary stroke' means people get the signs of a stroke but the symptoms go away it's a called a Transient Ischaemic Attack - but that could be a misnomer. | If you have high blood pressure and lifestyle controls are not helping - by how much should pressure be reduced? | Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a hormonal cause of high blood pressure; it's treatable and there's a simple test.

The changing demographic of blood groups; diet to ease MS; relationship of mental health and dementia Mar 21, 2022

Show notes

What we know about the diversity of blood group types in Australia has just been updated—it reflects patterns in immigration. And we discuss the potential benefits of modifying diet to treat multiple sclerosis. And whether mental health issues may raise the risk of cognitive decline.

Japanese Encephalitis vectors; climate change and effect on health; archival heart transplant; and data behind decreased heart attacks Mar 14, 2022

Show notes

Japanese Encephalitis (JEV) is common in Asia but now causing concern in Australia. The rise of JEV in Australia happened when the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (the IPCC) were reporting on climate change—a key aspect of which was the effect of climate on health. There's unique archival audio from the 1980s of the surgeon who performed a heart transplant operation on Baby Fae - using a baboon heart. And the records of 80 million people have been assessed to see why there are now less deaths from heart attack.

Out of pocket health costs; faecal microbiome transplants; stomas Mar 07, 2022

Show notes

Australia is lucky to have free healthcare services—but there can be big gaps in who receives it; reports on two people with bipolar disorder finding benefit from a faecal microbiota transplant; and how stomas help the intestine heal.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Health Report

Related Podcasts

1

2

3

4

5

6