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The surprising ways that coffee can interfere with medication

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>For many of us, the day doesn’t start until we’ve had our first cup of coffee. It’s comforting, energising, and one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. But while your morning brew might feel harmless, it can interact with certain medicines in ways that reduce their effectiveness – or increase the risk of side-effects.</p> <p>From common cold tablets to antidepressants, caffeine’s impact on the body goes far beyond a quick energy boost. Tea also contains caffeine but not in the same concentrations as coffee, and doesn’t seem to affect people in the same way. Here’s what you should know about how coffee can interfere with your medications – and how to stay safe.</p> <h2>1. Cold and flu medicines</h2> <p>Caffeine is a stimulant, which means it speeds up the central nervous system. Pseudoephedrine, a decongestant found in cold and flu remedies such as Sudafed, is <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682619.html">also a stimulant</a>. When taken together, the effects can be amplified – potentially leading to jitters or restlessness, headaches, fast heart rate and insomnia.</p> <p>Many cold medications already contain added caffeine, increasing these risks further. <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/10/5146">Some studies</a> also suggest that combining caffeine with pseudoephedrine can raise blood sugar and body temperature – particularly important for people with diabetes.</p> <p>Stimulant effects are also a concern when combining caffeine with ADHD medications such as amphetamines, or with <a href="https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/news/coffee-and-asthma/">asthma drugs</a> such as theophylline, which shares a similar chemical structure to caffeine. Using them together may increase the risk of side-effects such as a rapid heartbeat and sleep disruption.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9eL16Exry48?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <h2>2. Thyroid medication</h2> <p>Levothyroxine, the standard treatment for an underactive thyroid, is highly sensitive to timing – and your morning coffee can get in the way. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2020/7909703">Studies show</a> that drinking coffee too soon after taking levothyroxine can reduce its absorption by up to 50%.</p> <p>Caffeine speeds up gut motility (the movement of food and waste through the digestive tract), giving the drug <a href="https://www.jandonline.org/article/S2212-2672(16)00200-8/abstract">less time to be absorbed</a> – and <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8002057/#:%7E:text=Several%20studies%20on%20patients%20with,Benvenga%20et%20al.">may also bind</a> to it in the stomach, making it harder for the body to take in. These effects reduce the drug’s bioavailability, meaning less of it reaches your bloodstream where it’s needed. This interaction <a href="https://www.endocrine.org/news-and-advocacy/news-room/2022/drinking-coffee-does-not-hinder-the-absorption-of-liquid-thyroid-medication">is more common</a> with tablet forms of levothyroxine, and less likely with liquid formulations.</p> <p>If absorption is impaired, <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/underactive-thyroid-hypothyroidism/">symptoms of hypothyroidism</a> – including fatigue, weight gain and constipation – can return, even if you’re taking your medicine correctly.</p> <p>The same timing rule applies to a class of osteoporosis medications called <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a601011.html#precautions">bisphosphonates</a>, including alendronate and risedronate, which also require an empty stomach and around 30-60 minutes before food or drink is taken.</p> <h2>3. Antidepressants and antipsychotics</h2> <p>The interaction between caffeine and mental health medications can be more complex.</p> <p><a href="https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/medicines-and-psychiatry/ssri-antidepressants/overview/">Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors</a> (SSRIs), such as sertraline and citalopram, are a type of antidepressant medication <a href="https://purehost.bath.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/225886346/Lalji_McGrogan_and_Bailey_JADR_2021.pdf">widely used</a> to treat depression, anxiety and other psychiatric conditions. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2020/7909703">Lab studies</a> suggest caffeine can bind to these drugs in the stomach, reducing absorption and potentially making them less effective.</p> <p>Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), such as amitriptyline and imipramine, are a class of older antidepressants that work by affecting the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. They were among the first antidepressants developed and are <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/medicines-and-psychiatry/antidepressants/overview/#:%7E:text=Tricyclic%20antidepressants%20(TCAs),to%20treat%20chronic%20nerve%20pain.">less commonly used</a> today, compared with newer antidepressants such as SSRIs, due to their potential for more side-effects and higher risk of overdose.</p> <p>TCAs are broken down by the liver enzyme <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2020/7909703">CYP1A2</a>, which also metabolises caffeine. The competition between the two can slow drug breakdown, <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2020/7909703">increasing side-effects</a>, or delay caffeine clearance, making you feel jittery or wired longer than usual.</p> <p>Clozapine, an antipsychotic, is also processed by CYP1A2. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2020/7909703">One study showed</a> that drinking two-to-three cups of coffee could increase blood levels of clozapine by up to 97%, <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a691001.html#side-effects">potentially increasing risks</a> such as drowsiness, confusion, or more serious complications.</p> <h2>4. Painkillers</h2> <p>Some over-the-counter painkillers, such as those containing aspirin or paracetamol, include added caffeine. <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.2165/00003088-200039020-00004">Coffee can speed up</a> how quickly these drugs are absorbed by accelerating how fast the stomach empties and making the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2020/7909703">stomach more acidic</a>, which improves absorption for some medications such as aspirin.</p> <p>While this may help painkillers work faster, it could also raise the risk of side-effects like stomach irritation or bleeding, especially when combined with other sources of caffeine. Though no serious cases have been reported, caution is still advised.</p> <h2>5. Heart medications</h2> <p>Caffeine can temporarily raise blood pressure and heart rate, typically lasting three-to-four hours after consumption. For people taking blood pressure medication or drugs that control irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias), this <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8101832/#:%7E:text=Table%20I.&amp;text=The%20next%20stage%20of%20hypertension,response%20to%20calcium%20channel%20blockers.&amp;text=The%20potential%20for%20caffeine%20to,Table%20II%20summarizes%20these%20recommendations.">may counteract</a> the intended effects of the medication.</p> <p>This doesn’t mean people with heart conditions must avoid coffee altogether – but they should monitor how it affects their symptoms, and consider limiting intake or switching to decaf if needed.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r-YwCCNDOy0?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <h2>What can you do?</h2> <p>Coffee may be part of your daily routine, but it’s also a potent chemical compound that can influence how your body processes medicine. Here’s how to make sure it doesn’t interfere.</p> <p>Take levothyroxine or bisphosphonates on an empty stomach with water, and wait 30-60 minutes before drinking coffee or eating breakfast.</p> <p>Be cautious with cold and flu remedies, asthma treatments and ADHD medications, as caffeine can amplify side-effects.</p> <p>If you’re on antidepressants, antipsychotics, or blood pressure drugs, discuss your caffeine habits with your doctor.</p> <p>Consider reducing intake or choosing a decaffeinated option if you experience side-effects like restlessness, insomnia or heart palpitations.</p> <p>Everyone metabolises caffeine differently – some people feel fine after three cups, while others get side-effects after just one. Pay attention to how your body responds and talk to your pharmacist or GP if anything feels off.</p> <p>If you’re ever unsure whether your medicine and your coffee are a good match, ask your pharmacist or doctor. A short conversation might save you weeks of side-effects or reduced treatment effectiveness – and help you enjoy your brew with peace of mind.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/256919/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/dipa-kamdar-1485027">Dipa Kamdar</a>, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/kingston-university-949">Kingston University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/coffee-can-interfere-with-your-medication-heres-what-you-need-to-know-256919">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Pexels / Jonathan Borba</em></p> </div>

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Why do some people need less sleep than others?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>Have you ever noticed how some people bounce out of bed after just a few hours of sleep, while others can barely function without a solid eight hours?</p> <p>Take Margaret Thatcher, for example. The former British prime minister was known for sleeping <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-22084671">just four hours a night</a>. She worked late, rose early, and seemed to thrive on little sleep.</p> <p>But for most of us, that kind of sleep schedule would be disastrous. We’d be groggy, unfocused, and reaching for sugary snacks and caffeinated drinks by mid-morning.</p> <p>So why do some people seem to need less sleep than others? It’s a question that’s fascinated scientists for years. Here’s what we know so far.</p> <h2>Natural short sleepers</h2> <p>There is a small group of people who don’t need much sleep. We call them <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6879540/">natural short sleepers</a>. They can function perfectly well on just four to six hours of sleep each night, often for their entire lives.</p> <p>Generally they <a href="https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article/44/Supplement_2/A154/6260529">don’t feel tired</a>, they don’t nap, and they don’t suffer the usual negative consequences of sleep deprivation. Scientists call this the natural short sleep phenotype – a biological trait that allows people to get all the benefits of sleep in less time.</p> <p>In 2010 researchers discovered genetic mutations that help explain this phenomenon. Natural short sleepers carry rare variants <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2884988/">in certain genes</a>, which seem to make their sleep more efficient.</p> <p>More recently, a <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/epub/10.1073/pnas.2500356122">2025 study</a> assessed a woman in her 70s with one of these rare mutations. Despite sleeping just six hours a night for most of her life, she remained physically healthy, mentally sharp, and led a full, active life. Her body, it seems, was simply wired to need less sleep.</p> <p>We’re still learning about how common these genetic mutations are and why they occur.</p> <h2>Not everyone who sleeps less is a natural short sleeper</h2> <p>But here’s the catch: most people who think they’re natural short sleepers aren’t. They’re just chronically sleep-deprived. Often, their short sleep is due to long work hours, social commitments, or a belief sleeping less is a sign of strength or productivity.</p> <p>In today’s hustle culture, it’s common to hear people boast about getting by on only a few hours of sleep. But for the average person, that’s not sustainable.</p> <p>The effects of short sleep build up over time, creating what’s known as a “sleep debt”. This <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763417301641">can lead to</a> poor concentration, mood swings, micro-sleeps (brief lapses into sleep), reduced performance and even <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1389945716301381">long-term health risks</a>. For example, short sleep has been linked to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke).</p> <h2>The weekend catch-up dilemma</h2> <p>To make up for lost sleep during the week, many people try to “catch up” on weekends.</p> <p>This can help repay some of the sleep debt that has accumulated in the short term. Research <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352721823001663?via%3Dihub">suggests</a> getting one to two extra hours of sleep on the weekend or taking naps when possible may help reduce the negative effects of short sleep.</p> <p>However, it’s not a perfect fix. Weekend catch-up sleep and naps may not fully resolve sleep debt. The topic remains one of ongoing scientific debate.</p> <p>A recent <a href="https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article/47/11/zsae135/7696120">large study</a> suggested weekend catch-up sleep may not offset the cardiovascular risks associated with chronic short sleep.</p> <p>What’s more, large swings in sleep timing can disrupt your body’s <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-03171-4">internal clock</a>, and sleeping in too much on weekends may make it harder to fall asleep on Sunday night, which can mean starting the working week less rested.</p> <p>Increasing evidence indicates <a href="https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article/47/1/zsad253/7280269">repeated cycles of irregular sleep</a> may have an important influence on general health and the risk of early death, potentially even more so than how long we sleep for.</p> <p>Ultimately, while moderate catch-up sleep might offer some benefits, it’s no substitute for consistent, high-quality sleep throughout the week. That said, maintaining such regularity can be particularly challenging for people with non-traditional schedules, such as shift workers.</p> <h2>So, was Thatcher a true natural short sleeper?</h2> <p>It’s hard to say. Some reports suggest <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/aug/27/from-aristotle-to-einstein-a-brief-history-of-power-nappers">she napped during the day</a> in the back of a car between meetings. That could mean she was simply sleep-deprived and compensating for an accumulated sleep debt when she could.</p> <p>Separate to whether someone is a natural short sleeper, there are a range of other reasons people may need more or less sleep than others. Factors <a href="https://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/sleep-topics/how-much-sleep-do-you-really-need">such as age</a> and underlying health conditions can significantly influence sleep requirements.</p> <p>For example, older adults often experience changes in their circadian rhythms and are more likely to suffer from fragmented sleep due to conditions <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00702-019-02067-z">such as arthritis</a> or <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11886-023-01939-x">cardiovascular disease</a>.</p> <p>Sleep needs vary from person to person, and while a lucky few can thrive on less, most of us need <a href="https://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/sleep-topics/how-much-sleep-do-you-really-need">seven to nine hours</a> a night to feel and function our best. If you’re regularly skimping on sleep and relying on weekends to catch up, it might be time to rethink your routine. After all, sleep isn’t a luxury – it’s a biological necessity.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/256342/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kelly-sansom-2390567">Kelly Sansom</a>, Research Associate, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University; Research Associate, Centre for Healthy Ageing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/murdoch-university-746">Murdoch University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/peter-eastwood-2316718">Peter Eastwood</a>, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research and Innovation, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/murdoch-university-746">Murdoch University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-do-some-people-need-less-sleep-than-others-a-gene-variation-could-have-something-to-do-with-it-256342">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: </em></p> </div>

