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Health

This Month

Dominic Sheppard works full-time in recruitment. But after work and on weekends he’s coaching others to get better at Hyrox, the fitness competition that has grown exponentially since its launch in 2017.

Australia set to break a fitness world record

Recruiter Dominic Sheppard earns $2000 a month on the side coaching people to compete in Hyrox, which will break a world record in Sydney this weekend.

June

Cocaine packages intercepted at Sydney’s Port Botany.

Australians are the world’s biggest users of cocaine

A new report shows that drug use is increasing around the world – and Australia is also the leading consumer of ecstasy.

PFAS are used in the production of non-stick cookware.

A cancer expert’s guide to forever chemicals and endocrine disruptors

There are more than 1000 types of these in everything from frying pans to shampoo. Here are some tips on what to avoid.

NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey in his office at the NSW Parliament ahead of the 2025 State Budget.

What we know so far about the NSW budget

Innovation funds, fee-free TAFE for construction trades and tax changes for build-to-rent housing: here’s what’s been announced ahead of Tuesday’s budget.

The blood test that could help supercharge your health

Author and nutritionist Sarah Di Lorenzo says we should be getting this overlooked organ checked at least once a year.

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Some families found that as parents lost their appetite through medication, they could get their kids cooking to compensate.

Ozempic can make some people lose weight without them even taking it

Families of those administering the drug are discovering a surprising side effect: they are changing their relationship with food.

Since 2010, the cost of a specialist consultation has grown by over 70 per cent. In 2023, an initial consultation with a psychiatrist would typically have left you nearly $250 out of pocket. Unsurprisingly, nearly a million people skip or delay specialist care because of the cost.

Wonder why your medical specialist is so pricey? Here are four fixes

Specialist care needs an overhaul. High fees and long waits mean nearly two million Australians are delaying or skipping care that their GP has recommended.

Healthy business lunch in the office, salad for snack, glass of water, almonds, cup of coffee on blue table. Top view with copy space. Concept proper nutrition. Lunchbox. Take away. Desk lunch
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Nervous about going to the toilet at work? A gastroenterologist’s tips

I realise it can be hard to talk about subjects that many people consider uncomfortable. But the first step to normalising our bodies and gut is talking openly.

5 longevity hacks for busy people

It is well known that healthy habits help you age well, but which are the most efficient? Experts share anti-ageing strategies for the time-strapped.

Blood cancers, including leukaemia and lymphoma, are now the second most common and deadly form of cancer, according to the Leukaemia Foundation.

Doctors hail ‘potential cure’ for a common cancer

Oncologists have long considered multiple myeloma incurable. But the results of a last-ditch study mean they are daring to say what they previously had not.

A new study of more than 47,000 women found links between coffee and healthy ageing.

The drink that makes healthy ageing 13pc more likely

Most people who consume coffee appreciate the quick jolt of energy it provides. A new study suggests it could also help you live better for longer.

A higher intake of plant oils such as canola has been linked to a lower risk of cancer.

I’m a cancer expert. Here are 11 science-based ways to cut your risk

About one in five people around the world will develop the disease throughout the course of their lives. Take these tips to help avoid it.

Could changing your plasma actually help you live longer?

A new study says this trendy anti-ageing treatment may be able to slow the biological breakdown that comes with age, even in otherwise healthy people.

Healthy sleep can range from six-and-a-half to 10 hours a night.

How to get eight uninterrupted hours – by a sleep professor

Our modern fixation with getting eight solid hours’ sleep, you may be glad to hear, is nonsense, according to a sleep professor.

May

Swimming is a low-impact full-body workout and great for burning calories.

Which exercise burns calories fastest – walking, cycling or swimming?

Here’s how to lose 450 grams of fat a week for healthy, sustainable weight loss, according to an expert.

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This week’s AFR podcast 15 Minutes with the Boss with Paul McGrath, chief executive officer of YHA.

This CEO was given a 5pc chance of survival. That was 21 years ago

With his wife pregnant with their third child, YHA Australia chief Paul McGrath was diagnosed with a blood cancer. It taught him a lot about the power of the mind.

A brain “organoid” – a bundle of lab-grown human tissue. Queensland researchers studied organoids to screen drugs that can flush out damaging senescent cells from brain tissue.

Want to stay healthy as you age? Watch your senescent cells

The steady accumulation of these “zombies” throughout our lives is increasingly being implicated in almost all such illnesses – and even the ageing process.

Diets with comparatively higher amounts of plant-based foods were associated with a higher likelihood of healthy ageing.

Eat this to help you reach 70 without chronic disease

A diet rich in plant-based foods and fewer ultra-processed products is associated with healthier ageing, a study has found.

A new study has found that almost any evening exercise can disrupt your sleep.

This is the worst time to exercise for a good night’s sleep

A new study has found that physical exertion within about four hours of bedtime reduces how long you spend slumbering – but there are remedies.

Committing to a consistent sleep schedule is important, and can reduce your risk of cancer, stroke and many other illnesses.

A longevity expert’s 5 tips for ageing well

The fact that genes do not necessarily determine if you get older in good health suggests “we can pretty much all do better” to delay disease, says one doctor.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/health-hq3