Norman Swan

Australia

Co-host of RN’s Health Report and What’s That Rash & reporter on ABC TV’s 730. You can order my book on kids aged 0-10 at: https://t.co/E12jORDqjp

Featured in: Favicon

abc.net.au Favicon

thenewdaily.com.au Favicon

vogue.com.au Favicon

cosmosmagazine.com Favicon

realclearscience.com Favicon

bodyandsoul.com.au Favicon

themonthly.com.au Favicon

dnamagazine.com.au Favicon

psnews.com.au Favicon

swf.org.au + 2 more

Articles

Can consuming dairy really give you acne?

1 day ago | abc.net.au | Tegan Taylor |Norman Swan |Shelby Traynor

You might've heard a friend complaining about their latest break-out and swearing off dairy products as a result. Or that friend might be you. It’s a common complaint, but does it have any scientific merit? Norman and Tegan explore whether consuming dairy can cause acne, and if so, how a glass of milk might lead to pimples. • The Influence of Genetics and Environmental Factors in the Pathogenesis of Acne: A Twin Study of Acne in Women• Can the right diet get rid of acne?
Cracking your knuckles: good, bad or just annoying?

1 week ago | abc.net.au | Tegan Taylor |Norman Swan |Shelby Traynor

You might’ve been told by parents, teachers, colleagues, friends of friends to stop cracking your knuckles because it will give you arthritis. There’s a surprising amount of science going on when you crack a joint, and it suggests there’s very little risk of harming your bones. But as Norman and Tegan explain, there is one major risk – you could irritate everybody around you.
Left or right arm? The site of your booster vaccine matters

1 week ago | abc.net.au | Norman Swan |Preeya Alexander |Shelby Traynor

The immune system seems to respond faster, and better, when you get a booster vaccine in the same arm as your initial vaccine. Also, your GP might miss something going wrong with your liver because of the way pathology labs report blood test results. And a common type 2 diabetes drug, metformin, could be used to treat knee osteoarthritis — and delay knee replacements.
24/7 healthcare hotline to bolster triage

1 week ago | abc.net.au | Norman Swan |Preeya Alexander

Services are already available intended to triage patients dealing with health complaints, to avoid clogging up emergency rooms. An expansion of Healthdirect is on the cards, but what impact would it have? Also, an ongoing outbreak of melioidosis in northern Australia linked to wet weather and floods.
Should we be paying more attention to this marker of liver function?

1 week ago | abc.net.au | Norman Swan |Preeya Alexander

Liver disease is becoming more common, in particular fatty liver disease. It affects up to 1 in 3 Australian adults. A common test – ALT or alanine transaminase – is used as a measure of liver health. However there’s huge variation in what different labs considered concerning, meaning some people are being missed. • Professor Simone Strasser, hepatologist and director of the Liver Foundation
This could change the arm you get vaccinated

1 week ago | abc.net.au | Norman Swan |Preeya Alexander

When going to get vaccinated, you're often asked which arm you'd prefer to be jabbed. Most people pick their least dominant arm so the pain from the injection site bothers them less. A new finding from a study on the immune system suggests that might give you a faster, and better, immune response.
Using metformin to treat knee osteoarthritis

1 week ago | abc.net.au | Norman Swan |Preeya Alexander

It has been a struggle to find drugs that slow the progression of osteoarthritis, rather than just manage the symptoms. But a common drug used to treat type 2 diabetes, metformin, is showing promise, not just in pain reduction but in improving knee cartilage.
Can you train yourself to pee less? From 'What's That Rash?'

2 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Tegan Taylor |Norman Swan |Shelby Traynor

Do you need to pee at all hours of the day? Pelvic floor got you down? Are things a getting saggy down there like like a rogue bit of pizza dough or like Gary Oldman's face? There are some medical reasons why you might need to constantly rush to the loo, but the good news is in most cases your bladder is deconditioned, and you need to get your urinary tract back into ship-shape form.
Can tattoos increase your risk of cancer?

2 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Tegan Taylor |Norman Swan |Shelby Traynor

When weighing up the health risks of getting a tattoo, most people are concerned about the risk infection. But recently the ingredients in tattoo ink have come under the microscope, with some being identified as potential carcinogens. Norman and Tegan take a look at the many substances used to create permanent art, and whether they carry any real harm to humans.
Would you trust AI to make a life or death decision?

2 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Norman Swan |Preeya Alexander |Shelby Traynor

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.