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What’s the difference between ageing and frailty?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>Ageing is a normal part of the life course. It doesn’t matter how many green smoothies you drink, or how many “anti-ageing” skin care products you use, you can’t stop the <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2685272/">ageing process</a>.</p> <p>But while we’re all getting older, not everyone who ages will necessarily become frail. Ageing and frailty are closely related, but they’re not the same thing.</p> <p>Let’s break down the difference between the two.</p> <h2>What is ageing?</h2> <p>On a biological level, ageing is the result of the build-up of <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health">cellular and molecular damage</a> in the body over time.</p> <p>The ageing process causes a gradual decline in physical and mental function, a higher risk of disease, and eventual (and unavoidable) death.</p> <p>Still, some people think they can cheat the system, <a href="https://fortune.com/well/article/bryan-johnson-live-longer-unrecognizable-anti-aging-procedure/">spending millions</a> trying to stay young forever. While we may be able to reduce the <a href="https://theconversation.com/do-these-three-popular-anti-ageing-skincare-ingredients-work-heres-what-the-evidence-says-182200">appearance of ageing</a>, ultimately there’s <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s44324-024-00040-3">no magic pill</a> to <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2685272/">increase our longevity</a>.</p> <p>Around one in six Australians are over the age of 65 (<a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/older-people/older-australians/contents/demographic-profile">16% of the total population</a>). Yet <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03601277.2024.2402056">as individuals</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/fear-of-ageing-is-really-a-fear-of-the-unknown-and-modern-society-is-making-things-worse-220925">a society</a> many of us still have a <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/we-ve-been-constructed-to-think-a-certain-way-the-psychology-of-ageing-20231213-p5er6a.html">fear of ageing</a>.</p> <p>But what is it about ageing we are so afraid of? When it comes down to it, many people are probably less afraid of ageing, and more afraid of becoming frail.</p> <h2>What is frailty?</h2> <p><a href="https://www.afn.org.au/what-is-frailty/">Frailty</a> is defined as a state of vulnerability characterised by a loss of reserve across multiple parts of the body.</p> <p>Frailty is generally characterised by <a href="https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/frailty-declared-a-medical-condition">several physical symptoms</a>, such as weakness, slow walking speed, exhaustion, unintentional weight loss, and low activity level.</p> <p>Lower bone density and osteoporosis (a condition where the bones become weak and brittle) are also <a href="https://josr-online.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13018-024-04875-w">associated with frailty</a>, increasing the risk of <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1279770723020250">falls and fractures</a>.</p> <p>Notably, someone who is frail is less able to “bounce back” (or recover) after a stressor event compared to someone who is not frail. A stressor event could be, for example, having a fall, getting a urinary infection, or even being admitted to hospital.</p> <p>Frailty is more common in older people. But in some cases, frailty can affect younger people too. For example, people with advanced chronic diseases, such as <a href="https://academic.oup.com/eurjcn/article/22/4/345/6775229">heart failure</a>, can <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.5694/mja15.00801">develop frailty</a> much younger.</p> <p>Frailty is dynamic. While it can get worse over time, in some cases <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037851221830478X">frailty can also be reversed</a> or even prevented through health and lifestyle changes.</p> <p>For example, we know physical inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle can <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(19)31786-6/abstract">significantly increase a person’s risk</a> of becoming frail. On the flip side, evidence shows doing more exercise can <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36746389/">reduce frailty in older adults</a>.</p> <p>There are other lifestyle modifications we can make too. And the earlier we make these changes, the better.</p> <h2>Preventing frailty</h2> <p>Here are some <a href="https://youtu.be/41cMkvsaOOM">key things</a> you can do to <a href="https://www.self.com/story/how-to-avoid-frailty-old-age">help prevent frailty</a>:</p> <p><strong>1. Get moving</strong></p> <p>Exercise more, including resistance training (such as squats and lunges, or grab some stretchy resistance bands). Many of these sorts of exercises can be done at home. YouTube has some <a href="https://youtu.be/XDQo4wslr7I?si=FAoyHLDZgSG5AN1r">great resources</a>.</p> <p>You might also consider joining a gym, or asking your GP about seeing an accredited exercise physiologist or physiotherapist. Medicare <a href="https://www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=item&amp;q=10953&amp;qt=item">subsidies may be available</a> for these specialists.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/topics/physical-activity-and-exercise/physical-activity-and-exercise-guidelines-for-all-australians/for-older-australians-65-years-and-over">physical activity guidelines</a> for older Australians recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on most days or preferably every day.</p> <p>The guidelines also highlight the importance of incorporating different types of activities (such as resistance, balance or flexibility exercises) and reducing the time you spend sitting down.</p> <p><strong>2. Stay socially active</strong></p> <p>Social isolation and loneliness can <a href="https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/article-abstract/64/10/gnae114/7734069">contribute to the progression of frailty</a>. Reach out to friends and family for support or contact local community groups that you may be able to join. This might include your local Zumba class or bridge club.</p> <p><strong>3. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to regularly check your medications</strong></p> <p>“Polypharmacy” (when someone is prescribed <a href="https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/healthcare-variation/fourth-atlas-2021/medicines-use-older-people/61-polypharmacy-75-years-and-over">five or more medications</a>) is associated with an increased <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6005607/">risk of frailty</a>. The presence of frailty can also interfere with how the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0047637419300387">body absorbs medicines</a>.</p> <p><a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/home-medicines-review">Home medicine reviews</a> are available for older adults with a <a href="https://www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=item&amp;q=900">chronic medical condition or a complex medication regimen</a>. These reviews aims to help people get the most benefit from their medicines and reduce their risk of <a href="https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-04/fourth_atlas_2021_-_6.2_medications_management_reviews_75_years_and_over_0.pdf">experiencing adverse effects</a>.</p> <p>Always consult your doctor before making any changes to your current medications.</p> <p><strong>4. Eat a protein-rich diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables</strong></p> <p><a href="https://academic.oup.com/biomedgerontology/article/61/6/589/589472?login=true#9578331">Low nutrient intake</a> can negatively impact physical function and may increase your risk of becoming frail. There’s some evidence to suggest eating more protein may <a href="https://academic.oup.com/ageing/article/49/1/32/5618813">delay the onset of frailty</a>.</p> <p>A food-first approach is best when looking to increase the <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7598653/#:%7E:text=Many%20studies%20have%20described%20an,are%20necessary%20to%20prevent%20frailty.">protein in your diet</a>. Protein is found in <a href="https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/protein#protein-foods">foods such as</a> lean meats, poultry, seafood, eggs, dairy products, legumes and nuts.</p> <p>Adults over 50 should aim to eat <a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/nutrient-reference-values/nutrients/protein">64 grams of protein</a> per day for men and 46g per day for women. Adults over 70 should aim for 81g per day for men and 57g per day for women.</p> <p>Ask your GP for a referral to a dietitian who can provide advice on a dietary regime that is best for you.</p> <p>Supplements may be recommended if you are struggling to meet your protein needs from diet alone.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/247450/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/julee-mcdonagh-1525476">Julee McDonagh</a>, Senior Research Fellow of Frailty Research, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/caleb-ferguson-72">Caleb Ferguson</a>, Professor of Nursing and Director of Health Innovations, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-wollongong-711">University of Wollongong</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-ageing-and-frailty-one-is-inevitable-the-other-is-not-247450">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Mikhail Nikov / Pexels</em></p> </div>

