Aston Health Matters

Aston University
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Aston Health Matters, from Aston University, explores the research and innovations that are changing people's lives. In each episode of this new health and life sciences podcast, host Saira Hussain, an audiology clinician and academic, will chat to Aston University's top researchers to find out about their latest findings and developments. Learn about tools to better understand hearing loss, new research in eye health, how a child's food preferences begin in the womb and much more. If you have any questions about the podcast content, please feel free to email h.tunnicliffe@aston.ac.uk.

Episodes

  1. Aug 27

    Ageing well: Healthier for longer

    In this episode of Aston Health Matters, host Saira Hussain chats to Dr Zaki Hassan Smith, clinical associate professor at Aston University and NHS consultant endocrinologist, about the science of healthy ageing and what individuals can do to maintain their health, independence and quality of life as they grow older. Dr Hassan Smith explains that healthy ageing is about far more than simply living longer. He challenges the common misconception that ageing is fixed and unavoidable, highlighting the many lifestyle factors that can positively influence health outcomes at any age. The discussion explores the importance of muscle and bone health, including conditions such as osteoporosis (a bone disease characterised by weak and fragile bones) and sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss). Dr Hassan Smith outlines how resistance training, regular physical activity, balance exercises and good nutrition can help people maintain strength and reduce the risk of falls and fractures. Practical advice includes incorporating walking into daily routines, engaging in strength-based activities such as pilates or resistance exercises, ensuring adequate protein intake and maintaining vitamin D levels. The conversation also examines how technology is transforming healthy ageing research. Dr Hassan Smith discusses Aston University's work using large-scale health data, medical imaging and artificial intelligence to identify people who may be at risk of muscle loss, falls or fractures earlier and more accurately. These advances could support more personalised interventions, helping individuals maintain their health and independence for longer. Looking to the future, Dr Hassan Smith highlights the growing potential of predictive healthcare, where data-driven approaches and new treatments may enable clinicians to identify age-related health risks earlier and tailor interventions to individual needs. This podcast is for information only and does not constitute medical advice for individuals. Links Dr Zaki Hassan Smith’s profile - https://research.aston.ac.uk/en/persons/zaki-hassan-smith/ Royal Osteoporosis Society resources on lifestyle measures including exercise to promote muscle and bone health - https://theros.org.uk NHS advice on physical activity and ageing - https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/ Age UK also have guidance on healthy eating - https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/health-wellbeing/healthy-eating/healthy-eating-guide/ Links to some of Dr Hassan Smith’s research: - https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(18)30110-4/abstracthttps://www.minervamedica.it/en/journals/minerva-endocrinology/article.php?cod=R07Y2021N04A0453 Dr Hassan Smith is guest editing a special issue on skeletal muscle and endocrine influences for the Journal of Endocrinology - https://journals.bioscientifica.com/joe/pages/skeletal-muscle-in-endocrinology-metabolism

    Ageing well: Healthier for longer

  2. Jul 23

    Screen time: Eye health in the digital age

    How is our increasing reliance on screens affecting our eyes? In this episode of Aston Health Matters, host Saira Hussain is joined by Dr Amy Sheppard and Professor James Wolffsohn from Aston University School of Optometry to explore the evidence behind screen use, eye health and digital lifestyles. The discussion examines findings from the recent 1001 Critical Days Foundation study, which investigates the impact of screen use on babies and young children. Amy explains how excessive screen time in the first two years of life may be linked to visual, physical and developmental challenges, while highlighting the need for further research in this growing area. The conversation also tackles common concerns around digital eye strain, dry eye disease and myopia (short-sightedness). James and Amy share insights into the latest evidence, dispelling myths about blue light glasses, discussing the benefits of regular screen breaks and the 20-20-20 rule, why you should get regular eye tests and how healthy habits such as spending time outdoors and maintaining a balanced diet can support long-term eye health. Find out how Aston researchers are developing treatments for myopia, investigating new approaches to managing dry eye, and harnessing artificial intelligence to improve eye care, diagnosis and healthcare education.  Useful links https://www.aston.ac.uk/latest-news/avoid-intentional-screen-time-under-twos-researchers-recommend https://www.1001criticaldays.com/ https://static1.squarespace.com/static/68230d36099adb5f88e3536f/t/6a3d5230859005198ef50f68/1782403632946/Released+ISTMTU+-+1001CD+-+Systematic+Review+-+iADDICT_final.pdf https://research.aston.ac.uk/en/persons/amy-sheppard/ https://research.aston.ac.uk/en/persons/james-wolffsohn/ https://www.aston.ac.uk/hls/school-of-optometry

