Olivia Willis

Stockholm

Health Reporter, Radio National at ABC News (Australia)

Health journalist (on leave from @abcnews), currently studying global health at @karolinskainst

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Articles

You don’t have to snore to have sleep apnea

5 days ago | abc.net.au | Preeya Alexander |Olivia Willis |Shelby Traynor

It's a common sleep disorder that can have knock-on effects on your cardiovascular and overall metabolic health. But sleep apnea doesn't always present how people think, especially in women. Also, we take a look at Labor's health promises as they start their second term in government. New guidelines have been developed to improve care in early pregnancy loss. And one in seven Australians is on an antidepressant, in some cases simply because it can be so hard to come off them.
A deep dive on Labor's health promises

5 days ago | abc.net.au | Preeya Alexander |Olivia Willis

With Labor winning another term — and a larger majority — their health promises have gone from election pledges to government mandate. They've promised big boosts to Medicare and to cut costs for certain treatments and medications. But not everyone is happy with what has been promised — because of what wasn't given a spotlight during the campaign.
The difficulty of deprescribing antidepressants

5 days ago | abc.net.au | Preeya Alexander |Olivia Willis

About one in seven Australians take an antidepressant, and many people are taking them long-term. However there isn’t much evidence for the effectiveness of antidepressants long-term. But getting off these drugs can be tough, because withdrawal symptoms can be severe and can mimic a relapse. • Professor Katharine Wallis, lead of the RELEASE (REdressing Long-tErm Antidepressant uSE) program, University of Queensland
What women should know about sleep apnea

5 days ago | abc.net.au | Preeya Alexander |Olivia Willis

Sleep apnea is a condition that affects your breathing when you sleep, and can have serious consequences. There are some hallmark symptoms like snoring, but that’s not always how it presents – particularly in women. Sleep apnea is also linked to a host of metabolic conditions, like insulin resistance, diabetes and fatty liver disease.
Australians struggling to afford oral healthcare, dentists say, backing calls to expand Medicare

1 week ago | abc.net.au | Olivia Willis

Expanding Medicare to cover more dental services has the support of about two thirds of Australian dental practitioners recently surveyed. Among the nearly 450 professionals who participated, including dentists, oral health therapists, and dental hygienists,support was strongest for a means-tested and capped dental scheme. That would mean patients would be eligible for subsidised carebased on their income, and only covered up to a certain financial limit.
Low COVID-19 booster rates in aged care and older Australians prompt warnings ahead of winter

3 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Olivia Willis

Less than half of Australia's aged care residents 75 years and older are up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations — despite being at the highest risk of severe illness and death. "It is crucial for us to increase vaccination rates in residential aged care homes," Australia's chief medical officer and aged care quality and safety commissioner recently wrote in a joint letter to aged care providers, urging them to prepare for winter.
Am I protected against measles? Your vaccine questions answered

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Olivia Willis

While Australia eliminated local transmission of measles in 2014, a recent rise in cases globally has seen a local surge of the highly contagious viral illness. Only a quarter of the way into 2025, Australia has already recorded 53 measles cases — almost as many as the total recorded across all of last year (57).
Shingles vaccine linked to reduction in dementia diagnoses, study finds

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Jacinta Bowler |Olivia Willis

Scientists may have produced the strongest evidence yet that the shingles vaccine is linked to reduced dementia risk. Using the health records of more than 280,000 older adults in Wales, researchers found those who received the shingles vaccine were 20 per cent less likely to develop dementia over the next seven years than those who did not receive the vaccine.
Palliative care patients face added stress and extra costs amid pain medicine shortages

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Olivia Willis

For Australians living with a life-limiting or terminal illness, palliative care services are designed to prevent their suffering and improve their quality of life. To do this, doctors often prescribe strong pain medications, but many have been unavailable or difficult to access in the past 18 months. "We've seen people who have just not received pain relief at all," Meera Agar, professor of palliative medicine and deputy chair of Palliative Care Australia, said.
Bottle feeding toddlers to sleep linked to higher weight and dental decay, study finds

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Olivia Willis

In the throes of managing toddler sleep, it's understandable that some parents turn to bottle feeding their children before naps and at bedtime. Often used to help calm an unsettled child or encourage them to drift off to sleep, new Australian research shows 30 per cent of kids are still bottle fed to sleep at two years of age. But despite the practice being relatively common, the study also shows it comes with health risks, which parents may not be aware of.