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Could cold sores increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>A <a href="https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/5/e093946">new study</a> has found the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), which causes cold sores, may be linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.</p> <p>This idea is not entirely new. Previous research has suggested there <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jmv.1890330403">may be an association</a> between HSV-1 and Alzheimer’s disease, the <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dementia">most common form of dementia</a>.</p> <p>So what can we make of these new findings? And how strong is this link? Let’s take a look at the evidence.</p> <h2>First, what is HSV-1?</h2> <p>HSV-1 is a neurotropic virus, meaning it can infect nerve cells, which send and receive messages to and from the brain. It’s an extremely common virus. The <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/herpes-simplex-virus">World Health Organization estimates</a> nearly two-thirds of the global population aged under 50 carries this virus, often unknowingly.</p> <p>An initial infection can cause mild to severe symptoms including fever, headache and muscle aches, and may manifest as blisters and ulcers around the mouth or lips.</p> <p>After this, HSV-1 typically <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8923070/">lies dormant</a> in the body’s nervous system, sometimes reactivating due to stress or illness. During reactivation, it can cause symptoms such as cold sores, although in many people it doesn’t cause any symptoms.</p> <h2>What did the new research look at?</h2> <p>In a study published this week <a href="https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/5/e093946">in BMJ Open</a>, researchers analysed data from hundreds of thousands of people drawn from a large United States health insurance dataset.</p> <p>They conducted a matched “case-control” analysis involving more than 340,000 adults aged 50 and older diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease between 2006 and 2021. Each Alzheimer’s disease patient (a “case”) was matched to a control without a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease based on factors such as age, sex and geographic region, a method designed to reduce statistical bias.</p> <p>The team then examined how many of these people had a prior diagnosis of HSV-1 and whether they had been prescribed antiviral treatment for the infection.</p> <p>Among people with Alzheimer’s disease, 0.44% had a previous HSV-1 diagnosis, compared to 0.24% of controls. This translates to an 80% increased relative risk of Alzheimer’s disease in those diagnosed with HSV-1, however the absolute numbers are small.</p> <p>The researchers also found people who received antiviral treatment for HSV-1 had roughly a 17% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease compared to those who were untreated.</p> <h2>Not a new hypothesis</h2> <p>This isn’t the first time researchers have speculated about a viral role in Alzheimer’s disease. <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jmv.1890330403">Earlier studies</a> have detected <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(96)10149-5/abstract">HSV-1 DNA in postmortem brain tissues</a> from people who had Alzheimer’s disease.</p> <p>Laboratory research has also shown <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2018.06.030">HSV-1 can trigger amyloid-beta plaque accumulation</a> in nerve cells and mouse brains. Amyloid-beta plaques are one of the defining features of Alzheimer’s disease pathology, so this has led to speculation that reactivation of the virus may contribute to brain inflammation or damage.</p> <p>But importantly, previous research and the current study show associations, not proof HSV-1 causes Alzheimer’s disease. These links do not confirm the virus initiates or drives disease progression.</p> <blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:f3ph3ymzcnhpchwqiu4u37g2/app.bsky.feed.post/3lpn5axtbvj2i" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreifwdab7rnvdpu6t3vnupdymct77ojzrhjkwxcndc2lo5b4ipjkvee" data-bluesky-embed-color-mode="system"> <p lang="">Got Cold Sores? You Might Be at Higher Risk for Alzheimer’s https://gizmodo.com/got-cold-sores-you-might-be-at-higher-risk-for-alzheimers-2000603873</p> <p><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:f3ph3ymzcnhpchwqiu4u37g2/post/3lpn5axtbvj2i?ref_src=embed">[image or embed]</a></p> <p>— Gizmodo (<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:f3ph3ymzcnhpchwqiu4u37g2?ref_src=embed">@gizmodo.com</a>) <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:f3ph3ymzcnhpchwqiu4u37g2/post/3lpn5axtbvj2i?ref_src=embed">May 21, 2025 at 8:31 AM</a></p></blockquote> <h2>Some other important caveats</h2> <p>The study relied on insurance claim data, which may not always reflect accurate or timely clinical diagnoses. HSV-1 is also frequently underdiagnosed, especially when symptoms are mild or absent. These points could explain why both the Alzheimer’s group and the control group saw such low rates of HSV-1, when population rates of this virus <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/herpes-simplex-virus">are estimated to be far higher</a>.</p> <p>This means many carriers of HSV-1 in the study may have gone unrecorded and therefore makes the link harder to interpret clearly. The dataset also doesn’t capture how often people had recurring symptoms, or the severity or duration of infections – conditions which might influence risk more directly.</p> <p>Another complicating factor is people with HSV-1 might differ in other ways from those without it. Differences in health-care access, the health of a person’s <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(21)00144-4/fulltext">immune system</a>, <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)01296-0/abstract">lifestyle</a>, <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(13)60630-3/abstract">genetics</a>, or even <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)01296-0/abstract">education</a> – could all influence Alzheimer’s disease risk.</p> <h2>So should you be concerned if you have cold sores?</h2> <p>The short answer is no – at least not based on current evidence. Most people with HSV-1 will never develop Alzheimer’s disease. The vast majority live with the virus without any serious neurological issues.</p> <p>The “herpes hypothesis” of Alzheimer’s disease is an interesting area for further research, but far from settled science. This study adds weight to the conversation but doesn’t offer a definitive answer.</p> <p>Alzheimer’s disease is a complex condition with <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/commissions-do/dementia-prevention-intervention-and-care">multiple risk factors</a>, including age, genetics, heart health, education, lifestyle and environmental exposures.</p> <p>Infections such as HSV-1 may be one part of a larger, interconnected puzzle, but they are highly unlikely to be the sole cause.</p> <p>With this in mind, the best thing to do is to focus on what we already know can help keep your brain healthy as you age. <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(25)00184-9/abstract#:%7E:text=Emerging%20evidence%20suggests%20that%20sedentary,impairment%20and%20reduce%20dementia%20risk.">Regular physical activity</a>, <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/sleep-well-and-reduce-your-risk-of-dementia-and-death-2021050322508">good quality sleep</a>, <a href="https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/managing-the-risk-of-dementia/reduce-your-risk-of-dementia/social-isolation">social engagement</a>, <a href="https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/dementia-information/dementia-risk/diet-and-dementia-risk/">a balanced diet</a> and <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/protect-your-brain-from-stress">managing stress</a> can all support long-term brain health.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/257140/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joyce-siette-1377445">Joyce Siette</a>, Associate Professor | Deputy Director, The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour, and Development, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/western-sydney-university-1092">Western Sydney University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/could-cold-sores-increase-the-risk-of-alzheimers-disease-a-new-study-is-no-cause-for-panic-257140">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Gizmodo</em></p> </div>

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Why do some people get a curved back as they age and what can we do to avoid it?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>As we age, it’s common to notice posture changes: shoulders rounding, head leaning forward, back starting to curve. You might associate this with older adults and wonder: will this happen to me? Can I prevent it?</p> <p>It’s sometimes called “hunchback” or “roundback”, but the medical term for a curved back is kyphosis.</p> <p>When the curve is beyond what’s considered normal (greater than 40 degrees), we refer to this as hyperkyphosis. In more <a href="https://www.jospt.org/doi/10.2519/jospt.2010.3099#_i12:%7E:text=gold%2Dstandard%20radiograph.-,Clinical%20Consequences%20of%20Hyperkyphosis,-Functional%20Limitations">severe cases</a>, it may lead to pain, reduced mobility and physical function, or lower quality of life.</p> <p>Here’s how it happens, and how to reduce your risk.</p> <h2>What causes a curved back?</h2> <p>A healthy spine has an elongated s-shape, so a curve in the upper spine is completely normal.</p> <p>But when that curve becomes exaggerated and fixed (meaning you can’t stand up straight even if you try), it can signal a problem.</p> <p>One common cause of a curved back is poor posture. This type, called postural kyphosis, usually develops over time due to muscle imbalances, particularly in younger people who spend hours:</p> <ul> <li>hunched over a desk</li> <li>slouched in a chair, or</li> <li>looking down at a phone.</li> </ul> <p>Fortunately, this kind of curved back is often reversible with the right exercises, stretches and posture awareness.</p> <p>Older adults often develop a curved back, known as age-related kyphosis or hyperkyphosis.</p> <p>This is usually due to wear and tear in the spine, including vertebral compression fractures, which are tiny cracks in the bones of the spine (vertebrae).</p> <p>These cracks are most often caused by osteoporosis, a condition that makes bones more fragile with age.</p> <p>In these cases, it’s not just bad posture – it’s a structural change in the spine.</p> <h2>How can you tell the difference?</h2> <p>Signs of age-related hyperkyphosis include:</p> <ul> <li>your back curves even when you try to stand up straight</li> <li>back pain or stiffness</li> <li>a loss of height (anything greater than 3-4 centimetres compared to your peak adult height may be considered outside of “normal” ageing).</li> </ul> <p>Other causes of a curved back include:</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30407981/">Scheuermann’s kyphosis</a> (which often develops during adolescence when the bones in the spine grow unevenly, leading to a forward curve in the upper back)</li> <li><a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4347150/">congenital kyphosis</a> (a rare condition present from birth, caused by improper formation of the spinal bones. It can result in a more severe, fixed curve that worsens as a child grows)</li> <li>scoliosis (where the spine curves sideways into a c- or s-shape when viewed from behind), and</li> <li>lordosis (an excessive inward curve in the lower back, when viewed from the side).</li> </ul> <p>In addition to these structural conditions, arthritis, and in rare cases, spinal injuries or infections, can also play a role.</p> <h2>Should I see a doctor about my curved back?</h2> <p>Yes, especially if you’ve noticed a curve developing, have ongoing back pain, or have lost height over time.</p> <p>These can be signs of vertebral fractures, which can occur in the absence of an obvious injury, and are often painless.</p> <p>While one in five older adults have a vertebral fracture, as many as two-thirds of these fractures are <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0002934315010128?casa_token=DzXngmS6GIoAAAAA:3ub0V4PuHbKjrqO9xYDo8vx2m9k6tbOtmz4yIVzkQvH-VylhgO_KnKaTYDLXpiHc9_4Jz0iNdQ">not diagnosed and treated</a>.</p> <p>In Australia, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and Healthy Bones Australia <a href="https://healthybonesaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/oa-racgp-osteoporosis-clinical-guidelines-2nd-ed.pdf">recommend</a> a spine x-ray for:</p> <ul> <li>people with kyphosis</li> <li>height loss equal to or more than 3 centimetres, or</li> <li>unexplained back pain.</li> </ul> <h2>What can I do to reduce my risk?</h2> <p>If you’re young or middle-aged, the habits you build today matter.</p> <p>The best way to prevent a curved back is to keep your bones strong, muscles active, and posture in check. That means:</p> <ul> <li>doing regular resistance training, especially targeting upper back muscles</li> <li>staying physically active, aiming for at least <a href="https://www.who.int/initiatives/behealthy/physical-activity">150 minutes per week</a></li> <li>getting enough protein, calcium, and vitamin D to support bone and muscle health</li> <li>avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol to reduce risk factors that worsen bone density and overall wellbeing</li> </ul> <p>Pay attention to your posture while sitting and standing. Position your head over your shoulders and shoulders over your hips. This reduces strain on your spine.</p> <h2>What exercises help prevent and manage a curved back?</h2> <p>Focus on <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5112023/">exercises that strengthen the muscles</a> that support an upright posture, particularly the upper back and core, while improving mobility in the chest and shoulders.</p> <p>In general, you want to prioritise extension-based movements. These involve straightening or lifting the spine and pulling the shoulders back.</p> <p>Repeated forward-bending (or flexion) movements may make things worse, especially in people with osteoporosis or spinal fractures.</p> <p>Good exercises include:</p> <ul> <li>back extensions (gently lift your chest off the floor while lying face down)</li> <li>resistance exercises targeting the muscles between your shoulder blades</li> <li>weight-bearing activities (such as brisk walking, jogging, stair climbing, or dancing) to keep bones strong and support overall fitness</li> <li>stretching your chest and hip flexors to open your posture and relieve tightness.</li> </ul> <p>Flexibility and balance training (such as yoga and pilates) can be <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3700806/">beneficial</a>, particularly for posture awareness, balance, and mobility. But <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31034509/">research</a> increasingly supports muscle strengthening as the cornerstone of prevention and management.</p> <p>Muscle strengthening exercises, such as weight lifting or resistance training, reduces spinal curvature while enhancing muscle and bone mass.</p> <p>If you suspect you have kyphosis or already have osteoporosis or a vertebral fracture, consult a health professional before starting an exercise program. There may be some activities to avoid.</p> <h2>Can a curved back be reversed?</h2> <p>If it’s caused by poor posture and muscle weakness, then yes, it’s possible.</p> <p>But if it’s caused by bone changes, especially vertebral fractures, then full reversal is unlikely. However, treatment can reduce pain, improve function, and slow further progression.</p> <p>Protecting your posture isn’t just about appearance. It’s about staying strong, mobile and independent as you age.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/252811/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jakub-mesinovic-2351870">Jakub Mesinovic</a>, Research Fellow at the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/david-scott-1258511">David Scott</a>, Associate Professor (Research) and NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-do-some-people-get-a-curved-back-as-they-age-and-what-can-i-do-to-avoid-it-252811">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Life Care Home Health</em></p> </div>

