Today, we're delving into some fascinating topics that could impact your health and well-being. First, we'll explore the promising potential of glycine as a supplement for aging and how it might just be the secret to a longer, healthier life. Next, we tackle the evolving landscape of breast cancer screening in Australia and what a shift to a risk-b…

Welcome to MedHeads, the podcast where we bring you the latest and most compelling stories in the medical world. I'm your host, Michelle. Today, we're diving into three pivotal issues making waves in the healthcare community. First, we uncover the severe physical and mental health challenges faced by Julian Assange during his prolonged isolation, h…

First, we'll head down to Victoria, Australia to explore how significant budget cuts are impacting the health sector there, leading to stringent cost-saving measures and hiring freezes. Next, we'll dive into Australia's upcoming vaping ban, which aims to curb youth access despite some legislative compromises. And finally, we'll introduce you to gro…

First, we'll delve into a revolutionary treatment for epilepsy, where a young boy named Oren Knowlson is experiencing an 80% reduction in his severe seizures thanks to a new neurostimulator implanted in his skull. Next, we'll discuss the rising costs in veterinary care and the financial burden it places on pet owners seeking top-tier medical treatm…

First, we explore a PLOS Biology study highlighting the effectiveness and challenges of animal research in therapeutic developments. Next, we celebrate a groundbreaking innovation in the fight against antimicrobial resistance—a rapid test cutting bacterial infection diagnosis times from days to minutes. Lastly, we examine U.S. Surgeon General Dr. V…

Antidepressant Discontinuation Insights**: A recent Lancet Psychiatry review reveals that only 1 in 6 or 7 patients will experience symptoms upon stopping antidepressants, with severe symptoms occurring in just 1 in 35 patients. The importance of tapering off medication rather than stopping abruptly is emphasised, aligning with official health guid…

Explore IBD research, the dangers of synthetic opioids, and tips for preventing blood clots during flights in this informative MedHeads Podcast episode.By Dr Ferghal Armstrong - FAChAM

Join us as we navigate the complex landscape of managing Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) with our expert guest, Charmmy Cheng, from The Dietitian's Kitchen. Today’s focus keyword: "Low FODMAP diet". In this episode, we revisit the discussion on IBS from a dietetic perspective, highlighting various management strategies, including dietary and non-die…

In today’s episode, we’re diving into three compelling health stories. We’ll explore whether magnesium supplements can cure anxiety, examine the concerning high excess death rates in the western world since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, and discuss the surprising health risks associated with alcohol consumption during long-haul flights.…

In today's episode, we'll dive into three captivating stories: groundbreaking research on the APOE4 gene and its impact on Alzheimer's disease, Australia's upcoming digital mental health intervention service inspired by the UK's talking therapies program, and the connection between stress and dry eye disease.…

In this episode, we'll debunk the age-old myth of the tongue map and reveal the true complexity of taste perception. We'll also delve into age-related macular degeneration—an escalating eye health issue—and the promising, albeit still limited, treatments on the horizon. Lastly, discover how something as simple as orange peel extracts could become a…

Welcome to MedHeads, your go-to source for bite-sized medical news and health insights. Each week, we cover 2 to 4 key topics to keep you informed and engaged. in today's episode, we're diving into three critical health topics that could impact your well-being. First, we'll explore irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), discussing its symptoms, diagnosis,…

Dr Ferghal and Charmmy delve deep into what constitutes Irritable Bowel Syndrome, a prevalent gastrointestinal disorder that affects millions worldwide. Covering the functional disorder's symptoms and diagnosis criteria, this discussion unfolds the complexities of IBS and the 'diagnosis of exclusion' approach, ensuring other severe conditions are r…

In this episode of Lifestyle Matters, Dr. Fergal Armstrong and dietitian Charmy Cheng delve into the topic of coeliac disease. They cover the basics of celiac disease, its symptoms, diagnosis, and the lifelong gluten-free diet that's necessary for managing the condition. They explore the challenges of avoiding gluten, discuss the role of gluten in …

Dr Fergal Armstrong and dietitian Sharmi Cheng discuss the role of dietary modification in helping people deal with the symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). They delve into the inflammatory nature of MS, its subtypes, associated risk factors, and the impact of diet on managing the condition. The conversation highlights the emphasis on an anti-infla…

In this episode of "Lifestyle Matters," Dr. Ferghal Armstrong engages in an in-depth discussion with Charmmy Cheng, a dietitian, about the ketogenic diet. They cover the key aspects of the diet, including its emphasis on high-fat, low-carb intake and its potential impact on weight loss, diabetes management, and cardiovascular health. The conversati…

Matters! In this episode, Dr Ferghal Armstrong and Charmmy Cheng delve into the fascinating world of the mind diet – a blend of the Mediterranean and DASH diets. Learn about the science-backed benefits of this dietary approach to brain health and gain insight into the specific foods to emphasise and limit for optimal cognitive function. **Key Point…

In this episode, our host, Dr. Ferghal Armstrong, and guest, Charmmy Cheng, the expert dietitian from The Dietitian's Kitchen, explore the intricacies of the DASH diet and the crucial role of sodium in our daily lives. Dr. Armstrong and Charmmy Cheng discuss the significance of sodium, its impacts on the body when consumed in excessive or insuffici…

