‘Tis the season for a parable of kindness
Did I just imagine that? Here among the snorters, meat-slappers and moaning joggers were two strangers, partaking in an exchange of kind words, witnessed by no one else in the world.
Health & Wellbeing
‘It must be nice to be normal’: my struggle with ADHD and motherhood
Being diagnosed with ADHD shed light on some of my behaviour and difficulty with navigating life but there was little help or guidance on what to do next.
Be happy, keep friendships and know your GP: how to live a longer life
Be social, find a GP you get along with, and keep an eye on the future. Experts weigh in on how to put preventive health principles into practice.
Your blood pressure reading is probably wrong
Dangling your arm, wearing the wrong size cuff and scrolling on your phone can make a reading higher or lower than it should be.
These ‘healthy’ protein bars are the perfect snack
With 5 grams of protein, these dark chocolate crunch bars are high in healthy fats, so, as yummy as they taste, keep it to one per snack.
Sign up for the Health & Wellbeing newsletter, delivered to your inbox every Wednesday.
Get the latest health news, personal stories and tips from our trusted reporters and respected expert columnists.Find Out More
What this ultra-processed-food guru is eating at Christmas will surprise you
Chris van Tulleken stressed us all out about ultra-processed food. So what’s on his table on the 25th? A surprising amount of stuff in foil trays from the supermarket.
This unlikely ingredient could be the next baking hero
These cupcakes with orange cashew icing are the perfect party bake for the whole family.
From carbon to calcium, how vegan diets stack up
Processed meat substitutes have been in the spotlight for their environmental impact compared with vegetables or beans, so what should consumers do?
Study sweetens stance on sugary treats, not drinks
Eating sweet treats such as pastries is not nearly as dangerous for your health as drinking sugary drinks and may even be good for you in moderation, a new study has found.
Obesity
Can you trust the BMI? Plus options for weight loss programs
Weight loss drugs
The benefits, the hype, and the potential side effects
Recipes
Salads, soups and more: Healthy food options to inspire you
Nutrition
The latest on protein, carbs and gut health
Mental Health Series
Australia has a chance to fix its mental health system. Will we take it?
Australia’s broken mental health system has failed hundreds of thousands of people with severe illness with ineffective care – and that’s if they can access any at all. But one initiative may shift the dial.
‘My nightmare of trauma and terror’
I am a 29-year-old woman living with treatment-resistant schizophrenia. I spent most of my younger years in and out of the public mental health system. This is my story.
The reality of living with schizophrenia in Australia
People with schizophrenia experience disability and disadvantage that limits their ability to live a fulfilling life. This is how it often ends.
‘As a father I’m heartbroken, as a taxpayer I’m appalled’
Patrick Leunig went to a top private school and was set to study law. Then his life spiralled downwards. His grief-stricken father tells of how our system failed his son.
Prostate cancer: should you have a screening?
Men who find prostate cancer early have a very good chance of surviving the disease, but there are significant drawbacks with testing and treatment.
AI to supercharge genomic medicine, but risks loom
Advancements in whole-genome sequencing have ignited a revolution in digital biology. But the commercialisation of genetic databases poses many risks.
Some early breast cancers may not need surgery, study finds
Women with a type of low-risk cancer might not have to rush aggressive treatment, some doctors say.
It’s the leading cause of death for Australian women. So how can you delay its onset?
It’s one of the biggest killers of Australians. But new research suggests the number of cases can potentially be halved. And that’s not the only news.
Research
Drugs and treatments, plus the latest ideas from the medical community
Women’s health
New thinking on menopause and the use of hormone replacement therapy
Heart
Fitness for cardiac health, plus treatments and regenerative research
Cancer
Breakthrough therapies and stories on breast, prostate, brain tumours and other cancers
Is there something to be said for the power of the nanna nap?
Does the daily nanna nap really contribute to overall health and longevity? Or is it a sign of physical deterioration and cognitive decline?
Elle Macpherson, cancer, death… and a nightclub murder trial
This is my story of surviving cancer (so far), and why I believe stress may play a role in this cruel, brutal and insidious disease.
‘I just want to hear anything else than my music, or Australian Idol’
Following a national tour in support of her chart-topping third album, Sunday Sadness, ARIA Award-winning singer-songwriter Amy Shark reveals her secret to balancing health, diet and wellbeing on the road.
Why a former governor-general needs her neighbours
In a long career, she’s experienced the best and toughest of Australia. But nothing prepared former governor-general Quentin Bryce for her greatest loss.
Ageing
Expert advice on how to live well in your later years
Sleep
Improving your rest and techniques to combat insomnia
Meditation & Yoga
Mindfulness at reatreats and tips on wellness
Stress
Fighting anxiety and boosting your mood to improve wellness
Tools
Step out for a healthier life
The Australian is teaming up with The Heart Foundation’s Walking Program to show you how to get your free, six-week Personal Walking Plan.