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What’s the difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p><a href="https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/about-arthritis/understanding-arthritis/what-is-arthritis">Arthritis</a> – an umbrella term for around <a href="https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/healthy-living/managing-pain/understanding-pain/sources-of-arthritis-pain">100 conditions</a> that damage the joints – affects <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39647490/">4.1 million</a> Australians. This is expected <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39647490/">to rise</a> by 31% to 5.4 million by 2040 and cost the Australian health-care system an estimated $12 billion each year.</p> <p>The two most common types, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, can both cause joint pain, swelling and stiffness. Both are more common in <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-musculoskeletal-conditions/musculoskeletal-conditions/contents/arthritis">women</a>. Neither can be cured.</p> <p>But their causes, risk factors and treatments are different – here’s what you need to know.</p> <h2>What is osteoarthritis?</h2> <p>Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. It affects <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-musculoskeletal-conditions/musculoskeletal-conditions/contents/osteoarthritis">2.1 million Australians</a>, mostly older people. About a third of <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-musculoskeletal-conditions/musculoskeletal-conditions/contents/osteoarthritis">Australians</a> aged 75 and older have the condition.</p> <p>It can affect any joint but is most common in the knees, hips, fingers, thumbs and big toes.</p> <p>The main symptom is pain, especially during movement. Other symptoms may include swelling, stiffness and changes to the shape of joints.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/osteoarthritis">main risk factors</a> are ageing and obesity, as well as previous injuries or surgery. For osteoarthritis in the hands, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35843480/">genetics</a> also play a big role.</p> <p>Signs of osteoarthritis can appear on knee scans from around <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-musculoskeletal-conditions/osteoarthritis">age 45</a> and become more common with age.</p> <p>However, this type of arthritis not simply the “wear and tear” of ageing. Osteoarthritis is a complex disease that affects the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nrdp201672">whole joint</a>. This includes the <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/23173-cartilage">cartilage</a> (“shock-absorbing” connective tissue protecting your bones), bones, <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/21604-ligament">ligaments</a> (connective tissue holding bones and body parts in place) and joint lining.</p> <h2>How is it diagnosed?</h2> <p>Diagnosis is <a href="https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng226/chapter/Recommendations#diagnosis">based on</a> symptoms (such as pain and restricted movement) and a physical exam.</p> <p>The disease generally worsens over time and cannot be reversed. But the severity of damage does not always <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21281726/">correlate with pain</a> levels.</p> <p>For this reason, x-rays and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29886437/">MRI scans</a> are usually unhelpful. Some people with early osteoarthritis experience severe pain, but the damage won’t show up on a scan. Others with advanced and visible osteoarthritis may have few symptoms or none at all.</p> <h2>What about rheumatoid arthritis?</h2> <p>Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. This means the immune system attacks the joint lining, causing inflammation and damage.</p> <p>Common symptoms include pain, joint swelling and stiffness, <a href="https://arthritis-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/ar4146">especially in the morning</a>.</p> <p>Rheumatoid arthritis is less common than osteoarthritis, affecting <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-musculoskeletal-conditions/musculoskeletal-conditions/contents/rheumatoid-arthritis">around 514,000 Australians</a>. It mostly impacts the wrists and small joints in the hands and feet, though larger joints such as the elbows, shoulders, knees and ankles can also be involved.</p> <p>It can also affect other organs, including the skin, lungs, eyes, heart and blood vessels. Fortunately, disease outside the joint has become <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38240831/">less common</a> in recent years, likely due to better and earlier treatment.</p> <p><a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-musculoskeletal-conditions/musculoskeletal-conditions/contents/rheumatoid-arthritis?request=smoothstate">Rheumatoid arthritis</a> often develops earlier than osteoarthritis but can occur at any age. Onset is most frequent in those aged <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-musculoskeletal-conditions/musculoskeletal-conditions/contents/rheumatoid-arthritis">35–64</a>. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21149499/">Smoking</a> increases your risk.</p> <h2>How is it diagnosed?</h2> <p>As with osteoarthritis, your doctor will diagnose rheumatoid arthritis based on your symptoms and a physical exam.</p> <p>Some other tests can be useful. Blood tests may pick up specific <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nrdp20181">antibodies</a> that indicate rheumatoid arthritis, although you can still have the condition <a href="https://arthritisaustralia.com.au/managing-arthritis/medical-management/blood-test-for-arthritis/">with negative results</a>.</p> <p>X-rays may also reveal joint damage if the disease is advanced. If there is uncertainty, an <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35022703/">ultrasound or MRI</a> can help detect inflammation.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/664530/original/file-20250429-56-okmp6o.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/664530/original/file-20250429-56-okmp6o.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/664530/original/file-20250429-56-okmp6o.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=456&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/664530/original/file-20250429-56-okmp6o.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=456&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/664530/original/file-20250429-56-okmp6o.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=456&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/664530/original/file-20250429-56-okmp6o.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=573&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/664530/original/file-20250429-56-okmp6o.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=573&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/664530/original/file-20250429-56-okmp6o.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=573&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption><span class="attribution"><span class="source">The Conversation</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span></figcaption></figure> <h2>How is osteoarthritis treated?</h2> <p>No treatment can stop osteoarthritis progressing. However many people manage their symptoms well with advice from their doctor and self-care. Exercise, weight management and pain medicines <a href="https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/publications-and-resources/resource-library/osteoarthritis-knee-clinical-care-standard-2024">can help</a>.</p> <p>Exercise has been shown to be safe for osteoarthritis of the <a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD004376.pub4/full">knee</a>, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24756895/">hip</a> and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29032354/">hand</a>. Many types of exercise are <a href="https://theconversation.com/do-you-have-knee-pain-from-osteoarthritis-you-might-not-need-surgery-heres-what-to-try-instead-236779">effective</a> at reducing pain, so you can choose what suits you best.</p> <p>For knee osteoarthritis, managing weight through diet and/or exercise is <a href="https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/publications-and-resources/resource-library/osteoarthritis-knee-clinical-care-standard-2024">strongly recommended</a>. This may be because it reduces pressure on the joint or because losing weight <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30390883/">can reduce inflammation</a>. <a href="https://theconversation.com/new-study-suggests-weight-loss-drugs-like-ozempic-could-help-with-knee-pain-heres-why-there-may-be-a-link-243159">Anti-obesity medicines</a> may also reduce pain.</p> <p>Topical and oral <a href="https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/publications-and-resources/resource-library/osteoarthritis-knee-clinical-care-standard-2024">anti-inflammatories</a> are usually recommended to manage pain. However, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35137418/">opioids</a> (such as tramadol or oxycodone) are not, due to their risks and limited evidence they help.</p> <p>In some cases <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33472813/">antidepressants</a> such as duloxetine may also be considered as a treatment for pain though, again, evidence they help is limited.</p> <h2>What about rheumatoid arthritis?</h2> <p>Treatments for rheumatoid arthritis focus on preventing joint damage and reducing inflammation.</p> <p>It’s essential to get an <a href="https://rheumatology.org.au/Portals/2/Documents/Public/Professionals/Clinical%20Care%20Standards/RAQS-UPDATE-Clinicians-ACCESS-03-7May24.pdf?ver=2024-05-07-135934-023">early referral to a rheumatologist</a>, so that treatment with medication – called “disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs” – can begin quickly.</p> <p>These <a href="https://app.magicapp.org/#/guideline/LqRV3n">medicines</a> suppress the immune system to stop inflammation and prevent damage to the joint.</p> <p>With no cure, the <a href="https://creakyjoints.org/about-arthritis/rheumatoid-arthritis/ra-treatment/remission-low-disease-activity-rheumatoid-arthritis/">overall goal</a> is to achieve remission (where the disease is inactive) or get symptoms under control.</p> <h2>Advances in treatment</h2> <p>There is an increasing interest in prevention for both types of arthritis.</p> <p>A large international <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38144515/">clinical</a> trial is currently investigating whether a diet and exercise program can prevent knee osteoarthritis in those with higher risk – in this case, women who are overweight and obese.</p> <p>For those already affected, <a href="https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/levi-04-a-novel-neurotrophin-3-inhibitor-substantially-improves-pain-and-function-without-deleterious-effects-on-joint-structure-in-people-with-knee-osteoarthritis-a-randomized-controlled-phase-ii/">new medicines</a> in early-stage clinical trials show promise in reducing pain and improving function.</p> <p>There is also hope for rheumatoid arthritis with Australian researchers <a href="https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2024/07/drug-free-life-rheumatoid-arthritis-patients-possible-within-decade">developing</a> a new immunotherapy. This treatment aims to reprogram the immune system, similar to a vaccine, to help people achieve long-term remission without lifelong treatment.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/249154/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/giovanni-e-ferreira-1030477">Giovanni E. Ferreira</a>, NHMRC Emerging Leader Research Fellow, Institute of Musculoskeletal Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rachelle-buchbinder-449750">Rachelle Buchbinder</a>, Professor of Clinical Epidemiology and Rheumatologist, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-osteoarthritis-and-rheumatoid-arthritis-249154">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> </div>

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Andre Agassi victorious in pro pickleball debut!

<p>Andre Agassi, former tennis demigod and proud wearer of 1990s denim shorts, just served up a win in his professional pickleball debut, the sport that sounds like a snack and plays like a caffeine-fuelled family reunion in Florida.</p> <p>Fresh off turning 55 (and presumably fuelled by birthday cake and a lifetime supply of Voltarin), Agassi teamed up with 18-year-old phenom Anna Leigh Waters. Together, they defeated a duo of teens young enough to still ask permission before downloading apps. The final score: 11-8, 9-11, 11-7 – a tight match that was equal parts strategy, reflex and Agassi’s uncanny ability to intimidate opponents with his résumé.</p> <p>Let’s take a moment to appreciate this image: one of tennis’s all-time greats, who once faced Pete Sampras at Wimbledon, now facing… someone who probably wasn't alive when Agassi last hoisted a Grand Slam trophy. And yet, here he is, paddle in hand, knees holding together like true American heroes, navigating a sport that’s basically what would happen if tennis and ping pong had a baby in a Florida retirement community.</p> <p>Agassi, who retired from tennis in 2006 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame when flip phones still roamed the earth, has since dabbled in pickleball exhibition matches, mostly as an excuse to promote paddle gear online and to remind the world that he still has better footwork than most 25-year-olds.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">✅ make pro Pickleball debut<br />✅ WIN pro Pickleball debut</p> <p>Andre Agassi and Anna Leigh Waters take home the W! <a href="https://t.co/ONUqDLaxWc">pic.twitter.com/ONUqDLaxWc</a></p> <p>— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsNet/status/1917629532716073248?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2025</a></p></blockquote> <p>Pickleball, in case you’ve been trapped under a yoga mat, is the fastest-growing sport in America, and is making huge strides here in Australia too. It’s played with paddles, a plastic wiffleball, and the unwavering confidence of people who own ergonomic lawn chairs. It now boasts over 13 million U.S. players and rising – about 12.9 million of whom are currently trying to explain the rules to their confused spouses.</p> <p>Naturally, Agassi wasn’t quite sure how to feel about entering the pro scene.</p> <p>"I have this conflict, like I can't tell. Is this fun? Is this anxiety?" he admitted, possibly while trying to remember if his insurance covers pickleball-related injuries. He also joked that many of his tennis peers were tuning in “to watch a slow-motion train wreck”. (Spoiler: it never crashed.)</p> <p>His personal goal for the tournament wasn’t medals or glory – it was approval from his teenaged partner. “A win for me will be when this is over and Anna Leigh looks at me and says, ‘Do you want to play again?’” he said. </p> <p>While it’s too early to say whether this marks the start of a new career or just an elaborate midlife crisis with a paddle, one thing’s for sure: pickleball will never be the same.</p> <p>And who knows? At this rate, Roger Federer could be lacing up orthopaedic sneakers any minute now...</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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Brain disorder more common than MS – but often goes undiagnosed

