Health Check Podcast
1) Does your home country impact your cancer risk?
North Korean defectors and lifelong South Korean residents have significantly different cancer rates, despite their genetic similarities; new research finds. Presenter Laura Foster unpacks this study,...Show More
2) Using lasers to fight brain cancer
New research from Yale shows that aging doesnât have to result in mental and physical decline. In fact, they found that nearly half of older adults actually improved in cognitive or physical ability o...Show More
3) Do collagen supplements really do anything?
Collagen supplements have become increasingly popular over recent years. However, a new review has revealed that although taking collagen may rejuvenate the skin, it wonât stop you from getting wrinkl...Show More
4) Could a single vaccine block nearly all viruses?
A universal nasal spray vaccine that could block nearly all viruses, and possibly also bacteria and allergens has been successful at early stages of research. By leaving immune cells âon alertâ, they ...Show More
5) Surviving without lungs for 48 hours
How a patient survived for 48 hours without lungs. Too ill to receive a lung transplant straight away, the man relied on an artificial lung while his body recovered from an infection. As he prepares t...Show More
6) Are statins safer than we thought?
Statins are one of the most prescribed drugs in the world as they are highly effective at reducing âbadâ LDL cholesterol that causes cardiovascular disease. A new review in the Lancet has found there...Show More
7) Why do some people hoard?
Many of us can empathise with that feeling of keeping stuff for years and years. We might keep treasured objects with real sentimental value, or we might have items for a long time - and yet we can't ...Show More
8) South African coming-of-age initiations
For some communities in South Africa coming-of-age initiations are a hugely significant moment, but there have been rising concerns over the safety of the circumcisions at the heart of this ritual. 48...Show More
9) Could the shingles vaccine really slow down the ageing process?
Joined by BBC Brazil reporter Camilla Mota, presenter Claudia Hammond discusses new research from the U.S. that has found that people who have had a vaccine against shingles seem to be aging more slow...Show More
10) What effect does exercise really have on depression?
We are often told exercise is good for boosting your mood, but a new Cochrane review has looked at what the evidence says about how much difference exercise can really make when treating depression.Ma...Show More