Health Report

Latest Episodes:

Ebola outbreak: how it spreads and prospects for a vaccine May 21, 2026

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The World Health Organization has declared a public health emergency of international concern over an outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

How does the disease spread, how can it be treated and how concerned should we be?

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Do you need surgery after an ACL tear? May 16, 2026

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ACL injuries are very common in Australia - and the common thinking has been that if you tear your ACL, you'll need surgery. Researchers are arguing the best evidence says we should be looking to rehab first, and that for many people they will recover without surgery.

Microplastics in our food supply - from processing and production - mean all of us are ingesting some level of plastic into our bodies. A new study out of Western Australia shows that it is possible to reduce your exposure, but it takes a lot of work.

There's a growing evidence base for the use of digital interventions for people with some categories of eating disorder. And they might have spillover benefits for mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, which can co-occur with an eating disorder. But how do you find one that you can trust?

Plus, the renaming of polycystic ovary syndrome and the implications for people with the condition.

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'Fitspo' content and mental health May 09, 2026

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Urgent care clinics are getting $1.8 billion in this year's federal budget to make them a permanent part of Australia's health system. We speak to the Health Minister Mark Butler about the decision.

'Fitspo' content that sometimes glamourises a ripped bod or restrictive ways of eating could be flooding your social feed - what do we know about its effect on our mental health?

And 'phage therapy' - a novel form of treatment aimed at providing an alternative to antibiotics. What are bacteriophages, how does this therapy work and how far off is it from showtime?

Plus, success for Australia in eliminating trachoma - an infectious eye disease - as a public health issue.

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Markers of irritable bowel syndrome May 02, 2026

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A new review suggests there may be biomarkers linked to irritable bowel syndrome, typically a diagnosis of exclusion.

How you get followed up after going to the doctor with symptoms of bowel cancer is shaped in part by where you live.

People can now access their diagnostic and pathology results digitally, and for one woman in Brisbane that meant spotting a breast cancer finding that might otherwise have been missed.

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What do we know about brain fog in menopause? Apr 25, 2026

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Two thirds of women report concerns over memory loss, concentration or other cognitive symptoms during menopause. What do we understand about what's going on, and how can it be managed?

A new plan for improving asthma outcomes in Australia and ending that reliance on the blue puffer.

Understanding how the genes we're born with could shape our risk of some cancers in childhood - with implications for adults too.

And the links between home cooking and dementia - with studies suggesting slicing and dicing at home (instead of eating out more often) could have a protective effect for your cognition.

References

Can ChatGPT Health tell when you should go to hospital? Apr 18, 2026

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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 are they?

New guidelines for supporting young people with suicidal ideation or who self-harm.

And more findings that drugs removing amyloid from the brain don't help prevent dementia.

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Treating a medical emergency ... in space Apr 11, 2026

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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 spaceflight?

Findings from a large study of Australian teenagers find links between school connection, sleep and mental health trajectories through adolescence.

If you have a shoulder injury and suspect it's the rotator cuff, should you have a scan? You might find more than you bargained for.

And how badly should you want to hang on to your appendix in the case of appendicitis? Is it better to jettison it or keep it in there?

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What to expect this flu season Apr 04, 2026

Show notes

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 simple saline spray that might help kids with sleep apnoea avoid surgery.

And a treatment for enlarged prostate that doesn't involve going under the knife.

Plus, a new review finds vaping is likely to cause certain types of cancer.

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3D printing in healthcare Mar 28, 2026

Show notes

3D printing is becoming an incredibly versatile modern tool - with scope to apply it to engineering, manufacturing, architecture and design challenges. And it's increasingly being used in ... healthcare.

Plus, 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 her and husband Chris to re-evaluate everything.

This week's Health Report features stories from our archive. We'll be back with a new program next week.

Ultra-processed foods and behaviour in kids Mar 21, 2026

Show notes

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 measured what toddlers eat and how much of it is ultra-processed - and then followed up two years later to examine the behavioural outcomes of those same children.

New findings on 'silent' women's health issues and where women would like the focus of healthcare research and spending to be - what the authors are saying is a call to go 'beyond the bikini line.'

It takes days for the results of an STI test to come back, and that can cause all sorts of problems. A new 'point-of-care' test aims to shave that testing window down to less than an hour, with implications for sexual health treatment in regional and remote areas.

Plus, sex differences after a diagnosis of cancer - men and women appear to follow separate trajectories, especially when it comes to their risk of death and adverse outcomes.

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