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>Imagine suddenly losing the ability to move a limb, walk or speak. You would probably recognise this as a medical emergency and get to hospital.</p> <p>Now imagine the doctors at the hospital run some tests and then say, “Good news! All your tests were normal, clear scans, and nothing is wrong. You can go home!” Yet, you are still experiencing very real and disabling symptoms.</p> <p>Unfortunately, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2024.2333491">this is the experience of many people</a> with functional neurological disorder. Even worse, some are blamed and reprimanded for <a href="https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/148/1/27/7750481?login=false">exaggerating</a> or faking their symptoms.</p> <p>So, what is this disorder, and why is it so challenging to recognise and treat?</p> <h2>What is functional neurological disorder?</h2> <p><a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/neurological-disorders">Neurological disorders</a> are conditions that affect how the nervous system works. The nervous system sends and receives messages between the brain and other parts of your body to regulate a wide range of functions, such as movement, speaking, vision, thinking and digestion.</p> <p>To the untrained eye, functional neurological disorder can resemble other conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis or epilepsy.</p> <p>But, unlike these conditions, functional neurological symptoms <a href="https://neurosymptoms.org/en/causes/how-was-it-happened/">aren’t due</a> to damage or a disease process affecting the nervous system. This means the disorder doesn’t appear on routine brain imaging and other tests.</p> <p>Functional symptoms are, instead, due to dysfunction in the processing of information between several brain networks. Simply put, <a href="https://neurosymptoms.org/en/causes/how-was-it-happened/">it’s a problem</a> of the brain’s software, not the hardware.</p> <h2>What are the symptoms?</h2> <p>Functional neurological disorder can produce a kaleidoscope of diverse and changing symptoms. This often adds to confusion for patients and make diagnosis more challenging.</p> <p><a href="https://neurosymptoms.org/en/symptoms/">Symptoms</a> may include paralysis or abnormal movements such as tremors, jerks and tics. This often leads to difficulty walking or coordinating movements.</p> <p>Sensory symptoms may involve numbness, tingling or loss of vision.</p> <p>Dissociative symptoms, such as functional seizures and blackouts, are also common.</p> <p>Some people experience cognitive symptoms including brain fog or problems finding the right words. Fatigue and chronic pain frequently coexist with these symptoms.</p> <p>These symptoms can be severe and distressing and, without treatment, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31167232/">can persist for years</a>. For example, some people with functional neurological disorder cannot walk and must use a wheelchair for decades.</p> <p>Diagnosis involves <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m3745">identifying established diagnostic signs</a> and ensuring no other diagnoses are missed. This process is best carried out by an experienced neurologist or neuropsychiatrist.</p> <h2>How common is it?</h2> <p>Functional neurological disorder is one of the most common medical conditions seen in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2020.3753">emergency care</a> and in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awp220">outpatient neurology clinics</a>.</p> <p>It affects around <a href="https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp-2024-334767">10–22 people per 100,000 per year</a>. This makes it more common than multiple sclerosis.</p> <p>Despite this, it is often under-recognised and misunderstood by health-care professionals. This leads to <a href="https://academic.oup.com/brain/article/148/1/27/7750481?login=false">delays in diagnosis and treatment</a>.</p> <p>This lack of awareness also contributes to the perception that it’s rare, when it’s actually common among neurological disorders.</p> <h2>Who does functional neurological disorder affect?</h2> <p>This condition can affect anyone, although it is more common in women and younger people. Around two thirds of patients are female, but this <a href="https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/93/6/609">gender disparity reduces with age</a>.</p> <p>Understanding of the disorder has <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33722822/">developed significantly over the past few decades</a>, but there’s still more to learn. Several biological, psychological, and social factors can <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35430029/">predispose people</a>.</p> <p>Genetics, traumatic life experiences, anxiety and depression can increase the risk. Stressful life events, illness, or physical injuries can trigger or worsen existing symptoms.</p> <p>But not everyone with the disorder has experienced significant trauma or stress.</p> <h2>How is it treated?</h2> <p>If left untreated, about <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awz138">half the people</a> with this condition will remain the same or their symptoms will worsen. However, with the help of experienced clinicians, many people can make rapid recoveries when treatment starts early.</p> <p>There are no specific medications for functional neurological disorder but personalised rehabilitation guided by experienced clinicians is <a href="https://fndhope.org/living-fnd/">recommended</a>.</p> <p>Some people may need a team of multidisciplinary clinicians that may include physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, psychologists and doctors.</p> <p>People also need accurate information about their condition, because <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/aws129">understanding and beliefs</a> about the disorder play an important role in recovery. Accurate information helps patients to develop more realistic expectations, reduces anxiety and can empower people to be more active in their recovery.</p> <p>Treating common co-existing conditions, such as anxiety or depression, can also <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/376/bmj.o64.abstract">be helpful</a>.</p> <h2>A dark history</h2> <p>The origins of the disorder are deeply rooted in the sexist <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8564048/">history of its pre-scientific ancestor – hysteria</a>. The legacy of hysteria has cast a long shadow, contributing to a misogynistic bias in perception and treatment. This historical context has led to ongoing stigma, where symptoms were often labelled as psychological and not warranting treatment.</p> <p>Women with functional symptoms often face scepticism and dismissal. In some cases, <a href="https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/94/10/855">significant harm</a> occurs through stigmatisation, inadequate care and poor management. Modern medicine has attempted to address these biases by recognising functional neurological disorder as a legitimate condition.</p> <p>A <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11414792/">lack of education</a> for medical professionals likely contributes to stigma. Many <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocn.2019.06.008">clinicians report low confidence and knowledge</a> about their ability to manage the disorder.</p> <h2>A bright future?</h2> <p>Fortunately, awareness, research and interest has grown over the past decade. Many treatment approaches are being trialled, including <a href="https://www.physio4fmd.org/">specialist physiotherapy</a>, <a href="https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/92/1/36.abstract">psychological therapies</a> and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35115389/">non-invasive brain stimulation</a>.</p> <p>Patient-led organisations and <a href="https://fndhope.org/">support networks</a> are making headway advocating for improvements in health systems, research and education. The goal is to unite patients, their families, clinicians, and researchers to advance a new standard of care across the world.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/250501/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>By</em> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/benjamin-scrivener-2329913"><em>Benjamin Scrivener</em></a><em>, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-auckland-waipapa-taumata-rau-1305">University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/tremors-seizures-and-paralysis-this-brain-disorder-is-more-common-than-multiple-sclerosis-but-often-goes-undiagnosed-250501">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> </div>

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Chaotic ending to final leaders' debate ahead of election

<p>In what historians are already calling <em>The Great Final Showdown (With Bonus Egg Chat)</em>, Anthony Albanese has emerged victorious in the fourth and final leaders' debate, with Peter Dutton bravely losing while armed only with a calculator set to 1998 and a deep mistrust of mobile phones.</p> <p>Held six days before the election and hosted by Channel 7 (who have now applied for hazard pay), the debate covered serious national issues like cost of living, housing and why Elon Musk is apparently a Marvel villain.</p> <p>Dutton, swinging from the very first second like a man who accidentally stepped on a plug, declared: "This election is all about who can best manage the Australian economy..." before launching into a heartfelt monologue about crying families, inflation and the distinct lack of cheaper servo pies.</p> <p>Albanese, armed with his Clear Decisive Policies™, clapped back: "Australians have a real choice this Saturday to continue building Australia's future or go back to the past," ... which definitely didn’t sound at all like the slogan of a time-travel movie starring Dutton as a confused tourist in 1973.</p> <p>The real drama came when the leaders tried to guess the price of eggs, which quickly devolved into an episode of <em>The Price is Wrong</em>.</p> <p>Dutton confidently guessed that a half dozen free-range eggs cost "$4.20", missing the mark by about the same distance Pluto misses Earth. Albanese, meanwhile, coolly suggested "$7 if you can find them", proving once again that he’s a man of the people – or at least a man who occasionally braves the horror of the supermarket dairy aisle.</p> <p>Dutton, adopting the highly relatable persona of Uncle Who Complains at BBQs, complained that Welcome to Country ceremonies were "overdone", claiming: "It divides the country."</p> <p>In response, Albanese reminded everyone that Australia shares its continent with "the oldest continuous culture on earth", and managed not to roll his eyes even once, a feat of diplomacy possibly more impressive than anything discussed on foreign policy.</p> <p>Speaking of diplomacy, the two also managed a spirited debate on international relations when Albanese mused: "I'm not sure that he has a mobile phone, the US president, or Joe Biden." ... leading many to wonder if Albanese thinks Biden communicates solely through carrier pigeons or interpretive dance.</p> <p>Not to be outdone, Dutton called Elon Musk an "evil genius", officially making this the first Australian leaders' debate to include a Marvel Cinematic Universe reference. Albanese, playing it safer, described Musk as "Tesla, and a very rich man", thereby demonstrating a deep and comprehensive understanding of modern economics.</p> <p>When it came to energy policy, Dutton insisted that renewable energy was going to "wreck the economy", while Albanese insisted that it was actually already powering "10 million homes". Dutton’s alternative? Nuclear energy, because nothing says "vote for me" like proposing billion-dollar facilities that won't be ready until somewhere around the next ice age.</p> <p>At the end of the night, 60 undecided voters declared Albanese the winner by a margin that was less "narrow victory" and more "rugby team versus toddlers".</p> <p>Albanese took home 50% of the vote, while Dutton earned a modest 25% and the other 25% presumably began Googling "how to move to New Zealand".</p> <p>Whether that final debate will actually change the outcome of the election is unclear. What is clear is that both men left their marks – one as the man who priced eggs like it was still 2005, and the other as the guy who thinks world leaders might communicate exclusively by yelling really loudly across the Pacific Ocean.</p> <p><em>Images: Network Seven</em></p>

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Huge update in search for Samantha Murphy's body

<p>The man accused of murdering Ballarat mother Samantha Murphy has reportedly been removed from prison and taken under heavy police guard to bushland near Ballarat, as Victoria Police intensify their search for her remains.</p> <p>Patrick Orren Stephenson, 23, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of the 51-year-old, was previously escorted to the search site from jail last year. According to <em>Sunrise</em>, he remains under tight security as police continue their investigation.</p> <p>Murphy was last seen on February 4 last year, setting out for a routine 14-kilometre run through the Canadian State Forest. Despite extensive searches by police and community volunteers across the Canadian State Forest, Enfield State Park, and the Buninyong Bushland Reserve, her body has not been found.</p> <p>While police have not confirmed that Stephenson is cooperating with the search, nor suggested that he knows the location of Murphy's body, his presence at the scene signals ongoing investigative efforts.</p> <p>In June last year, a significant breakthrough emerged when Murphy’s personal belongings – including her credit cards, driver’s licence and an iPhone encased in a teal cover – were discovered submerged in mud at the bottom of a dam in Buninyong, close to her home. Investigators found the phone in near-perfect condition, raising hopes that its data might reveal clues about Murphy's final movements.</p> <p>Police subsequently focused their search on bushland south of Buninyong, roughly two kilometres from the dam.</p> <p>Victoria Police have declined to comment on the latest developments, citing the ongoing court proceedings. Stephenson’s trial is expected to take place later this year.</p> <p>During a February court hearing, Prosecutor Raymond Gibson KC indicated that police officers and a DNA expert are among eight proposed witnesses for the trial. The list also includes a road crash reconstruction specialist, a digital data expert and a phone data analyst.</p> <p>Stephenson, the son of former AFL player Orren Stephenson, had never personally met Murphy. However, the pair shared a local connection: Murphy volunteered at the uniform shop at St Francis Xavier Primary School, where Stephenson had been a student.</p> <p>It is understood that police had been monitoring Stephenson for two weeks prior to his arrest in March last year, at a Ballarat home where he and his girlfriend were house-sitting.</p> <p>The investigation continues.</p> <p><em>Images: File photos</em></p>

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"Absolutely stunning!": Jelena Dokic wows fans with new look

