What's That Rash?

ABC Australia
  • 4.6 (178)
  • Medicine
  • Updated Weekly

Get answers to the health questions everyone's asking. Our experts give you the information you need to feel good and make the best decisions for your brain and body.

  1. 1d ago

    Should you be taking calcium supplements?

    Our calcium needs can increase as we age, especially for women going through menopause. Most Australians aren’t getting enough calcium from their diet, so are supplements a good option Norman and Tegan discuss the conflicting evidence on calcium – in particular, could it be good for your bones, but bad for your heart? References: Calcium supplements have 'very little place' in modern medicine - the Health ReportNutrient Reference Values - CalciumEffect of age on calcium absorption in postmenopausal womenBiochemical Variables in Pre- and Postmenopausal Women: Reconciling the Calcium and Estrogen HypothesesCalcium Content of Common Foods - Healthy Bones AustraliaChoosing a calcium supplement: What you should know about taking calcium to boost your nutrientsCalcium Supplements and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Clinical TrialsAssociation Between Calcium Supplementation and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisAssociation Between Calcium Supplementation and Recurrence of Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease: A Population‐Based Cohort StudyCalcium Intake From Diet and Supplements and the Risk of Coronary Artery Calcification and its Progression Among Older Adults: 10‐Year Follow‐up of the Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)Oral Calcium Supplements Associate With Serial Coronary Calcification: Insights From Intravascular UltrasoundIf you enjoyed this episode, check these out! Multivitamins: Are they a scam?Don’t Die: Is Bryan Johnson going to live forever?Can peptides keep you young and buff?

    20 min

  2. Jun 16

    Can tapping calm your nervous system?

    There's a scene in the Devil Wears Prada 2 where a character is so stressed she starts "tapping" to calm herself down. What is this self-soothing technique, and should you try it out? Norman and Tegan talk through what Emotional Freedom Techniques, or tapping is and whether there's any evidence it lowers anxiety. References: How ‘tapping’ is dividing opinion in therapy circlesClinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) Improves Multiple Physiological Markers of HealthNeural changes after Emotional Freedom Techniques treatment for chronic pain sufferersEmotional freedom techniques for treating post traumatic stress disorder: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis Commentary: Emotional freedom techniques for treating post traumatic stress disorder: an updated systematic review and meta-analysisA Randomized Controlled Comparison of Emotional Freedom Technique and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy to Reduce Adolescent Anxiety: A Pilot StudyFood for Thought: A Randomised Controlled Trial of Emotional Freedom Techniques and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in the Treatment of Food CravingsThe impact of emotional freedom techniques on anxiety, depression, and anticipatory grief in people with cancer: A meta-analysis and systematic review If you enjoyed this episode, check these out! Can you train yourself to sleep less?Why everything hurts when you turn 30MSG's messy myths and racist tropes

    19 min

  3. Jun 9

    Is farting a sign your gut microbiome is happy?

    Everyone wants a healthy gut, and your microbiome plays a big role in keeping you well. So how do you know your microbiome is in top shape? Are there stinky signs that things are going right, or wrong? Norman and Tegan breeze through the research in this live recording at the World Science Festival Brisbane. References: The Invisible College of Experimental FlatologyExplainer: The chemistry of fartsA widespread hydrogenase supports fermentative growth of gut bacteria in healthy peopleIntestinal gas production by the gut microbiota: A reviewAssociation of the Gut Microbiota With Cognitive Function in Midlife Gut microbiome predicts cognitive function and depressive symptoms in late life The Relationship between Gut Microbiome and Cognition in Older Australians Chart Your Fart - CSIROIf you enjoyed this episode, check these out! Why is yawning contagious?Why are some people right (or left) handed?

    18 min

  4. Jun 2

    Still coughing — are you still infectious?

    Cold season is upon us, so it’s no wonder you’re side-eyeing that person coughing on the bus. But does a cough mean someone is still infectious? How do you know you’re in the clear to go back to work? Norman and Tegan talk through the science, and also how attitudes have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic. References: How Long Does a Cough Last? Comparing Patients’ Expectations With Data From a Systematic Review of the LiteratureAcute cough in outpatients: what causes it, how long does it last, and how severe is it for different viruses and bacteria? Estimating influenza latency and infectious period durations using viral excretion dataDuration of viral infectiousness and correlation with symptoms and diagnostic testing in non-hospitalized adults during acute SARS-CoV-2 infection: A longitudinal cohort studyHow the pandemic shaped presenteeism trends between healthcare and non-healthcare workers using the Korean working conditions surveys (2010–2023) Sickness Presenteeism in the Aftermath of COVID-19: Is Presenteeism Remote-Work Behavior the New (Ab)normal? Over‐the‐counter (OTC) medications for acute cough in children and adults in community settingsComprehensive evidence-based review on European antitussivesIf you enjoyed this episode, check these out! Is it OK to exercise when you're sick?Are office jobs ruining our bodies?Should you add snail slime to your skincare routine?

