Health Report - Separate stories podcast

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MEDICINE
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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.

5 DAYS AGO

Health policy under Trump and RFK Jr.

Donald Trump's election win could mean big changes for health policy in the United States. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he's been promised a major health role in the administration. He has vowed to address fluoride in the drinking water, and the safety of vaccines. Do his claims have any merit?

8 min
5 DAYS AGO

What if you no longer needed a GP referral?

A major review has looked at the barriers health professionals face working to their full scope of practice. It includes a recommendation that allied health professionals like physiotherapists or psychologists be able to refer patients to a specialist themselves, without needing to send patients back to the GP. There have been mixed reactions to the proposal. References Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce – Scope of Practice Review Final Report

3 min
5 DAYS AGO

High blood pressure in adolescence could be a warning sign

Early intervention is important when it comes to high blood pressure, which can lead to heart attack, stroke and other diseases. A person’s blood pressure in adolescence might predict whether they will go on to struggle with hypertension in adulthood. A new study suggests screening for high blood pressure at younger ages could be a useful prevention strategy. Guest Associate Professor Costan Magnussen, principal research fellow at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute References Tracking and Transition Probability of Blood Pressure From Childhood to Midadulthood

6 min
5 DAYS AGO

Do we finally know the best treatment for asthma?

Asthma is a common chronic condition that can be life-threatening when left untreated. So what is the best treatment? A combination of an inhaled corticosteroid and formoterol is recommended in the latest global guidelines. A review of the evidence backs this up – finding a proactive combo is more effective at reducing symptoms than a single quick-relief medication. Guest Professor Christine Jenkins, head of the respiratory group at The George Institute for Global Health References Inhaled Reliever Therapies for Asthma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis 2024 update of the Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention Can't stop sneezing? What to do when hay fever hits - What's That Rash?

8 min
5 DAYS AGO

We don't know why outcomes from a common heart procedure have gotten worse

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement is a common procedure in Australia. The surgeon inserts a catheter through a blood vessel in your leg to implant the artificial valve into your heart. Because it's minimally invasive, it has become a useful alternative to open heart surgery. However researchers in the US have discovered that since 2018, outcomes from this procedure have been worsening. And while the change is small, they haven’t been able to find out why it's happening. Guest Dr Suzanne Arnold, cardiologist and outcomes researcher at the University of Missouri Kansas City References Trends in Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Outcomes

10 min
5 DAYS AGO

Mailbag: Breech births

A look at some of the Health Report correspondence this week. You can email us at healthreport@abc.net.au

2 min
1 NOV

Inquiry into how Australia handled the COVID-19 pandemic

The latest health news, including an inquiry into the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and what can be done better during pandemics. And what's behind the dip in Australia's childhood vaccination rates? References COVID-19 Response Inquiry Report ‘Worse-placed than in 2020’: Where Australia’s pandemic response went wrong, Sydney Morning Herald Access barriers drive low kids’ vaccination for third year, newsGP Immunisation rates falling among children, ABC PM

11 min
1 NOV

Ancient gene influencing immunity in First Nations people

A gene variant has been discovered that could explain susceptibility to disease among First Nations people in Oceania. The variation affects the natural killer cells, which play a vital role in the first line of immune defence. It's a discovery that could have implications for the treatment of diseases like tuberculosis and cancer. Guest Professor Andrew Brooks, immunologist at the Doherty Institute and the University of Melbourne References An archaic HLA class I receptor allele diversifies natural killer cell-driven immunity in First Nations peoples of Oceania

9 min

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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.