<p>Former tennis star Jelena Dokic has debuted a striking new look, showcasing her dramatic weight loss and inspiring thousands with her message of self-love.</p> <p>The 41-year-old, once ranked world No. 4, made a radiant return to the spotlight as part of Channel 9’s coverage of the Billie Jean King Cup. A photo from the broadcast set quickly sparked an outpouring of support from fans, celebrating not just her transformation, but her ongoing role as a symbol of strength and positivity.</p> <p>“Back in the studio and back doing the tennis and TV with my @channel9 @wwos family,” Dokic shared with her 285,000 Instagram followers on Thursday. “Nice little lead into the next 3 grand slams of the year with a @billiejeankingcup week.”</p> <p>Supportive messages flooded the post, with fans praising her radiant presence. “You’re a dead set LEGEND Jelena,” one admirer wrote, while another added, “Absolutely stunning!”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DIQMMW5pIcp/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DIQMMW5pIcp/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by JELENA DOKIC 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺 (@dokic_jelena)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Dokic has been open about her personal struggles, candidly discussing her battles with mental health, weight challenges and online bullying. In a heartfelt Instagram post from March 11, she reflected on her journey, using side-by-side images to convey a powerful message about body image.</p> <p>“What is the difference between the two images?” she asked. “Nothing except what you see on the outside, my BODY SIZE. I am the same hardworking person, respectful, generous, empathetic, compassionate, humble, kind, driven, strong, resilient, capable and loving person, woman and friend.”</p> <p>She continued, urging her followers to look beyond appearances: “Beauty has nothing to do with looks. It’s how you are as a person. It’s how you make others feel especially about themselves. No beauty shines brighter than that of a kind heart.”</p> <p>Now thriving as an author, expert tennis commentator and vocal advocate for mental health and body positivity, Dokic continues to inspire others with her authenticity and courage. Her documentary <em>Unbreakable</em>, which aired on Channel 9 earlier this year after its successful cinematic release in December 2024, has been met with rave reviews for its raw and honest portrayal of her life and career.</p> <p><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

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Tragedy on first cruise: Aussie couple’s dream trip ends in heartbreak

<p>What began as a dream getaway for Aussie couple Glenn and Beverley Stein has ended in devastating tragedy, after Glenn, 74, died suddenly during their very first cruise.</p> <p>Described as "humble and hardworking", the couple had never been overseas or on a cruise before. Their four-day voyage from Brisbane to Airlie Beach, a generous gift from their son after a lucky windfall, was meant to be a long-overdue escape for the pair, who had spent more than 50 years side by side.</p> <p>"They had never been on a cruise before, never even been overseas," daughter-in-law Sarah <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/carnival-cruise-passengers-8500-blow-after-on-board-tragedy-they-didnt-realise-033649566.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shared with Yahoo News</a>. "One of their sons won some money so he thought it might be nice to buy them a cruise."</p> <p>According to Sarah, the couple were thoroughly enjoying their time onboard. But just a few days into the trip, Glenn began to feel unwell, suspecting it was merely “a bit of food poisoning”. True to their no-fuss nature, the Steins tried not to worry and went to bed, assuming he would feel better by morning.</p> <p>Tragically, Beverley awoke the next day to find Glenn unconscious. In shock, she raised the alarm with the ship’s housekeeping staff, who immediately called the onboard medical team. “The staff were amazing. We’ve got a 43-page report detailing all the care they gave him," Sarah said, commending the cruise medical team for their efforts and support during the ordeal.</p> <p>Glenn’s condition rapidly deteriorated. Doctors soon discovered he was suffering from a life-threatening strangulated hernia, requiring emergency surgery. As they awaited an airlift to Bundaberg Hospital, the crew urged Beverley to speak with her husband and prepare for the worst.</p> <p>Even aboard the emergency helicopter, Glenn’s health continued to fail. Once at the hospital, paramedics warned the couple’s children, already en route, to call in immediately.</p> <p>“They managed to speak to Glenn, which was really nice,” Sarah said. Heartbreakingly, just minutes later, when Sarah and her husband tried to call, they were told Glenn had passed away. "He had literally just passed away as soon as they got off the phone."</p> <p>Adding to the family's anguish, they soon discovered that because Glenn and Beverley had unknowingly crossed into international waters, and hadn't purchased travel insurance, Beverley was left facing an $8,500 medical bill.</p> <p>“This was their first cruise; they didn’t realise it was actually out of Australian waters,” Sarah explained, calling the experience a “cautionary tale” for other travellers. While understanding of the fees, the family is now hoping the cruise company might show some compassion and reduce the amount.</p> <p>Loved ones have <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-bev-after-the-sudden-loss-of-her-beloved-husband-glenn?cdn-cache=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">launched a GoFundMe</a> to help cover the medical costs and funeral expenses. "Bev is not only grieving the loss of her life partner but is now also facing overwhelming financial pressure," the family wrote. "Any contribution, no matter how small, will go directly toward covering the significant costs associated with Glenn’s passing and supporting Bev as she begins to navigate life without him."</p> <p>Despite their grief, the family has found bittersweet moments of humour in the aftermath. “It’s really funny,” Sarah recalled, “his daughter mentioned, ‘Dad always said he never wanted a fuss and just wanted to go quietly,’ and it’s ended up being a helicopter out and on the news – so he couldn’t have been more dramatic."</p> <p>As they rally around Beverley, the Steins’ loved ones hope their story will serve as a reminder of the importance of travel insurance — and of cherishing every moment with the ones you love.</p> <p><em>Images: GoFundMe</em></p>

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Sad end to search for missing Queensland mother

<p>The family of Tayla Spies, a 29-year-old mother-of-three who <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/major-breakthrough-over-mother-of-three-missing-for-two-months" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vanished over two months ago</a>, has confirmed the devastating news that human remains found near her abandoned vehicle belong to her.</p> <p>Her sister, Rebecca Spies, shared the heartbreaking update in an emotional post on Facebook on Sunday.</p> <p>“It is with very heavy hearts that we announce the devastating loss of our beautiful Tayla,” she wrote. “Although she may no longer be here with us, she will always be in our hearts and I will carry her with me wherever I go.”</p> <p>Rebecca expressed deep gratitude to the many people who supported the family throughout the agonising search for Tayla.</p> <p>“We truly will be forever grateful to our family and friends for surrounding us, supporting us, picking us up when we fell down and for never letting us walk one step of this alone," she said. "Tayla was and always will be so incredibly loved, more than she would ever know. Please bear with us as we grieve and navigate through this excruciating loss as a family.”</p> <p>Tayla’s disappearance on February 2 sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community of Roma. She had been on a weekend trip with her partner in Dalby, several hours from home, when she was last seen. After leaving the Windsor Hotel, she set off alone in her white 2017 Toyota HiLux, while her partner travelled separately.</p> <p>She was later seen refuelling at a service station in Condamine. However, in a puzzling turn of events, Tayla did not follow her usual route home to Roma. Instead, she unexpectedly turned onto the Carnarvon Highway towards the New South Wales border after reaching Surat – a decision that left her family baffled.</p> <p>“Nobody knows why she turned left in Surat to head south instead of north to Roma,” Rebecca had previously told the <em>Brisbane Times</em>. “A number of people had heard from Tayla over the weekend that she disappeared, and she had told everybody on Sunday, February 2, that she was coming home to Roma.”</p> <p>In the painful weeks that followed, there had been no activity on Tayla’s bank accounts or phone, and she heartbreakingly missed her 29th birthday. Police mounted an intensive search, scouring a sprawling 9,000 square kilometres across Western Downs, from Yuleba and Wullumbilla South to Teelba, Glenmorgan and Meandarra.</p> <p>Hope turned to heartbreak on April 3, when Tayla’s HiLux was discovered. Human remains were located nearby shortly after.</p> <p>In a tearful TikTok video, Rebecca revealed that she received the devastating call on Friday. “The police and my family do believe those remains are Tayla’s,” she said. “I was told, at 12.25, that they found remains and it’s most likely my sister.”</p> <p>As of now, police are yet to formally confirm the identity of the remains.</p> <p>Loved ones remember Tayla as a devoted mother and cherished sister whose life was tragically cut short. The family has asked for privacy as they grieve and begin the painful journey of healing.</p> <p><em>Images: Queensland Police</em></p>

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Incredible new pacemaker tinier than a grain of rice

<p>Engineers from Northwestern University in the US have developed a groundbreaking pacemaker so tiny that it can fit inside the tip of a syringe – is smaller than a grain of rice – and be non-invasively injected into the body. This innovation could revolutionise cardiac care by offering a minimally invasive alternative to traditional pacemakers.</p> <p>"We have developed what is, to our knowledge, the world's smallest pacemaker," said bioelectronics pioneer John A Rogers, who led the development. The small, wireless device is biocompatible and designed to be gradually broken down and absorbed by the body, reducing the need for surgical extraction.</p> <p>Rogers and his colleagues tested the effectiveness of their tiny, temporary pacemaker in human heart tissue and animal models. Measuring just 1.8mm by 3.5mm by 1mm, the device is smaller than any previously reported pacemaker. It is paired with a soft, flexible, wireless wearable device mounted on a patient’s chest, which controls the pacing. When an irregular heartbeat is detected, the wearable device emits a light pulse that penetrates through the skin, breastbone and muscles to activate the pacemaker and regulate heart rhythm.</p> <p>While designed to work for hearts of all sizes, the pacemaker is particularly well-suited for newborns with congenital heart defects. Northwestern experimental cardiologist Igor Efimov, who co-led the study, said this device could play a<span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"> critical role in the effective treatment</span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"> of infants.</span></p> <p>"Our major motivation was children," Efimov explained. "About 1 percent of children are born with congenital heart defects, regardless of whether they live in a low-resource or high-resource country. The good news is that these children only need temporary pacing after surgery. In about seven days or so, most patients’ hearts will self-repair. But those seven days are absolutely critical."</p> <p>Researchers believe this pacemaker could provide a safer alternative to traditional pacemakers for temporary pacing in patients with bradycardia, a condition characterised by a resting heart rate below 60 beats per minute. Additionally, they suggest that the technology’s versatility could extend to broader medical applications in bioelectronic medicine, such as aiding nerve and bone healing and blocking pain.</p> <p>This revolutionary development represents a significant step forward in cardiac treatment, potentially improving outcomes for both infants and adults requiring temporary heart pacing.</p> <p><em>Images: Northwestern University</em></p>

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Do stem cell injections for knee osteoarthritis actually work?

