
Health Report - Full program podcast
Covering the health stories that make a difference. Dr Norman Swan and Dr Preeya Alexander dissect the latest and breaking news in the medical world.
Latest episodes

Oct 16, 2023 • 29min
A new treatment for PTSD | Why blood pressure cuff size matters | Diversity of participants in cancer trials
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an extreme form of anxiety caused by the laying down of bad memories when someone is involved in a threatening situation. A new treatment has been developed for people to write about their experience, and feelings about the memory.Having your blood pressure checked at the doctor's or hospital is a health care basic. A recent trial has found a significant and possibly unexpected source or error: the size of the cuff, relative to the thinness or thickness of your upper arm.For people with cancer, being offered a place in a clinical trial can provide hope of a better outcome, but trial participants are far less likely to be from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds than the general population.Hosts: Dr Norman Swan and Tegan Taylor

Oct 9, 2023 • 29min
The Voice is a health issue—hearing again the reasons why | Diabetes and cause of death
Australians will soon vote on changing the Australian Constitution to recognise First Nations people—the Voice to Parliament. When it comes to health, there's a strong evidence base for the Voice. In a slightly edited form, we hear again a conversation from a few weeks' ago with two key people working in this area.Over the past two decades, deaths from cardiovascular disease among people with diabetes have gone down, but is revealing other trends

Oct 2, 2023 • 29min
The versatility of 3D printing in healthcare—for prosthetics, training surgeons, scaffolds, and new skin for burns
3D printing is becoming an incredibly versatile modern tool—there’s scope in engineering, manufacturing, architecture and design—as well as in several aspects of health care. Today we tour the Herston Biofabrication Institute—part of the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital—where clinicians, academics, and industry work together in a state of the art facility.

Sep 25, 2023 • 29min
Pre-operative assessments | Kids, sinusitis, and antibiotics | Kids, fainting, and an unusual heart rhythm | Knee replacements and digital rehab
To have you in the best physical condition before major surgery many surgeons send you for a pre-operative assessment by a physician—does it help?When a child has persistent cold symptoms, it might be sinusitis and require antibiotics.If a child faints it's really only a worry when it causes an injury. But there might be an abnormality of the heart's electrical system, called congential Long QT syndrome, and prompt parents to have their child checked. Rehab after knee replacement is controversial because some hospitals keep you in for it, but if you go home soon after the surgery, maybe digital rehab will become an option.

Sep 18, 2023 • 29min
The science of sleep
The podcast explores the science of sleep and its impact on various aspects of our lives, including FIFO workers, people with PTSD, and overall sleep improvement. It highlights the connection between disrupted sleep and individuals with chronic insomnia and PTSD, and the significance of circadian medicine on sleep and health. The podcast also discusses the challenges faced by shift workers, the importance of managing exposure to light, and the potential connection between sleep and mental and physical health.

Sep 11, 2023 • 29min
A clearer view of diagnostic error | Monkeys, semaglutide, and addiction | Exercise and gamification
A clearer picture of where and how mistakes are made in medical diagnoses.Monkeys on some Caribbean islands are helping researchers understand more about addiction.Sydney's Liverpool Hospital developed a program using gaming to spur on patients recovering from traumatic brain injury.

Sep 4, 2023 • 29min
The latest research on Long COVID | Healing worms | Talking about weight loss
A conference on Long COVID in Australia, the potential health benefits of worm infections, and the weight bias in healthcare are discussed in this podcast.

Aug 28, 2023 • 29min
Learning from Mexican food nutrition labels | Perils of sitting | Misleading fertility tests | Which uterine surgery is better?
Mexico's labeling of processed foods with warnings, research into the dangers of sitting, misleading fertility tests, and the debate among surgeons about uterine surgery.

Aug 21, 2023 • 29min
New ovarian cancer test | Testosterone | How the PAP test began | A deep look at sleep
Mary Papanicolaou, the developer of the PAP test, discusses the challenges of detecting ovarian cancer early. The podcast also explores the safety of testosterone replacement therapy for men. Additionally, it highlights the unsung hero, Mary Papanicolaou, whose research led to the discovery of the Pap test. Finally, the podcast emphasizes the importance of sleep quality and its impact on thinking and memory.

Aug 14, 2023 • 29min
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome | Vigorous Incidental Lifestyle Physical Activity | Cochlear implants
The podcast explores topics such as polycystic ovary syndrome, the benefits of vigorous incidental physical activity in reducing the risk of developing cancers, and the evolution of cochlear implant technology.