Health Report

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?

In Australia, we've already seen more cases of measles this year than we saw during the whole of 2024. It's believed misinformation is to blame, leading to vaccine hesitancy and exposing the community to a highly infectious virus. Also, we take a look at draft guidelines for prostate cancer. Why a 'minor' stroke isn't very minor. And new evidence looking into the metabolic effects of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Australia has been at the forefront of research into how what we eat affects our mental health. What do we know so far, and what are some small changes you can make to see improvements?Also, the doctors strike in NSW continues a much-needed conversation about conditions in the public health system. And hoping to find out your risk of heart attack and stroke? This is where to start. 

Quitting smoking can be tough, and for many women who've fallen pregnant their only option has been to go cold turkey. Researchers are trying to figure out whether medications to help are safe for mum and bub. Also, a condition that causes breathlessness that's often mistaken for asthma. These are the symptoms of vocal cord dysfunction. And a study suggests we've been majorly underestimating the burden of diabetes in Australia. 

A study of people with neurodegenerative disease has discovered that bursts of creativity can happen when the brain is shutting down. Also, there's a lot of misinformation out there about back pain and how to treat it. Here's where the evidence isn't. And the questions women should ask before undergoing vaginal surgery if their sexual function is important to them.

A new resource has launched to provide information to the millions of Australians living with osteoarthritis. It pushes back against the idea that an injection or surgery will fix all your woes when it comes to this degenerative disease. Also, what climate change is doing to our hearts, and how a simple check in at school is helping students manage their mental health. 

What used to be called hypochondria is now health anxiety — an excessive worry about developing a serious illness. While experiences of health anxiety vary, for some people it can take over their lives and even lead to physical symptoms. Also, a link between conditions like endometriosis and heart disease. And local scientists help make a big discovery about how cells recycle waste.

Darrell Mitchell, a late-life type 1 diabetes advocate, shares his unique journey, shedding light on rising diagnoses in adults. Sarah Trobe, National Director of the National Eating Disorders Collaboration, discusses the intricate concerns surrounding GLP-1 medications, especially for those with eating disorders. They explore alarming findings linking early signs of dementia to weight and lipid changes. The conversation emphasizes the importance of early detection and holistic approaches to health, urging better screening and awareness.

On social media, an influencer's job is to influence you — to get you to strive for a particular lifestyle or buy a specific product. In some cases they're pushing medical tests, telling people to take charge of their health with full body MRI scans and cancer detection tools that have very little, or no evidence to support them.Also, we take a comprehensive look at GLP-1s like Ozempic and Wegovy for weight loss. And who should be substituting table salt for potassium salt?

Victoria is starting to notify women when they have dense breasts on their mammogram, following Western Australia and South Australia. So what does this information mean? And what should you be doing with it?Also, the concerning state of health policy in the United States.A correction on adolescent mental health. And what western medicine can learn from First Nations communities about autonomy and traditional living.