Health Report

Latest Episodes:

Challenging weight bias in the doctor’s office Oct 25, 2025

Show notes

It's a tricky conversation to navigate, so researchers have tried to find out the best way to bring up weight in the doctor's office while dodging bias and stigma.

Also, a look at the evidence surrounding transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for depression.

The international effort to improve survival from pancreatic cancer. And how a change in guidelines spared tens of thousands of children from peanut allergy.

References

Does human genome editing cross a line? Oct 18, 2025

Show notes

Gene editing holds huge promise to cure disease and alleviate human suffering, but there are many ethical considerations when it comes to changing our DNA.

We map the story of Chinese scientist He Jiankui who was jailed for altering the genome of babies without proper consent.

Also, we take a look at the common skin condition rosacea and what treatments are available. And some changes to blood test results mean you could see them before your doctor.

References

Low FODMAP diet for chronic endometriosis pain Oct 11, 2025

Show notes

Endometriosis is a complex condition, and the pain associated with it can persist despite medications and surgery. New guidelines have suggested lifestyle changes like diet or supplements could work for some.

Also, what you can do in your 40s to prevent heart failure later on. And anal cancer is rare but might be going under people's radar. Who should be screened?

References

Daylight saving: Can changing clocks harm your health? Oct 04, 2025

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Daylight saving time kicks in this weekend for New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.

Time shifts can be controversial, and in recent years there's been research into the effects on our health. One study has looked into the incidence of strokes and obesity.

Also, why experts want to change the name of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and we take a tour of the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness.

References:

Why does Trump think paracetamol causes autism? Sep 27, 2025

Show notes

US President Donald Trump has told women they shouldn't take paracetamol (also known as Tylenol or acetaminophen) during pregnancy because it has been linked to autism.

We unpack the evidence with experts — where has this claim come from? Have we really found a treatment for autism spectrum disorder? And what are the dangers of taking health advice from Trump?

Also, an unexpected result from a study looking into whether a yoga exercise program could prevent falls in older adults.

Trump links paracetamol with autism. What’s the evidence? Sep 23, 2025

Show notes

Trump has suggested there's a link between pregnant women taking paracetamol and autism in children.

In a press conference Trump said pregnant women with fevers should "tough it out".

Time to ditch the blue puffer for asthma Sep 20, 2025

Show notes

A major change has been made to Australia's asthma guidelines, but how long will it take everyone to catch on?

Also, we know daily aspirin for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease isn't beneficial, but a new study shows there might be risks.

And should the one-time blood test for lipoprotein(a) be free for everyone?

References:

Do you take health advice from influencers? Sep 13, 2025

Show notes

The way we get information has changed, and when it comes to health and wellness more and more people are turning to social media.

There are pros and cons, but when it comes to something as important as birth control, there's a price to pay for taking guidance from influencers.

Also on the show, why parent-focused programs haven't been working to tackle obesity in toddlers. And a story about the benefits of withdrawing medication, rather than starting it.

References

Mapping the brain using the placebo effect Sep 06, 2025

Show notes

Researchers have tricked participants with placebo pain relief in an effort to map the brainstem.

Also, how immunotherapy might be used to treat mental health conditions in some young people.

And delays in diagnosing frontotemporal dementia means some people are missing out on important care.

References

You can listen to more episodes of the Health Report podcast with presenters Dr Norman Swan and Dr Preeya Alexander on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. Covering topics like Trump’s policy changes to the growing trend of young people being diagnosed with cancer, we bring you the latest in health and medical news.

Could your baby’s skincare routine have lifelong benefits? Aug 30, 2025

Show notes

Lots of people develop a daily skincare routine for anti-ageing purposes, but what if there are benefits from starting even earlier — at just nine weeks old?

Also, a discussion in the United States about SSRI antidepressants in pregnancy has caused lots of anxiety. We talk through the risks versus the benefits.

And a common drug used to treat everything from nerves to heart conditions could show promise in stopping the spread of triple negative breast cancer.

References

You can listen to more episodes of the Health Report podcast with presenters Dr Norman Swan and Dr Preeya Alexander on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.

Covering topics like Trump’s policy changes to the growing trend of young people being diagnosed with cancer, we bring you the latest in health and medical news.

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