    Screen time: Eye health in the digital age

  3. Jun 18

    From womb to weaning: How eating habits begin

    On the second episode of Aston Health Matters, host Saira Hussain is joined by Professor Jackie Blissett, whose research focuses on children's eating behaviour, including fussy eating, emotional eating and childhood obesity, and how these patterns develop from before birth and through early childhood. Food preferences are shaped by a mix of biological, psychological, social and environmental influences, including exposure to flavours in the womb, family eating habits, sensory sensitivity, temperament, and wider factors such as food availability and advertising. Everyone knows that a varied diet is important, but children will often be reluctant to try unfamiliar flavours. Parents can be put off by negative reactions, but repeated exposure matters, even from in the womb. Research at Aston showed that babies exposed in utero to flavours such as kale or carrot were more likely to accept those flavours after birth, suggesting that food preferences can begin developing before birth. Jackie explains why some children are more cautious or selective with food, including phases such as food neophobia (fear of new foods), sensory sensitivities and differences in personality. Jackie also discusses different eating profiles in children. Her research has shown that children's eating behaviours fall broadly into four profiles – ‘typical eating'- children who generally like food but have their moments, ‘happy eating’, the children who could be described as 'foodies' who take great pleasure in food but do not have problem behaviours like emotional eating, ‘avoidant eating’: children who are the most fussy in their eating behaviours, and ‘avid eating’: children who show very high levels of food responsiveness, and who also show emotional eating. Some of these behaviours have a genetic component, which demonstrates that not all feeding challenges are caused by parenting alone. How can a parent manage more challenging eating behaviours? Jackie stresses that pressure to eat, using food as a reward, or using food to regulate emotions can be counterproductive in the long term. She offers practical advice for families, which includes creating a healthy home food environment, eating together where possible, modelling positive eating behaviours, and following the principle “Parent provides, child decides.” She also highlights the importance of evidence-based guidance, and accessible resources such as the Child Feeding Guide. Links: https://www.childfeedingguide.co.uk/ www.appetite-research.com https://www.aston.ac.uk/research/healthy-eating-children https://www.aston.ac.uk/research/hls/ihn

    From womb to weaning: How eating habits begin

  4. May 19

    HELPing people with hearing loss

    On the first episode, host Saira Hussain, a clinician and academic, is joined by three fellow academics from Aston University’s Audiology department. Dr Helen Pryce, Dr Amanda Hall and Dr Georgina Burns-O'Connell discuss the Hearing Loss and Patient Reported Experience (HELP) project, in which audiology patients with hearing loss helped to improve audiology services through the development of a new method to measure their lived experience. When a patient with a hearing loss arrives at a clinic, their audiologist will use a variety of ways to determine, for example, how well their hearing aids are helping them functionally. This is known as a patient reported outcome measure or PROM. However, this doesn’t measure what the patient is experiencing in day-to-day life. Helen said: “Two people can have identical levels of hearing, but have quite different kinds of functional behaviour. Some people hear better in noise than others, even with the same level of hearing, for example. “What we haven't ever known actually is what it is like for people when they have a hearing loss. And that matters because when you have a hearing loss for the most part, you are going to be living with that hearing loss for the whole of your life.” By talking to patients, their friends and family members, and their clinicians, the HELP team were able to develop a tool known as a patient reported experience measure, or PREM. The PREM is a questionnaire around three concepts - emotional impact, communication and support – to learn about what a patient is really experiencing every day. Not only can this PREM be used by clinicians to better help their patients, the simplicity of it means it can also be used by someone with a hearing loss with their family and friends. It offers a structured and easy way to open up conversations with family and friends about their everyday experience of living with hearing loss, improving support. Saira said: “The My Hearing PREM is a great example of a collaborative tool designed with both patients and clinicians in mind. It has been created to support and enhance the care already provided by audiology professionals, and the HELP study ensured this focus remained central throughout the development process. Integrating the tool into audiology software makes it easier for clinicians to begin using it in everyday practice.” Find out more: - My Hearing PREM - http://www.aston.ac.uk/prem Aston Audiology - https://www.aston.ac.uk/hls/audiology-and-health-sciences Audiology and Healthcare Science courses - https://www.aston.ac.uk/hls/audiology-and-health-sciences/courses

    HELPing people with hearing loss
  • 4 Episodes

About

Aston Health Matters, from Aston University, explores the research and innovations that are changing people's lives. In each episode of this new health and life sciences podcast, host Saira Hussain, an audiology clinician and academic, will chat to Aston University's top researchers to find out about their latest findings and developments. Learn about tools to better understand hearing loss, new research in eye health, how a child's food preferences begin in the womb and much more. If you have any questions about the podcast content, please feel free to email h.tunnicliffe@aston.ac.uk.

Information

  • Creator
    Aston University
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    4
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Aston University
  • Show Website
    Aston Health Matters