<div class="theconversation-article-body">More than 500 million people around the world <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanrhe/article/PIIS2665-9913(23)00163-7/fulltext">live with osteoarthritis</a>. The knee is affected more often than any other joint, with symptoms (such as pain, stiffness and reduced movement) affecting work, sleep, sport and <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-musculoskeletal-conditions/osteoarthritis">daily activities</a>.</p> <p>Knee osteoarthritis is often thought of as thinning of the protective layer of cartilage within the joint. But we now understand it affects all the structures of the joint, including the bones, muscles and nerve endings.</p> <p>While there are things that <a href="https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/standards/clinical-care-standards/osteoarthritis-knee-clinical-care-standard/information-consumers-osteoarthritis-knee-clinical-care-standard">can be done to manage</a> the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis, there is no cure, and many people experience persistent pain. As a result, an opportunity exists for <a href="https://www.rheuma.com.au/stem-cell-therapy-good-bad-ugly/174">as yet unproven treatments</a> to enter the market, often before regulatory safeguards can be put in place.</p> <p>Stem cell injections are one such treatment. A <a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD013342.pub2">new review</a> my colleagues and I published this week finds that evidence of their benefits and harms remains elusive.</p> <h2>Stem cell treatments</h2> <p>Stem cells are already established as treatments for some diseases – <a href="https://www.lymphoma.org.au/lymphoma/treatments/stem-cell-transplants/autologous-stem-cell-transplant/">mostly disorders of the blood</a>, bone marrow or immune system – which has led to suggestions they could be used for a much wider array of conditions.</p> <p>Stem cells have been touted as promising treatments for osteoarthritis because they have special properties which allow them to replicate and develop into the mature healthy cells that make up our body’s organs and other tissues, including cartilage.</p> <p>Stem cell treatments for osteoarthritis generally involve <a href="https://www.aboutstemcells.org/treatments">taking a sample of tissue</a> from a site that is rich in stem cells (such as bone marrow or fat), treating it to increase the number of stem cells, then injecting it into the joint.</p> <p>The hope is that if the right type of stem cells can be introduced into an osteoarthritic joint in the right way and at the right time, they may help to repair damaged structures in the joint, or have other effects such as reducing inflammation.</p> <p>But no matter how convincing the theory, we need good evidence for effectiveness and safety before a new therapy is adopted into practice.</p> <p>Stem cell injections have not been approved by Australia’s <a href="https://www.tga.gov.au/news/news/stem-cell-treatments-and-regulation-quick-guide-consumers#:%7E:text=Does%20the%20TGA%20regulate%20stem,does%20not%20regulate%20medical%20practice">Therapeutic Goods Administration</a> for the treatment of osteoarthritis. Nonetheless, some clinics in Australia and around the world still offer them.</p> <p>Because of the regulatory restrictions, we don’t have reliable numbers on how many procedures are being done.</p> <p>They’re not covered by Medicare, so the procedure can cost the consumer thousands of dollars.</p> <p>And, as with any invasive procedure, both the <a href="https://coroners.nsw.gov.au/documents/findings/2016/Findings%20Drysdale.pdf">harvest of stem cells</a> and the joint injection procedure may carry the potential for harm, such as infection.</p> <h2>What we found</h2> <p>Our <a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD013342.pub2">new review</a>, published by the independent, international group the Cochrane Collaboration, looks at all 25 randomised trials of stem cell injections for knee osteoarthritis that have been conducted worldwide to date. Collectively, these studies involved 1,341 participants.</p> <p>We found stem cell injections may slightly improve pain and function compared with a placebo injection, but the size of the improvement may be too small for the patient to notice.</p> <p>The evidence isn’t strong enough to determine whether there is any improvement in quality of life following a stem cell injection, whether cartilage regrows, or to estimate the risk of harm.</p> <p>This means we can’t confidently say yet whether any improvement that might follow a stem cell injection is worth the risk (or the cost).</p> <h2>Hope or hype?</h2> <p>It’s not surprising we invest hope in finding a transformative treatment for such a common and disabling condition. Belief in the benefits of stem cells is widespread – more than <a href="https://www.arthroscopyjournal.org/article/S0749-8063(21)00571-5/abstract">three-quarters of Americans</a> believe stem cells can relieve arthritis pain and more than half believe this treatment to be curative.</p> <p>But what happens if a new treatment is introduced to practice before it has been clearly proven to be safe and effective?</p> <p>The use of an unproven, invasive therapy is not just associated with the risks of the intervention itself. Even if the treatment were harmless, there is the risk of unnecessary cost, inconvenience, and a missed opportunity for the patient to use existing therapies that are known to be effective.</p> <p>What’s more, if we need to play catch-up to try to establish an evidence base for a treatment that’s already in practice, we risk diverting scarce research resources towards a therapy that may not prove to be effective, simply because the genie is out of the bottle.</p> <h2>Working towards a clearer answer</h2> <p>Several more large <a href="https://anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?ACTRN=12620000870954">clinical trials</a> are currently underway, and should increase our understanding of whether stem cell injections are safe and effective for knee osteoarthritis.</p> <p>Our review incorporates “<a href="https://www.cochrane.org/news/cochranes-pioneering-role-living-evidence">living evidence</a>”. This means we will continue to add the results of new trials as soon as they’re published, so the review is always up to date, and offers a comprehensive and trustworthy summary to help people with osteoarthritis and their health-care providers to make informed decisions.</p> <p>In the meantime, there are a number of <a href="https://www.racgp.org.au/clinical-resources/clinical-guidelines/key-racgp-guidelines/view-all-racgp-guidelines/knee-and-hip-osteoarthritis/summary-plain-language">evidence-based treatment options</a>. Non-drug treatments such as physiotherapy, regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and cognitive behavioural therapy can be more effective than you think. Anti-inflammatory and pain medications can also play a supporting role.</p> <p>Importantly, it’s not inevitable that osteoarthritic joints get worse with time. So, even though <a href="https://aoanjrr.sahmri.com/background">joint replacement surgery</a> is often highly effective, it’s the last resort and fortunately, many people never need to take this step.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/253404/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/samuel-whittle-2357927">Samuel Whittle</a>, ANZMUSC Practitioner Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/people-are-getting-costly-stem-cell-injections-for-knee-osteoarthritis-but-we-dont-know-if-they-work-253404">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> </div>

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Do any non-drug treatments help back pain? Here’s what the evidence says

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>Jason, a 42-year-old father of two, has been battling back pain for weeks. Scrolling through his phone, he sees ad after ad promising relief: chiropractic alignments, acupuncture, back braces, vibrating massage guns and herbal patches.</p> <p>His GP told him to “stay active”, but what does that even mean when every movement hurts? Jason wants to avoid strong painkillers and surgery, but with so many options (and opinions), it’s hard to know what works and what’s just marketing hype.</p> <p>If Jason’s experience sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Back pain is one of the most common reasons people visit a doctor. It can be challenging to manage, mainly due to widespread <a href="https://theconversation.com/having-good-posture-doesnt-prevent-back-pain-and-bad-posture-doesnt-cause-it-183732">misunderstandings</a> and the <a href="https://ebm.bmj.com/content/early/2025/03/02/bmjebm-2024-112974">overwhelming number</a> of ineffective and uncertain treatments promoted.</p> <p>We assessed the best available evidence of non-drug and non-surgical treatments to alleviate low back pain. <a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD014691.pub2/full">Our review</a> – published today by the independent, international group the Cochrane Collaboration – includes 31 Cochrane systematic reviews, covering 97,000 people with back pain.</p> <p>It <a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD014691.pub2/full">shows</a> bed rest doesn’t work for back pain. Some of the treatments that do work can depend on how long you’ve been in pain.</p> <h2>Is back pain likely to be serious?</h2> <p>There are different types of low back pain. It can:</p> <ul> <li>be short-lived, lasting less than six weeks (acute back pain)</li> <li>linger for a bit longer, for six to twelve weeks (sub-acute)</li> <li>stick around for months and even years (chronic, defined as more than 12 weeks).</li> </ul> <p>In <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736(16)30970-9/abstract">most cases</a> (90-95%), back pain is non-specific and cannot be reliably linked to a specific cause or underlying disease. This includes common structural changes seen in x-rays and MRIs of the spine.</p> <p>For this reason, imaging of the back is <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(09)60172-0/abstract">only</a> recommended in rare situations – typically when there’s a clear suspicion of serious back issues, such as after physical trauma or when there is numbness or loss of sensation in the groin or legs.</p> <p>Many people expect to receive <a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD013815.pub2/full">painkillers</a> for their back pain or even surgery, but these are no longer the front-line treatment options due to limited benefits and the high risk of harm.</p> <p>International <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(18)30489-6/fulltext">clinical guidelines</a> recommend people choose non-drug and non-surgical treatments to relieve their pain, improve function and reduce the distress commonly associated with back pain.</p> <p>So what works for different types of pain? Here’s what <a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD014691.pub2/full">our review found</a> when researchers compared these treatments with standard care (the typical treatment patients usually receive) or no treatment.</p> <h2>What helps for short-term back pain</h2> <p><strong>1. Stay active – don’t rest in bed</strong></p> <p>If your back pain is new, the best advice is also one of the simplest: keep moving despite the pain.</p> <p>Changing the way you move and use your body to protect it, or resting in bed, can seem like to right way to respond to pain – and may have even been recommended in the past. But we know know this excessive protective behaviour can make it harder to return to meaningful activities.</p> <p>This doesn’t mean pushing through pain or hitting the gym, but instead, trying to maintain your usual routines as much as possible. Evidence suggests that doing so won’t make your pain worse, and may improve it.</p> <p><strong>2. Multidisciplinary care, if pain lingers</strong></p> <p>For pain lasting six to 12 weeks, multidisciplinary treatment is likely to reduce pain compared to standard care.</p> <p>This involves a coordinated team of doctors, physiotherapists and psychologists working together to address the many factors contributing to your back pain persisting:</p> <ul> <li> <p>neurophysiological influences refer to how your nervous system is currently processing pain. It can make you more sensitive to signals from movements, thoughts, feelings and environment</p> </li> <li> <p>psychological factors include how your thoughts, feelings and behaviours affect your pain system and, ultimately, the experience of pain you have</p> </li> <li> <p>occupational factors include the physical demands of your job and how well you can manage them, as well as aspects like low job satisfaction, all of which can contribute to ongoing pain.</p> </li> </ul> <h2>What works for chronic back pain</h2> <p>Once pain has been around for more than 12 weeks, it can become more difficult to treat. But relief is still possible.</p> <p><strong>Exercise therapy</strong></p> <p>Exercise – especially programs tailored to your needs and preferences – is likely to reduce pain and help you move better. This could include aerobic activity, strength training or Pilates-based movements.</p> <p>It doesn’t seem to matter what type of exercise you do – it matters more that you are consistent and have the right level of supervision, especially early on.</p> <p><strong>Multidisciplinary treatment</strong></p> <p>As with short-term pain, coordinated care involving a mix of physical, occupational and psychological approaches likely works better than usual care alone.</p> <p><strong>Psychological therapies</strong></p> <p>Psychological therapies for chronic pain include approaches to help people change thinking, feelings, behaviours and reactions that might sustain persistent pain.</p> <p>These approaches are likely to reduce pain, though they may not be as effective in improving physical function.</p> <p><strong>Acupuncture</strong></p> <p>Acupuncture probably reduces pain and improves how well you can function compared to placebo or no treatment.</p> <p>While some debate remains about how it works, the evidence suggests potential benefits for some people with chronic back pain.</p> <h2>What doesn’t work or still raises uncertainty?</h2> <p>The review found that many commonly advertised treatments still have uncertain benefits or probably do not benefit people with back pain.</p> <p>Spinal manipulation, for example, has uncertain benefits in acute and chronic back pain, and it likely does not improve how well you function if you have acute back pain.</p> <p>Traction, which involves stretching the spine using weights or pulleys, probably doesn’t help with chronic back pain. Despite its popularity in some circles, there’s little evidence that it works.</p> <p>There isn’t enough reliable data to determine whether advertised treatments – such back braces, vibrating massage guns and herbal patches – are effective.</p> <h2>How can you use the findings?</h2> <p>If you have back pain, start by considering how long you’ve had it. Then explore treatment options that research supports and discuss them with your GP, psychologist or physiotherapist.</p> <p>Your health provider should reassure you about the importance of gradually increasing your activity to resume meaningful work, social and life activities. They should also support you in making informed decisions about which treatments are most appropriate for you at this stage.</p> <p><!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><em><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/253122/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rodrigo-rossi-nogueira-rizzo-1544189">Rodrigo Rossi Nogueira Rizzo</a>, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/neuroscience-research-australia-976">Neuroscience Research Australia</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/aidan-cashin-2355450">Aidan Cashin</a>, NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/neuroscience-research-australia-976">Neuroscience Research Australia</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/do-any-non-drug-treatments-help-back-pain-heres-what-the-evidence-says-253122">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> </div>

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"Game changer": Aussie women welcome new early-detection cancer test

