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Covering the health stories that make a difference. Dr Norman Swan and Dr Preeya Alexander dissect the latest and breaking news in the medical world.

Health Report - Full program podcast

If we don't get enough sleep we're apt to doze off in the day, but for some people, dozing off can signal rare disorder of the brain's sleep-wake cycles, and it plays havoc with their lives.

In one 24-hour period our body undergoes a number of synchronised biological changes, which are also linked to our mental health.

Narcolepsy and its strange symptoms | Body clocks and our sleep

Performance and image-enhancing drugs are more common than you might expect, especially if you're not enmeshed in gym culture. 

Experts are worried the medical community has fallen behind the rise in steroid use, leaving users physically and mentally vulnerable. 

Also, at-home testing kits promise to diagnose a range of illnesses from vitamin deficiency to cancers. Are they accurate?

And motor neurone disease (MND) is affecting more Australians. With the environment likely to blame, researchers are trying to pin down the culprits.

Are they natty, or are they taking steroids to get buff?

Many individuals with knee osteoarthritis are being subjected to unnecessary tests and procedures, even though exercise is often the most effective treatment.

New clinical care guidelines have been introduced, highlighting the importance of non-surgical approaches to manage pain and improve mobility.

And do you ever worry you spend too much time sitting around? Well now you can find out.

An international team of researchers has unpacked how long you should sit, stand, sleep and exercise for optimal health. 

References:

Osteoarthritis of the Knee Clinical Care StandardAssociations of 24 h time-use compositions of sitting, standing, physical activity and sleeping with optimal cardiometabolic risk and glycaemic control: The Maastricht Study

Should you exercise more or get surgery for knee pain?

Scientists are increasingly concerned about the rising incidence of colorectal cancer among younger populations, and emerging research points to the gut microbiome as a key factor in understanding this trend.

A study from the University of Melbourne uncovered a specific bacterial strain that can cause DNA damage, potentially triggering the development of colorectal cancer.

Could a bacterial strain spark bowel cancer?

The first 2,000 days of life are crucial for brain development.

Children learn and grow more during this time than at any other point in their lives.

However, research shows many childcare centres are failing to provide proper nutrition: children are going hungry, and meals often don't meet basic dietary standards.

Experts are calling for better food support in disadvantaged areas and improved nutritional guidelines for early childhood centres to help children get the nourishment they need.

Why aren't kids getting the food they need at childcare?

Bras might seem unrelated to knee injuries, but research suggests otherwise.

Women are significantly more prone to tearing their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), and wearing the right bra could help reduce this risk.

It's a good thing because knee injuries can have devastating consequences for women's health and mobility.

And why vaping become one of the biggest health issues of 2024.

What's your sports bra got to do with your knees?

We try to give little kids the best start in life, and in supermarkets there's an ever-expanding range of foods marketed specifically for them

But how much sugar is in them? 

Plus, we peer into the evidence around ultra-processed foods.

 References:

Ultra-processed foods are ‘pushing aside’ all other food groups to dominate global dietsScience Extra: Weight of the world

How much sugar are you feeding your toddler?

For a long time many have assumed they can tell how healthy a person is because of their weight. Now, a major global collaboration of experts is challenging that. 

A Lancet commission has recommended changing the criteria for clinical obesity to move away from BMI as a sole measure of health. 

Also, why a recent review into fluoride in drinking water is flawed — and a higher quality study done in our own backyard. 

And how a genetic study of depression could unlock new treatments for people who are struggling to find medications that work.

Why BMI is being sidelined in the diagnosis of obesity

When Kylie had her stroke, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) didn't exist. 

It took Gillian's stroke, 20 years later, for Kylie to fully understand how much support she was missing out on.

A Stroke of Luck: Asking for help

Despite their strokes being 20 years apart, Kylie and Gillian were left with similar disabilities. 

Both faced a long and often gruelling period of rehabilitation — thankfully with partners and friends by their sides.

A Stroke of Luck: Downs and ups of recovery

When you can't make medical decisions for yourself, it's often the responsibility of a loved one, or sometimes a doctor who doesn't know you at all. 

Some researchers are suggesting artificial intelligence could be trained to know your wishes and be another voice in the room when making decisions. 

Also, it can take up to 95 per cent vaccine coverage to protect against measles outbreaks. How's Australia doing?

And curing cancer can take a toll. Is there a way to adjust treatment protocols to drive down the risk of long-term side effects?

Would you trust AI to make a life or death decision?

Lyt når som helst, hvor som helst

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