Health Report

A new resource has launched to provide information to the millions of Australians living with osteoarthritis. It pushes back against the idea that an injection or surgery will fix all your woes when it comes to this degenerative disease. Also, what climate change is doing to our hearts, and how a simple check in at school is helping students manage their mental health. 

What used to be called hypochondria is now health anxiety — an excessive worry about developing a serious illness. While experiences of health anxiety vary, for some people it can take over their lives and even lead to physical symptoms. Also, a link between conditions like endometriosis and heart disease. And local scientists help make a big discovery about how cells recycle waste.

Darrell Mitchell, a late-life type 1 diabetes advocate, shares his unique journey, shedding light on rising diagnoses in adults. Sarah Trobe, National Director of the National Eating Disorders Collaboration, discusses the intricate concerns surrounding GLP-1 medications, especially for those with eating disorders. They explore alarming findings linking early signs of dementia to weight and lipid changes. The conversation emphasizes the importance of early detection and holistic approaches to health, urging better screening and awareness.

On social media, an influencer's job is to influence you — to get you to strive for a particular lifestyle or buy a specific product. In some cases they're pushing medical tests, telling people to take charge of their health with full body MRI scans and cancer detection tools that have very little, or no evidence to support them.Also, we take a comprehensive look at GLP-1s like Ozempic and Wegovy for weight loss. And who should be substituting table salt for potassium salt?

Victoria is starting to notify women when they have dense breasts on their mammogram, following Western Australia and South Australia. So what does this information mean? And what should you be doing with it?Also, the concerning state of health policy in the United States.A correction on adolescent mental health. And what western medicine can learn from First Nations communities about autonomy and traditional living. 

Sandy Herriot, a consultant colorectal surgeon, sheds light on the troubling rise of bowel cancer among young Australians and the need for early screening, despite low participation rates. Meanwhile, Susan Sawyer, director at the Centre for Adolescent Health, dives into the pressing issue of adolescent mental health, discussing the surge in depression and anxiety amid societal pressures and the impact of social media. Both guests emphasize the importance of proactive health measures and the urgent need for education in these critical areas.

There's a shortage of eggs in Australia, and it might not let up as we brace for the arrival of the H5N1 strain of bird flu. That strain has shown is can make the jump into humans. But how does it manage?Also, menopause hormone therapy is in high demand. What are the benefits and the risks?And with kids spending less time outside, short-sightedness is on the rise. But treatments are improving. 

There are some things you can do to guard against cognitive decline, and a study has found a hands-on approach is best. Also, rates of vaccination in pregnancy are falling in New South Wales. Should Australia follow Italy's lead and screen everyone for coeliac disease?And we hear from two friends who've had strokes 20 years apart. 

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. 

When Gillian suffered a stroke at age 50, Kylie was one of the first friends she reached out to. It wasn't Gillian's first life-altering medical emergency, having gone through cancer treatment years earlier.