<p>Australian women will soon have access to a revolutionary blood test designed to aid in the early detection of breast cancer. The innovative test, known as BREASTEST plus™, was developed by BCAL Diagnostics and is set to complement traditional breast cancer screening methods such as mammograms and ultrasounds.</p> <p>BCAL Diagnostics chair Jayne Shaw <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/public-health/australian-first-blood-test-to-help-early-detection-of-breast-cancer-comes-to-sydney-before-nationwide-rollout-c-18153750" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revealed to 7NEWS</a> that the development of the test had taken 15 years, describing it as a "game changer" for women worldwide.</p> <p>“The breast test is a game changer for all women everywhere because it’s a blood test to detect breast cancer alongside other diagnostic tools like ultrasound and a mammogram,” Shaw said.</p> <p>She pointed out that a similar blood test for prostate cancer, which has been available since 1989, has significantly improved clinical outcomes for men. “Early diagnosis for all cancers will lead to improved survivability rates, and it was only inevitable that a blood test would be developed to diagnose breast cancer earlier,” she added.</p> <p>One of the major advantages of the new blood test is its ability to detect breast cancer in women with high breast density. Around 40-50% of Australian women undergoing screening have high breast density, which can obscure abnormalities on mammograms and make diagnosis more difficult.</p> <p>With the ability to identify breast cancer markers, the blood test will provide a valuable additional tool for detecting cancers that might otherwise go unnoticed.</p> <p>Breast Cancer Network Australia director Vicki Durston welcomed the new test, especially for its potential to improve the reporting of high breast density cases, where cancers are often missed. “Breast Cancer Network Australia has long been calling for the uplift in the breast density statement nationally to see standardised reporting across the country,” Durston said.</p> <p>She also noted that while high breast density is just one of many risk factors, the new test represents an innovative step forward in improving early detection and treatment.</p> <p>Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Australian women, accounting for approximately 28% of all new cancer cases. In 2024 alone, around 21,194 people were diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia, including 20,973 women and 221 men. However, survival rates have improved dramatically, with Australia’s peak breast cancer body reporting that the five-year survival rate has risen from 78% in 1994 to 92% in 2020, with many people living long and healthy lives beyond this period.</p> <p>While the test currently comes at an out-of-pocket cost, there is hope that the Australian government will eventually provide subsidies under Medicare to make it more accessible. The first tests will be available at the <a href="https://www.sydneybreastclinic.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sydney Breast Clinic</a> starting Thursday, followed by a rollout in Melbourne, with plans to expand nationwide by the end of the year.</p> <p><em>Images: Shutterstock / 7NEWS</em></p>

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An artificial heart may save your life. But it can also change you in surprising ways

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p>This week, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/12/australian-man-survives-100-days-with-artificial-heart-in-world-first-success">doctors announced</a> that an Australian man with severe heart failure had left hospital with an artificial heart that had kept him alive until he could receive a donor heart.</p> <p>The patient, a man from New South Wales in his 40s, was not the world’s first person to receive this type of artificial heart. However, he is <a href="https://www.svhs.org.au/newsroom/news/australia-first-total-artificial-heart-implant">said to be</a> the <a href="https://www.monash.edu/news/articles/australias-first-durable-total-artificial-heart-implant-announced-as-a-success">first with one to be discharged from hospital</a> to wait for a heart transplant, which he’s since had.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT<br />This machine has enabled an Australian man with severe heart failure to be the first person in the world to leave hospital with an artificial heart transplant <a href="https://t.co/6S12mINwBm">pic.twitter.com/6S12mINwBm</a></p> <p>— Reuters (@Reuters) <a href="https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1899862954155126824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2025</a></p></blockquote> <p>I am a philosopher and bioethicist. I <a href="https://bridges.monash.edu/articles/thesis/Phenomenology_and_Artificial_Hearts/22312204">completed my PhD</a> on artificial hearts – particularly how these implants can change people’s lives in profound ways.</p> <p>Here’s what patients and their families need to consider.</p> <h2>What is an artificial heart?</h2> <p>Artificial hearts began to be developed in the 1960s, sponsored by the United States government and funded in a similar way to space and military programs.</p> <p>In 1982, a man named <a href="https://www.historynewsnetwork.org/article/hero-or-victim-the-25th-anniversary-of-barney-clar">Barney Clark</a> received the Jarvik-7 total artificial heart. Doctors removed his failing biological heart and replaced it with a plastic and metal device to circulate blood to his lungs and around his body. He lived for 112 days before dying from multi-organ failure. He never left hospital.</p> <p>In the 1980s and 1990s, medical device companies began to develop alternatives to total artificial hearts. These partial artificial hearts, known as ventricular assist devices, help out a biological heart by supplementing or replacing one of its two pumping chambers.</p> <p>These are more straightforward and versatile than total artificial hearts, and can be used for earlier stages of heart failure.</p> <p>Not all artificial hearts generate a pulse.</p> <p>Artificial hearts with a pulse generally mimic the biological heart. They pump blood in the same way the heart beats, by filling with blood and squeezing to circulate blood in waves or pulses.</p> <p>But some devices continuously push blood around the body instead of pulsing. So with these continuous-flow devices neither the patient nor their health team can <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11906-017-0782-6">detect a pulse</a>.</p> <p><a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0003497524008749">In the US between 2014 and 2024</a>, almost 30,000 patients received continuous-flow ventricular assist devices. In the same period, more than 310 total artificial hearts were implanted.</p> <p>The total artificial hearts <a href="https://www.syncardia.com/syncardia-total-artificial-heart-stah.html">commercially</a> <a href="https://www.carmatsa.com/en/our_product/">available</a> today are licensed exclusively as bridging therapies – to keep people alive until a donor heart becomes available – rather than permanent implants.</p> <h2>How about the device making news this week?</h2> <p>The device in the news – the <a href="https://www.monash.edu/news/articles/australias-first-durable-total-artificial-heart-implant-announced-as-a-success">BiVACOR Total Artificial Heart</a> – was developed by a US-Australian collaboration. This device is innovative, mainly because it is the first continuous-flow device designed to replace the whole heart. Designers are also aiming for it to be the first total artificial heart suitable as a permanent transplant (known as destination therapy).</p> <p>A reliable, durable and responsive total artificial heart is, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-12/sydney-hospital-artificial-heart-implant-operation-success/105036154">in the words</a> of Paul Jansz, the surgeon who implanted the device, “the Holy Grail”.</p> <p>The BiVACOR’s clinical success so far gives us reason to be optimistic about an alternative to scarce donor hearts for responding to severe heart failure.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/655013/original/file-20250313-56-4w24qy.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;rect=12%2C12%2C8231%2C5475&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/655013/original/file-20250313-56-4w24qy.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;rect=12%2C12%2C8231%2C5475&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/655013/original/file-20250313-56-4w24qy.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=400&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/655013/original/file-20250313-56-4w24qy.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=400&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/655013/original/file-20250313-56-4w24qy.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=400&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/655013/original/file-20250313-56-4w24qy.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=503&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/655013/original/file-20250313-56-4w24qy.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=503&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/655013/original/file-20250313-56-4w24qy.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=503&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="Hand holding the BiVACOR artificial heart" /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">This device is designed to replace the whole heart, and for now, is licensed as a temporary implant, ahead of a heart transplant.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">BiVACOR TIQ</span></span></figcaption></figure> <h2>Transplants can change lives</h2> <p>However, patients do not just resume their old lives when they leave hospital with an artificial heart.</p> <p>While the pumping component is inside their chest, there are also <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BHW0ATvgFDu/?hl=en">external components</a> to manage and monitor. A thick tube perforates their abdomen and connects to an external controller unit and power supply, which the patient carries around in a bag. Controllers must be closely monitored, and batteries must be regularly recharged.</p> <p>My research showed that even a perfectly safe and reliable total artificial heart could transform patients’ lives in at least three major areas.</p> <p><strong>1. Is it part of me? Do I trust it?</strong></p> <p>Patients must <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09638288.2020.1717648">trust, tolerate and receive sensory feedback about how the device is working</a> for it to feel like part of them. In the case of an artificial heart, this might mean the device feels responsive to exercise and the body’s needs.</p> <p>But it may be difficult for artificial hearts to meet these criteria, especially for devices that do not generate a pulse.</p> <p>Patients may also question whether their heart is located in their body, or in the controller unit. They may wonder if they even have a heart, particularly if they can’t feel a pulse.</p> <p><strong>2. Beeps and alarms</strong></p> <p>An artificial heart also changes how patients live their lives and <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11097-024-10050-7">navigate the world</a>.</p> <p>Interruptions from <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1049732317700853">loud device alarms</a> distract patients from their normal activities. And patients must switch between mains power and batteries when they <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0147956311002718">wake in the night and need to visit the toilet</a>.</p> <p><strong>3. Marking time</strong></p> <p>Our hearts may be our <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurorobotics/articles/10.3389/fnbot.2014.00015/full">natural</a> <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0301051111000032">metronomes</a>, marking time. So removing someone’s heart rhythm can confuse their sense of time.</p> <p>The need for batteries to be recharged periodically can also reshape patients’ days.</p> <p>Waiting around for a transplant heart, or the latest software update, may change patients’ perspectives on what months and years feel like.</p> <h2>We need to give patients the whole picture</h2> <p>Artificial hearts are remarkable devices with great promise. But patients and families also deserve to know how these extraordinary treatments might change how they feel about themselves and the world.</p> <p>They need to know this before they sign up for them. Artificial hearts don’t just save lives – they also change them.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/252165/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><em>By <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/pat-mcconville-2344684">Pat McConville</a>, Lecturer in Ethics, Law, and Professionalism, School of Medicine, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/an-artificial-heart-may-save-your-life-but-it-can-also-change-you-in-surprising-ways-252165">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> </div>

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Acquapole lands in Sydney - Because fitness should never be dry! 

<p>Sydney Gymnastic and Aquatic Centre (SGAC) at West HQ is redefining workouts with the launch of Acquapole, an exciting aquatic fitness experience making its splashy debut in Sydney this February.  </p> <p>Forget the monotony of the gym or swimming laps – Acquapole combines the resistance of water with the strength-building benefits of pole fitness for a workout that’s effective, accessible and a whole lot of fun. </p> <p>Brad Vella, Aquatics Manager at SGAC, said Acquapole, which was designed in Italy, has proven to be a big hit in Europe given its ability to build strength, improve flexibility, and enhance coordination while being gentle on joints. </p> <p>“It’s a workout like no other, combining the strength-building benefits of pole fitness with the natural resistance of water for a full-body experience that’s as enjoyable as it is effective,” Brad Vella said. </p> <p>“It’s perfect for anyone looking to try something new, from seasoned fitness lovers to those just starting their wellness journey. </p> <p>“Acquapole brings a fresh and exciting approach to fitness for both enthusiasts and beginners. This is exactly what SGAC is all about—making fitness accessible and enjoyable for everyone.” </p> <p>The introduction of Acquapole is part of West HQ’s larger mission to bring cutting-edge fitness experiences to Greater Sydney. Acquapole is one of four innovative aquatic fitness programs now available at SGAC, alongside Acquapole Boxing, Acquapole Elastics, and SAF AQUA Drums Vibes, each offering a unique and engaging way to work out in the water. </p> <p>West HQ CEO, Richard Errington, said SGAC was committed to redefining fitness to ensure its programs continue to be to be relevant, enjoyable and dynamic.   </p> <p>“That’s why both SGAC and our One55 fitness centre continually evolve programs to make working out more rewarding by bringing fresh experiences to our members and the local community in Western Sydney,” Mr Errington said.   </p> <p>“SGAC’s Acquapole is a perfect example of how we evolve fitness  as it combines fun and innovation in a new work out experience.” </p> <p>By combining world-class fitness options with exceptional dining and entertainment, West HQ is continuously enhancing what it means to be an all-encompassing lifestyle destination in Western Sydney. </p> <p> Why Everyone’s Talking About Acquapole: </p> <ul> <li>It’s Fun: Say goodbye to dull workouts and hello to a 45 minute splash of excitement. </li> <li>It’s Low-Impact: Perfect for those looking to stay active without stressing their joints. </li> <li>It’s Inclusive: Whether you’re a fitness pro, a beginner, or somewhere in between, Acquapole welcomes you.</li> </ul> <p><em>Image credits: Supplied </em></p>

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