Health Report - Separate stories podcast

James Harrison died this week, but in his 88 years he saved the lives of more than two million babies through regular blood donations. He was known as 'the man with the golden arm' because his plasma contained Anti-D. Also, a look at some viruses transmitted by midges and mosquitoes that are spreading overseas and in Australia. And research into potential new treatments for bacterial vaginosis. Guest/s Belinda SmithReferences James Harrison's storyOropouche virus disease, WHO fact sheetBacterial vaginosis can be sexually transmitted, less recurrence with partner treatment, study finds

With a new generation of weight loss drugs flooding the market, what is being done to safeguard people with eating disorders? There are concerns people of a higher weight with restrictive eating disorders could access GLP-1s if doctors aren’t screening patients appropriately. And this is partly due to the belief that people with restrictive eating disorders like anorexia are always underweight. Guest/s Dr Sarah TrobeReferences Management of eating disorders for people with higher weight: clinical practice guidelineEating disorder resources: The Butterfly FoundationwebchatEating Disorders Foundation VictoriaEating Disorders Families AustraliaProfessionals Credentialed in Eating DisordersLifeline Kids Helpline

When you have dementia, being diagnosed early can help you and your loved ones manage the condition. It could also aid in treatment. A new study has found that in some cases, weight loss and lipid changes happened up to a decade before dementia was diagnosed. These could be early indicators that signal the need for closer monitoring. Guest/s Professor Joanne RyanReferences Cardiometabolic Trajectories Preceding Dementia in Community-Dwelling Older Individuals

You might associate type 1 diabetes with children, teenagers or young adults. However in some cases this autoimmune condition can come on later in life — and this is not latent autoimmune diabetes of adults (LADA). It can be hard to recognise, and sometimes mistaken for type 2 diabetes when there are risk factors at play like obesity. Guests Professor Jonathon ShawReferences The epidemiology of type 1 diabetes mellitus in older adults

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

Labor and the Coalition want to increase incentives to GPs to bulk bill, but despite this promise, it's likely not all clinics will change. Was it pre-emptive for the Government to suggest nine out of 10 GP visits will be free by the end of the decade? Also, a study tells us the bare minimum we can do to achieve better health outcomes. References Minimum and optimal combined variations in sleep, physical activity, and nutrition in relation to all-cause mortality risk

If you’re like thousands of other Australians you’ve watched the new series on Belle Gibson, agape at the misinformation she spread on social media. Since she was exposed in 2015, platforms like Instagram have only grown, and popular users have only gained influence over their followers. A new study has looked into posts full of misleading information about things like full-body MRI scans and early detection cancer tests. Guest/s Dr Brooke NickelReferences Social Media Posts About Medical Tests With Potential for Overdiagnosis

Substituting your table salt for something with lower sodium could improve your heart health. Most salt substitutes are made of potassium chloride, which has recently been shown to reduce the chance of recurrent strokes. Despite this, not everyone should be reaching for potassium chloride. And not everyone can afford to. Guest/s Professor Bruce Neal

For many people, GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic or Wegovy have been a game-changer for weight loss. It has long been recognised in the field of obesity research that before these drugs came onto the market, there were very few interventions that worked. Things have changed fast, so what do you need to know about this new class of drugs if you’re considering taking them? Guest/s Associate Professor Samantha HockingReferences Mapping the effectiveness and risks of GLP-1 receptor agonists - Nature

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

Robert F. Kennedy Jr has been confirmed as President Trump's secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. This is despite his contentious views on things like vaccination and anti-depressants. President Trump has already overseen major cuts to America's research sector, with concerns labs could close without appropriate funding. References 'Devastating' cuts to NIH grants by Trump's team put on hold by US judge - NatureSupplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement: Indirect Cost Rates

A leading youth mental health expert has pushed back at the suggestion that three quarters of adolescents in Australia have been anxious or depressed. While it's agreed rates of both conditions are rising among young people, there are ways to improve services so more people can access support. Guest/s Professor Pat McGorryReferences National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing 2020-2022The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on youth mental health

Victoria’s breast screening service is starting to advise patients when they have dense breasts, urging them to discuss their cancer risk with their GP. Western Australia and South Australia have been doing this for some years. However there are still no national guidelines, and it’s not always clear what GPs should do with this information. Guest/s Associate Professor Wendy IngmanReferences Breast density - frequently asked questions - BreastScreen VictoriaDense breasts - BreastScreen WABreast density - BreastScreen SABreastScreen Australia National Policy and Funding Review

Community control of health care has been hard fought in Indigenous communities, and it's delivering results. In their book First Knowledges Health: Spirit, Country and Culture, Shawana Andrews, Sandra Eades and Fiona Stanley map the history and importance of this movement. They also outline how returning to traditional ways of life can improve outcomes through nutrition, activity and community engagement. Guest/s Professor Sandra EadesProfessor Fiona Stanley

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

A new report has exposed how some manufacturers of toddler foods use marketing to sell unhealthy foods to busy parents. Also, a convincing study on replacing salt with potassium for cardiovascular health. And a concerning study about cannabis use disorder and schizophrenia in a country where weed has been legalised. References Confectionery is being marketed to parents as nutritious toddler food, report findsSalt Substitution and Recurrent Stroke and Death: A Randomized Clinical Trial | Cerebrovascular DiseaseSodium Reduction Legislation and Urinary Sodium and Blood Pressure in South AfricaCannabis and schizophrenia incidence

A private hospital will soon be accepting patients, charging no out-of-pocket costs for those insured with specific private health funds. Adeney is the the first private hospital in Australia to offer no-gap cover from the surgeon to the pharmacy. So how does a model like this make money for its doctors, and are there potential conflicts of interest? Guest/s

Last year the screening age for bowel cancer was lowered to 45, in response to the rising number of young adults being diagnosed. Australia is among a handful of western countries highlighted in a recent study looking into this concerning trend. So will our lowered screening age make a difference? Or do we need to focus our attention somewhere else? Guest/s Professor Sandy (Alexander) HeriotReferences Colorectal cancer incidence trends in younger versus older adults: an analysis of population-based cancer registry dataNational Bowel Cancer Screening Program - Health Department

There's been a concerning rise in depression and anxiety in adolescents, and an Australian study has reinforced the need for change. In a survey of more than 1,200 students, aged between 10 and 18, a majority reported symptoms of a common mental disorder. And girls seem particularly vulnerable. The researchers say that at this rate, there’s not enough support for everyone, and we need to invest more in prevention. Guest/s Professor Susan SawyerReferences Tracking the course of depressive and anxiety symptoms across adolescence (the CATS study): a population-based cohort study in Australia

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