238 episodes

Specialist and mainstream audiences alike rely on the Health Report to bring clarity to health and medical issues from social, scientific and political points of view.

Health Report - Full program podcast ABC listen

    • Health & Fitness
    • 4.5 • 1.2K Ratings

Specialist and mainstream audiences alike rely on the Health Report to bring clarity to health and medical issues from social, scientific and political points of view.

    Cow's milk for babies, therapy for trauma, and lives saved by COVID vaccines

    Cow's milk for babies, therapy for trauma, and lives saved by COVID vaccines

    Research into the influence of gender on autism spectrum disorder diagnoses.

    Calculating how many lives were saved by Australia's Covid-19 vaccine roll-out, and how to spot a fake Dr Karl, or Dr Swan, in the wilds of social media marketing.

    A review into how cognitive behavioural therapy can help young people who've experienced trauma.

    Recently updated WHO guidelines say babies as young as six months can start drinking cow's milk rather than infant formula, but that contradicts Australia's national guidelines.

    And the Federal Government has recently released more funds to build the local bone marrow donor system… but is it enough?

    • 35 min
    Norman Swan on what is schizophrenia?

    Norman Swan on what is schizophrenia?

    In light of the Bondi Junction attack, there's been a lot of commentary about mental illness - including schizophrenia.

    So what is schizophrenia? While the exact cause isn't known, it's a serious mental illness that can affect how a person behaves. 

    It might also surprise you to learn that someone with a diagnosis is more likely to be harmed, than to harm others.

    On this special episode of Health Report, Dr Norman Swan talks about the medical facts about the disorder, how common it is and some of the successful treatments.

    • 13 min
    Treating UTIs (without cranberry juice) and re-examining gender care

    Treating UTIs (without cranberry juice) and re-examining gender care

    Is a simpler solution to recurrent UTIs on the way? Plus when should you exercise to get the most benefit?

    A deep dive into the UK's reviews of gender affirming treatment, and how Australia's system differs. 

    Researchers say there's more PFAS in our water than previously thought, but how much do we know about the health harms?

    And a new way to deliver immunotherapy straight to the source in bladder cancer. 

    • 37 min
    When your private health won't pay, and flu vaccine options

    When your private health won't pay, and flu vaccine options

    In health news this week it's cows with bird flu, vaccines for human flu, and GLP-1s for Parkinson's and possibly bowel cancer prevention.

    When your private health insurer won't pay, have you read the fine print on your policy lately?

    A look at health literacy barriers, when it's not the apple a day keeping some people away from the doctors' office.

    How mRNA technology developed during COVID is now being used to target the proteins that cause Alzheimer's and dementia.

    And new technology allowing researchers to look beyond standard autopsy results to investigate possible causes of some cases of SIDS.

    • 45 min
    The bacteria causing bowel cancer, and how to make indoor air safer

    The bacteria causing bowel cancer, and how to make indoor air safer

    How changes to codeine access impacted the use of PBS-listed opiods. 

    Pinpointing particular strains of bacteria that could lead to bowel cancer. 

    The Australian research that helped change our definition of anaemia. 

    And why aren't there already strict guidelines on indoor air quality?

    • 41 min
    ADHD medication a lifesaver? Will cancer treatment damage your ovaries?

    ADHD medication a lifesaver? Will cancer treatment damage your ovaries?

    Three recent scientific papers looking at ADHD treatment and other health outcomes.

    Why no one knows what your cancer treatment will do to your ovaries.

    In a small US study, brain cancer tumours shrank rapidly in the first few days when treated with chimeric antigen receptor, or CAR, T cells injected into the fluid around the brain.

    And suicidal thoughts are more common than researchers expected in people who do not fit with conventional diagnoses of depression or other psychiatric disorders.

    • 39 min

Customer Reviews

4.5 out of 5
1.2K Ratings

1.2K Ratings

Inky's self knowledge ,

Psychedelic drugs review 18 January 2021

I listened to the Health Report story broadcast re above subject, particularly regarding the second part that mentioned brain images - default mode network and my comments are generally to do with ‘closing down the ego’s memory hub’.
The question arising out of the broadcast is whether this function of the brain/mind is able to be silenced naturally without recourse to taking psychedelic substances or indeed hypo ventilation by inducing specific breathing practices.
So is there another possibility of altering the default mode network by self knowledge that doesn’t involve mentally induced effort to provide energy that is necessary for a change in the regulatory hub functioning. And what might happen in the event that the ego is nullified?
Jiddu Krishnamurti espoused that something akin to this closing down the walls of ego is demanded in moving from a fragmented structure of consciousness to an holistic state of consciousness and this aspect of Krishnamurti’s teachings has intrigued me to learn about its effects on daily living. I am open to communicating with others regarding this matter.

GregH61 ,

The Science of Sleep 18 Sept 2023

Great podcast Tegan. As an ex-shift worker I’d really love to see some serious studies on sleep. The sort of studies that governments and employers have to take notice of. Keep up the good work.

Defiant Panda ,

Great to sleep to

Some episodes are fascinating but I mainly use it to sleep

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