Multiple women’s health medications are set to become more affordable when they're added to the government-subsidised list of medications, the PBS. The federal government says the latest listings follow on from the $50 billion package of women's health measures announced in February.
Measles was once considered eliminated in the United States, thanks to the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine and high immunisation rates. But because measles is so contagious experts say at least 95 percent of a community must be vaccinated to stop outbreaks - and that's not the case in the US, where there's been a serious outbreak in Texas witha couple of deaths. Vaccination rates have declined nationwide in the US since the COVID-19 pandemic, and most states are below the vaccination threshold for...
Australia's leading charity for eating disorders has launched a new campaign in collaboration with top AFL players to shed light on body dissatisfaction in sporting environments. The Butterfly Trophies Lunch, which took place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday, also calls for more support for young athletes struggling with building positive body images.
An Australian man has become the first person in the world to leave hospital with a total artificial heart implant. The patient lived with the device for more than 100 days before receiving a donor heart transplant earlier this month
The man who helped lead Australia's COVID-19 public health response says he's concerned about "global preparedness" for the next pandemic. On March 11th 2020, the virus was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation. Five years on, Professor Paul Kelly - Australia's former top doctor - believes erosion of public trust will be "a major issue" should there be another global disease outbreak.
A new survey has found about a third of people would not dial Triple O if they were experiencing signs of a heart attack. But experts say that every minute is vital when someone is having a heart attack - and people should not be afraid to ask for help.
A new study has found Australia has one of the highest rates of breast cancer diagnoses in the world. But Kate Browne's breast cancer was still found by accident. She and others and now calling for better early detection practices to help more women avoid the same fate.
A new blood test is being trialed in the UK to detect the early signs of dementia. It is hoped it could identify patients sooner, so they can potentially benefit from drugs that slow the progression of the disease. With more than 400,000 Australians identified by the Government as living with dementia - and a forecast that those numbers could go up to 900,000 by 2050 - that could be a significant breakthrough.
Sarah Cox was told by her doctor to lose weight because her BMI, or Body Mass Index, was too high. But the consequences of her doctor's weight loss plan left the 35-year-old sick and hospitalised, as she battled an eating disorder for two-and-a-half years. Now, there is renewed scrutiny of the use of B-M-I as a measure of an individual's health. The tool has been used by doctors for more than 50 years to measure an individual's body fat, after it was first created in the 1830s by a Belgian mathe...
Around 100,000 Australians live with myelofibrosis, which is a rare form of blood cancer. Treating the condition is difficult - anaemia is a common side effect. But an Australian-developed drug - just approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration - is helping patients overcome some of the cancer's worst symptoms.
The Federal Government has unveiled Australia’s first-ever National Autism Strategy—a $42 million dollar plan to improve inclusion, access, and outcomes for autistic Australians. Advocates are calling it a game-changer, offering hope and much-needed support to families across the country who face unique and daily challenges.
The federal government has disputed the findings of a new report warning the cost of visiting a GP is on the rise. The annual survey of health clinics found a decline in the number letting patients use Medicare to cover expenses up front. But the Health Minister says increased government funding has actually boosted bulk billing rates.
Authorities in the United States have recorded the country's first human death from bird flu. The patient, aged over 65 and with underlying medical conditions, was hospitalised with the virus on December 18. So how dangerous is the H-5-N-1 virus, and are we prepared enough here in Australia? In this episode of Weekend One on One, SBS Reporter Cameron Carr speaks to Michelle Wille, a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Pathogen Genomics at the University of Melbourne.
It's been 10 years since commercial solariums were banned in Australia. But many Australians are still tanning - and now suntan trends are garnering millions of views on social media. Skin cancer experts are also concerned with the rise of modified sunbeds called collariums, that emit ultraviolet radiation, now being promoted as a healthy alternative to solariums.
Queenslanders have been urged to overcome ‘vaccine fatigue’ and take up an offer of free vaccinations amid predictions of a severe flu season. Health Minister Tim Nicholls has announced free flu vaccinations are still available to anyone over the age of six months, after earlier saying he would halt the three-year campaign at the end of 2024.
