Health Check

In this engaging discussion, BBC reporter Laura Foster highlights the mpox outbreak in Sierra Leone and its impact on local health. She also dives into groundbreaking HIV research using mRNA technology, which could transform future treatments. The conversation shifts to healthy aging, emphasizing the importance of muscle power for longevity and the pivotal role of physical activity. Additionally, Laura shares insights on how coffee might boost cognitive health in aging populations, suggesting a balanced lifestyle is key for long-term wellness.

Joining the discussion is Philippa Roxby, a BBC health reporter specializing in health innovations. She highlights groundbreaking findings from cancer trials showing that exercise significantly aids colon cancer recovery. Roxby also discusses revolutionary immunotherapy research for head and neck cancers, which is improving survival rates. Additionally, the conversation touches on the dangers of aflatoxins in crops and the potential for innovative tests to track ultra-processed food intake, while exploring the exciting prospects of e-tattoo technology for monitoring mental workload.

Women with dense breasts are four times more likely to develop breast cancer than women with low breast density and it’s also harder for cancer to be detected with existing screening methods. But now, the findings in a new study could dramatically improve the chances of having the disease spotted early on. We speak to the study’s lead author is Professor Fiona Gilbert to find out more.The 2025 World Health Assembly has just concluded, Devex Correspondent Andrew Green was there and tells us what the main takeaways were.Dr Cecilia Kanyama and Professor Thomas Harrison share their decades-long effort to improve treatment options for cryptococcal meningitis. The refined treatment regimen, discovered alongside Joe Jarvis and their team, gives hope to the hundreds of thousands of HIV-positive patients who are diagnosed with this fungal infection each year.Finally, researchers have developed contact lenses that enable to wearer to see near-infrared light. How do they work and what could they be useful for?Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producers: Hannah Robins & Louise Orchard Studio Managers: Mike Mallen & Andrew Garratt

James Gallagher, a BBC health and science correspondent, discusses a revolutionary anti-malarial compound designed to combat the parasites causing most malaria cases. He dives into the challenges of insecticide resistance and innovative solutions combining drug treatments with bed nets. The conversation shifts to President Trump's new executive order on drug pricing, exploring its potential global impact. Additionally, Gallagher highlights the alarming rise of scorpion stings in Brazil linked to urbanization and climate change, presenting a growing public health concern.

In this fascinating discussion, science journalist Caroline Williams dives into interoception, revealing how our brains interpret internal signals and its impact on well-being. Carrim Mpaweni updates us on a promising tuberculosis vaccine trial in Malawi, aiming to revolutionize TB prevention. Psychotherapist Sophie Scott shares effective strategies for encouraging loved ones to seek help for mental health issues, emphasizing empathy and communication. Tune in for a rich blend of science, health, and emotional insight!

In this discussion, family doctor Anne Robinson highlights groundbreaking findings on the shingles vaccine, showing a 23% reduced risk of heart disease and stroke. The conversation dives into the unexpected benefits of the vaccine, linking it to better heart health. Robinson also explores the challenges in eradicating schistosomiasis, a major public health issue. Additionally, she touches on significant advancements in prostate cancer treatments and a quirky study revealing that kissing poses minimal risk for those with celiac disease. It's an enlightening mix of health insights!

Dorcas Wangira, BBC's Africa health correspondent, discusses the alarming destruction of Sudan's Mycetoma Research Centre amid conflict, impacting care for a neglected disease. The podcast also highlights innovative telehealth solutions for remote communities in the Americas. Furthermore, researchers reveal promising results for a non-hormonal male contraceptive implant and the potential for adults to overcome severe peanut allergies through microdosing. Finally, insights into the health effects of traditional versus processed diets in urban Africa add depth to the conversation.

After 3 years of discussions, 194 member countries of the World Health Organisation have agreed to the text of a pandemic treaty designed to make the world safer from a future pandemic – but what could it mean in practice and how are countries held to account? Also on the show, how treating high blood pressure can reduce the risk of dementia. Researchers have suggested it takes more than just medication; lifestyle changes are also key to lowering the risk. We learn how Oropouche is underdiagnosed across the Americas and the impact climate has on the spread of this insect-borne virus. Plus, a new weight loss pill has been found to reduce weight and blood sugar levels in its latest trial. Has an anecdote you read online or heard from a friend ever changed how you feel about the medical choices you make? We hear about the power of anecdotes, especially negative ones, when making a decision for your own health. Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producers: Katie Tomsett & Hannah Robins Studio Manager: Emma Harth Production Co-ordinator: Josie Hardy(Image:Co-chair of the negotiations and French ambassador for Global Health Anne-Claire Amprou (L) and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus after a consensus on the Pandemic Agreement at the WHO headquarters. Credit: CHRISTOPHER BLACK/World Health Organization/AFP via Getty Images)

Has the long-standing mystery of which wild animals form a reservoir of mpox in the wild finally been solved? Some scientists think they have cracked the case, pinpointing the fire-footed rope squirrel as the culprit, but questions remain before we can definitively say this species is to blame. Reporter Chhavi Sachdev in Mumbai has some good news – an indigenous antibiotic breakthrough has been found to be effective at treating antibiotic resistant pneumonia. We hear what it takes to develop a new antibiotic and what makes Nafithromycin such a ground-breaking discovery. Also on the show, the biological mechanism that drives apathy and lack of motivation in late-stage cancer patients and how nature-based interventions, such as agroforestry, have unintended health benefits.Plus, have you ever wondered why humans can’t regenerate our teeth? We hear how some scientists are growing teeth in a lab to transform dental regeneration in the future.Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Katie Tomsett Studio Managers: Searle Whittney and Jackie Margerum

What would you do if you have always considered yourself healthy and one day you find out that not only is this not the case, but you in fact need a new organ? We follow BBC journalist Mike Powell on his journey to receive a life-changing kidney transplant and talk to his donor who made it all possible.With a growing global need for kidneys, we hear from others around the world that are on long transplant waiting lists and from Professor Elmi Muller who shares what we can do to reduce the wait time. Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producer: Katie Tomsett Studio Managers: Jackie Margerum and Gwynfor Jones