    18 min

  5. May 26

    Can your joints predict the weather?

    Have you heard the phrases, "aches and pain, coming rains" or about "ill health due to evil winds"?  Many people believe they can feel a change in weather coming on because pain flares in their joints.  Norman and Tegan unpack what could be going on, and whether it's backed by scientific evidence.  References: Associations between weather conditions and osteoarthritis pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis Come rain or shine: Is weather a risk factor for musculoskeletal pain? A systematic review with meta-analysis of case-crossover studiesCloudy with a chance of pain: How the weather affects the pain of citizen scientists using a smartphone app Temperature extremes causing gout flare hospitalisationCan aching joints really predict the weather? Exploring the science behind the stormy debate What triggers weather-related joint pain? - Harvard HealthIf you enjoyed this episode, check these out! You'll catch your death! Does cold weather cause colds?Can consuming dairy really give you acne?How risky is sharing a toothbrush?

    19 min

  6. May 19

    Should you get a full-body MRI?

    It’s good to be on top of your health – but how far would you go to ensure you’re staying healthy? Ads have popped up for full-body MRIs, promising to catch things from cancer to aneurysms. Norman and Tegan scan through the potential benefits and risks of looking inside seemingly healthy bodies.  References: Principles of screening - Cancer CouncilIncidental Findings and Low-Value CarePrevalence of abnormalities in knees detected by MRI in adults without knee osteoarthritis: population based observational study (Framingham Osteoarthritis Study)Whole‐body MRI for preventive health screening: A systematic review of the literatureThe effects of incidental findings from whole-body MRI on the frequency of biopsies and detected malignancies or benign conditions in a general population cohort studyClinical value of whole-body magnetic resonance imaging in health screening of general adult populationLong-Term Psychosocial Consequences of Whole-Body Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Reporting of Incidental Findings in a Population-Based Cohort Study Impact of whole-body MRI in a general population studyElective MRI Screening of the General Public—Buyer BewareIf you enjoyed this episode, check these out! At-home DNA tests — what can they tell you?Do glasses make your eyesight worse?Can functional mushrooms really help treat cancer?

    22 min

  7. May 12

    Deep dive on progressive exercise

    You might've heard the qualifier that exercise is good for you – but you need to be progressing that exercise over time. Running further, lifting heavier, exercising for longer. How important is it to up the stakes? Norman and Tegan flex their muscles on progressive training and its benefits. References: Thomas L. DeLorme and the Science of Progressive Resistance ExerciseAssociations of Muscle Mass and Strength with All-Cause Mortality among US Older AdultsSkeletal Muscle Strength as a Predictor of All-Cause Mortality in Healthy Men Progressive overload without progressing load? The effects of load or repetition progression on muscular adaptations Strength and Hypertrophy Adaptations Between Low- vs. High-Load Resistance Training: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Physical activity types, variety, and mortality: results from two prospective cohort studies If you enjoyed this episode, check these out! Working out? Why 'No Pain No Gain' is bullIs a vibration plate worth the cost?You'll catch your death! Does cold weather cause colds?

    22 min

  8. May 11

    Hantavirus: what we know about the cruise ship outbreak

    A cruise ship at the centre of a virus outbreak — sound familiar? Passengers and crew are beginning to disembark the MV Hondius after several cases of hantavirus sent them into quarantine.  The virus is usually caught through contact with infected rodent urine, droppings or saliva. Transmission between humans is rare.  Norman and Tegan answer common questions about the hantavirus, and how it compares to the handling of COVID-19.

    13 min
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4.6
out of 5
178 Ratings

About

Get answers to the health questions everyone's asking. Our experts give you the information you need to feel good and make the best decisions for your brain and body.

Information

  • Creator
    ABC Australia
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    569
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All right reserved.
  • Show Website
    What's That Rash?

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