The United States' top doctor is calling for cancer warnings to be displayed on the country's alcoholic beverages. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy's newly released advisory on the causal link between cancer and alcohol says alcohol is the third leading cause of preventable cancer, after tobacco and obesity. It's now sparking questions about whether Australia should consider similar measures.
It's considered the go-to guide for diagnosing mental health conditions in Australia. But is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - the DSM - still relevant and what other alternatives exist for diagnosing mental health conditions? In the final part of this two part special, we explore the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology, or HiTOP, an alternative to the DSM and hear more from people directly affected by misdiagnosis.
It's considered the go-to guide for diagnosing mental health conditions in Australia. But is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders still relevant and what other alternatives exist for diagnosing mental health conditions? In part one of a two part special, we take a closer look at the history of the DSM and we meet people with lived experience of misdiagnosis.
Crossfit is a growing international sport, a high-intensity program designed for a wide range of fitness levels. And one entrepreneur has made it her business to get people of all abilities moving - as Small Business Secrets explains:
The spread of HIV is increasing in Fiji, with some experts calling it the 'ticking timebomb' of the Pacific. Fiji has the second fastest growing epidemic in the Asia Pacific behind the Philippines, and the government has been urged by the Fiji Medical Association to declare an HIV outbreak. It's been attributed to poor sex education, low testing, limited access to intervention and a growing rate of injectable drug use, amid concerns the island nation is becoming a hub for drug trafficking.
Back pain, mental health concerns and arthritis are just some of the chronic illnesses affecting two in every five Australian workers. A new report has found a third of those experiencing such conditions have left jobs due to stress and a lack of support. Many have also experienced discrimination because of their illness.
There is a common misconception that eating disorders only affect women and girls, despite the fact over one third of those affected are male. And for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, there are often added barriers that force people to conceal aspects of their identity when seeking help.
Endometriosis affects one in every seven women. It's a disease causing tissue similar to uterus lining to grow in other parts of the body, often resulting in symptoms like period pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, fatigue, pain during sex and reduced fertility. Australian women will now have access to cheaper medicine to treat the condition, after the federal government listed a treatment on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
More than one third of those suffering with an eating disorder are male, and yet there's a common misconception that it's a women's issue. While there are often similarities between how men and women experience eating disorders, there are also gendered aspects to unhealthy body image ideals among men. Iin this episode of Weekend One on One, Catriona Stirrat speaks with Dr Zac Seidler - clinical psychologist and Global Director of Research at Movember. Dr Seidler unpacks common types of eating di...
A new free vaccine program from the Federal Government is expected to protect pregnant women and babies from the potentially-deadly respiratory syncytial virus or RSV. Health Minister Mark Butler says it could reduce hospitalisations due to the disease by 90 per cent.
Pregnancy loss is something thousands of women have to bear leading to intense grief and isolation. Gidget Foundation Australia - an organisation that provides specialist support for new and expectant parents - says early intervention is key in the healing process. But with the stigma around pregnancy loss still prominent, especially in migrant communities, this can be a challenge.
Fatima El-Assaad lost her daughter Aya in 2021 after she was born still at 27 weeks, but felt like she wasn't given the appropriate support to navigate her grief. It wasn't until Fatima started speaking to other Muslim parents, that she began to recognise a gap in culturally safe bereavement support. In fact, Fatima's advocacy group The Still Nest, contributed one of thousands of submissions to a world-first New South Wales birth trauma inquiry earlier this year - in which the government pledged...
Children under the age of 16 are to be banned from using social media, under a government proposal that will be introduced to Parliament this year. Advocates have welcomed the move, but experts warn there could be unintended consequences and loopholes in the ban. And a warning, this story includes stories of death and eating disorders.
A review of Australia's COVID-19 response has revealed a major erosion of trust by the Australian public and health systems. It found inconsistent messaging from state and federal governments and heavy restrictions contributed to the decline. In response, the federal government has committed more than 250 million dollars to establish a national public health body, by the start of 2026.
New research has found that an enlarged prostate gland is causing serious problems for more than 2.8 million Australian men and people assigned male at birth over the age of 50. The research by YouGov for Boston Scientific found most men fail to recognise the seriousness of what is a common health condition. The problems include increased frequency to urinate, and the risk of obstruction, bladder blockage and life-threatening symptoms. One man who spoke to SBS News explained how his prostate gre...