What is your ‘health age’?
Want to know your ‘health age’? Use our ‘health age’ calculator to find out.
What is your ‘heart age’?
Want to know your ‘heart age’? Use our ‘heart age’ calculator to find out.
The drugs young bankers use to get through the day — and night
Many on Wall Street see Adderall and Vyvanse as tools to plough through long hours of tedious work amid high-pressure competition. In Australia the equivalent to Adderall, Dexamphetamine, is known as a party drug.
Psychiatrists threaten mass walkout
Staff specialist psychatrists are threatening a mass walkout after the NSW government failed to offer them a single extra dollar in pay, despite a critically depleted workforce.
My 10-point plan to fix the mental health system
A former chair of Mental Health Australia, who quit this year in frustration at the lack of progress in addressing need, offers a blueprint for reform.
The clearing out of asylums was meant to provide hope. Instead it spawned an underclass
The severely mentally ill were promised a better future after asylums were mothballed. The promises were hollow.
ADHD
Medication and drug shortages for treatment, plus diagnosis
Depression
Anti-depresssion medication; plus how many Australians are affected?
Addiction
Celebrities focus attention on substance use.
Anxiety
How disorders affect men, plus advice on research
Why you should always take the stairs to live longer
Exercise will do many things, but will it really help you to live longer? The experts tell Peta Bee how.
Gravity defying: How Trinny Woodall got an athlete’s arms at 60
The TV presenter and beauty entrepreneur has never looked so strong. Her personal trainer, Nathalie Hayward, reveals how she’s done it.
I joined the 5am club so you don’t have to
Waking up at 5am is popular among celebs like Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Obama and Jennifer Lopez. But for this writer, the trend had mixed results.
I could blame Julia Hawkins for almost landing me in hospital, but I won’t
‘Hurricane’ Hawkins may have been responsible for a very short-lived attempt to return to my youth when running was my addiction. But I am wholly at fault.
ADHD and autism overlap – so why has the NDIS favoured one over the other?
Your child’s ADHD may be just as debilitating as your neighbour’s kid’s autism. A new study finds both conditions are on the same neurodevelopmental continuum. So why have their supports been funded by NDIS and yours haven’t?
ADHD kids treated as ‘poor cousins’ of those with autism
Parents of children with ADHD who have needs similar to children diagnosed with autism can feel rightly aggrieved about how the NDIS has operated to date.
‘I thought my partner was hiding something from me. The truth was so much worse’
What do you do when the man you love is diagnosed, at just 46, with dementia? For a long time Louise Bryant thought the answer was silence. But suddenly, that all changed.
Love, loss, and dementia: Louise Bryant’s journey
It began with joy and promise, but took a devastating turn when Louise’s partner, Craig “Moose” Moore, was diagnosed with early-onset dementia. …
NDIS
Highlighting flaws and reform in the National Disability Insurance Scheme
Aged care
Reform of aged care and its effects on residents and workers
Disability
Case studies among those who live with disability
End of life
How drug and IV shortages have affected palliative care
Video
‘I felt ungrateful to let my fertility wither on the vine’
The writer was happy as a mother of one, but when she had her fertility tested in midlife, things weren’t quite so straightforward.
What having prostate cancer taught me about sex
I underwent chemical castration as part of my treatment plan. It ended my marriage and left me certain I would live without intimacy, but against the odds I restored my sexuality.
‘Eighty is a weird land to be in’: Michael Palin is still looking on the bright side of life
He’s seen up close how people live around the world. So how is the Monty Python star faring at 81?
Josie’s story: from rare condition to ray of hope
When my niece Josie was born, genomics was not ready to diagnose her condition. Now my selfless, capable sister has hope there will one day be a treatment for Josie’s incredibly rare syndrome.
Natasha Robinson
Natasha Robinson, The Australian’s health editor, covers medicine, health policy, research, lifestyle and Indigenous health. She has been the National Press Club’s health journalist of the year and is a Walkley awards finalist and a Kennedy Awards winner.
Stephen Lunn
Stephen Lunn is The Australian’s social affairs editor, covering issues including ageing, population, disability and welfare. A former environment writer and Tokyo correspondent, he’s also worked in public policy and practised as a lawyer.
Penny Timms
Penny Timms is a senior health reporter with a focus on consumer health, future preparedness, and medical science. She joins The Australian after working in public and independent journalism in Sydney, London, NT, and Queensland.
Fiona Harari
Fiona Harari is an award-winning journalist who has worked in print and television, and was most recently a staff writer on The Weekend Australian Magazine. She is the author of two books.
Explore more
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/health