Health Check

As Japan declares a flu epidemic we find out more about what’s going on in the country, and the potential implications for the flu season ahead in the Northern Hemisphere.Human and bot imposters are rising in medical research, and they risk undermining results, but why do they do it? Eileen Morrow from the University of Oxford explains the tricky balance of safeguarding against them whilst not excluding real participants. A new adrenaline nasal spray has been licenced for those with severe allergies. Family Doctor Ayan Punja explains what a difference this might make for patients.The first patient has been recruited in a phase III trial investigating malaria treatments in early pregnancy. We speak to her and the researchers who are hoping to recruit further participants in Mali, Burkina Faso and Kenya.Plus, how far can you really push yourself? Researchers think they’ve found the ‘metabolic ceiling’ for endurance athletes.Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producers: Katie Tomsett and Hannah Robins

Olga Cherevko, a spokesperson for the UN OCHA in Gaza, provides crucial insights on how humanitarian aid is being distributed amid the ongoing crisis. She highlights the 60-day plan prioritizing food, water, and support for vulnerable groups. Andrew Green, a global health journalist, reports from the World Health Summit, discussing the alarming rise of non-communicable diseases and the implications of California's ban on ultra-processed foods in schools. They also explore innovative solutions like permethrin-treated baby wraps for malaria prevention.

This year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded for discoveries that explain how the immune system attacks hostile infections, but not the body's own cells. We explain the science that won Japan's Shimon Sakaguchi and US researchers Mary Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell the prestigious award.How robots can help children with reading anxiety. Lauren Wright from the University of Chicago who led this research explains.A new targeted antibiotic has been found that treats Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Dr Graham Easton who is Professor of Clinical Communication Skills at Queen Mary University of London describes how it works.Missing your first mammogram appointment has as much impact on breast cancer outcomes than an inherited genetic risk according to new research. Ziyan Ma from the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the Karolinska Institute tells us more.And should we reconsider how we treat blood pressure? Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Katie Tomsett

Functional human eggs have been generated using human skin cells in a breakthrough study. What impact could this have on couples with fertility issues? BBC Health Correspondent James Gallagher explains. How long covid is affecting menstrual cycles. Dr Jackie Maybin, Reader and Consultant Gynaecologist at the Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian explains her findings.With a rising trend of parents using unprescribed melatonin to help their children sleep, we examine the risks. G6PD deficiency affects more than 400 million people worldwide, but new research led by the University of Exeter in the UK reveals that it distorts the standard diagnostic test for diabetes. As a result, potential cases are missed. We ask what can be done to address this issue.And a new eye drop that’s been improving presbyopia, an ocular condition that often occurs as we age, causing long-sightedness. Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Hannah Robins Assistant Producer: Alice McKee

Philippa Roxby, a BBC health reporter, discusses a groundbreaking gene therapy that is slowing the progression of Huntington's disease, revealing a 75% success rate in trials. Field reporter Karim Mpawini shares gripping insights from Malawi, where cholera outbreaks are worsened by climate change. He captures local stories about water use and health system challenges. They also address President Trump's controversial claim linking paracetamol during pregnancy to autism, examining the unproven science behind it.

Laura Foster, a BBC health reporter, sheds light on a troubling UNICEF report revealing that childhood obesity has surged to overtake underweight cases globally. She discusses the implications and necessary policy changes. Sen Nguyen, a BBC journalist based in Bangkok, dives into the durian import dispute, highlighting health risks from dye and cadmium contamination. They also touch on the latest Ebola outbreak response and the innovative Delphi-2M AI tool, aimed at predicting various diseases. This conversation is a fascinating exploration of pressing health issues.

Tim Peake, the first British astronaut to walk in space, shares captivating tales from his time on the International Space Station, including a humorous incident involving frozen urine. Matthias Gruber, a psychology expert, dives into the neuroscience behind curiosity, explaining its vital role in motivation and learning. The discussion evolves around how curiosity shifts from childhood wonder to adult exploration, alongside unique insights about space smells and the significance of celebrations in zero gravity, sparking thoughts about nurturing curiosity in our lives.

Millions of us take aspirin daily to ward off heart attack or stroke, but a new study has found an alternative blood thinner, clopidogrel, could be more effective. We find out how it compares.An oral health check-up at least two weeks before surgery has shown to reduce the risk of post-operative infections such as pneumonia as well as reduce the length of a patients' hospital stay. Dr Kristina Wanyonyi-Kay Research Programme Leader at The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute at the University of Cambridge assesses what this Japanese study tells is about the connection between oral health and the rest of our bodies.The Africa CDC and WHO have just launched ambitious targets to cut Cholera by 90% across Africa. Global health journalist Andrew Green assesses if this target is likely to be met with the measures proposed.We meet a Chilean football team who’ve all had organ transplants. They’re trying to raise awareness and improve the number of donors in the country. Our reporter Jane Chambers went to Santiago to find out more.Could music help or worsen travel sickness? A study in China found happy music improved symptoms whilst sad music made them worse.Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producers: Katie Tomsett & Hannah Robins

In this discussion, Dorcas Wangira, BBC Africa's health correspondent, dives into a groundbreaking gene discovery that could transform chronic pain management. She explores a decade-long study revealing that cash transfers significantly reduced child mortality in Kenya. The conversation also touches on rabies control efforts in India and the troubling paradox of fewer wildfires but more vulnerable populations. Finally, Wangira addresses the controversy surrounding the destruction of $9.7 million in contraceptives due to US policy changes.

In this discussion, Professor Jim Collins, a leading researcher at MIT, reveals how AI is revolutionizing antibiotic discovery in the fight against drug-resistant infections like gonorrhea and MRSA. Family doctor Ann Robinson joins to highlight concerns about bloodstream infections in Indian ICUs, emphasizing the need for hygiene reforms. BBC's Dorcas Wangira reports on Rwanda's new laws allowing adolescents to access reproductive health services, sparking debates on youth health. Lastly, the nutritional role of mangoes for diabetics is reexamined, suggesting they may not be as harmful as previously thought.