Are you interested in improving your lifestyle through diet? In our latest episode of Lifestyle Matters, we delved into the world of the Mediterranean diet with dietitian Charmmy Cheng. Discover the evidence-based benefits for heart health, diabetes prevention, and even the management of depression. Learn about the key components of the diet, the r…

Dr Barton Jennings and I explore the pillars of lifestyle medicine and its impact on our lungs, especially in the context of lung disease.By Dr Ferghal Armstrong - MRCGP

'Preconception care is about optimising one's health before trying to get pregnant. This in turn can increase fertility and reduce complications. This week, Dr Debby and I explore the importance of lifestyle factors in preconception care.By Dr Ferghal Armstrong - MRCGP

Dr Debby and I explore the lifestyle approaches in managing polycystic ovarian syndrome as it is a lifelong condition with long term health implications.By Dr Ferghal Armstrong - MRCGP

Re- gaining control of our eating habits : This is a 12 week program based on the experience of various dieticians to empower us to eat better and feel better. Re- gaining control of our eating habits : This is a 12 week program based on the experience of various dieticians to empower us to eat better and feel better. The program is usually $149 an…

Lifestyle Matters Can we eat to feel better? There has been increasing research pointing to the impact of our gut microbiome on our hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis ( HPA Axis) HPA axis is important in regulating our bodies response to various stressors including physical and psychological stressors. Today Amanda Smyth and I explore this …

Looking for evidence to support the hypothesis that our mood will improve if we improve our diet? The SMILES ( Supporting the Modification of Lifestyle in Lowered Emotional State ) trial investigates this further using the Modi Mediterranean diet. The Modi Mediterranean diet incorporates a slightly higher amount of red meat compared to the regular …

What if we can eat our way to happiness by choosing the right foods? Sounds too good to be true ? There has been a lot of research about how food affects our mental and physical well being, and to date there has been an astounding level of evidence to support this. Meet Amanda Smyth, an Accredited Practicing Dietitian who discusses this with us.…

This week Dr Ferghal and I explore ways to improve social connectivity with others. Compassion and communication are great tools to improve social connectivity while pride on the other hand can have a negative impact.By Dr Ferghal Armstrong - MRCGP

Life is a sports event, for which we need to maintain our function. We are all athletes, but our events may be different, our goals may be different. David Francis, an expert in musculoskeletal physiotherapy explains his rational for coaching people to help them be their best. Today I chatted with David Francis, a specialist musculoskeletal physiot…

47% of Australians have had at least one chronic disease. We know very well that many of these diseases, including substance use disorders, are attributed to modifiable lifestyle factors. These factors include the 3Fs and 3Ss: • Fingers – smoking, alcohol, substance use • Feet - exercise • Fork – food • Stress • Sleep • Socialisation However, promo…

Today I spoke with Anita fletcher about interpersonal conflict in the medical profession. How do we deal with it, and who can support us? There are a few basic principles that we need to remember when we are navigating this potentially challenging situation.By Dr Ferghal Armstrong - MRCGP

I spoke with Anita Fletcher of Stand Out medical careers on interview preparation We speak about the preparation phase, the night before, and understanding the unexpected question.By Dr Ferghal Armstrong - MRCGP

Social isolation is now increasingly recognised as a risk factor for premature death, like the time when obesity was recognised as a risk factor for premature death decades ago. This week Dr Ferghal and Dr Saveena explore some of the health implications of social isolation. 1 in 3 Australians have experienced loneliness at some stage in their lives…

We are creatures of social beings, and we thrive on social connectivity. Despite social media’s ability to connect us all virtually, the pandemic of loneliness is booming. This lies in the effect that virtual connectivity is not the same as physical connectivity.By Dr Ferghal Armstrong - MRCGP

In this episode, we discuss a holistic approach to stress management. We will also discuss a simple an effective ‘ A +B = C’ approach. Stress as we know it, is inevitable in our day-to-day lives. We also know that if managed appropriately, stress can, in fact, be a driving force to strive further. One of the most significant aspects of poor stress …

Dr Ferghal Armstrong talks with Standout Medical MD Anita Fletcher. Standout Medical Careers is an advice-based specialist Medical Career Consultancy practice. Their goal is to provide doctors with a pragmatic and strategic approach to successfully seeking out and navigating career opportunities. Providing assistance with career planning, creating …

Part 2 of our Discussion on Stress They say that depression is fear of the past, stress is fear of the present, and anxiety is fear of the future. Stress is ever present in our daily lives. We need stress to keep us motivated, low levels of stress are harmful to us because we become bored, moderate levels of stress are good for us because we become…

They say that depression is fear of the past, stress is fear of the present, and anxiety is fear of the future. Stress is ever present in our daily lives. We need stress to keep us motivated, low levels of stress are harmful to us because we become bored, moderate levels of stress are good for us because we become more productive. If, however we fe…

This week we discuss Alcohol. Alcohol affects everyone. How it affects you depends on how much you drink, your health, your age and other factors. Drinking too much can lead to harmful short-term and long-term effects.By Dr Ferghal Armstrong - MRCGP

The harms of smoking are related to three constituents in tobacco smoke. Firstly, nicotine causes addiction, secondly the tar causes progression of atheroma and cancer, and thirdly, carbon monoxide causes poor oxygen delivery to tissues. The benefits of smoking cessation occur within minutes, and it is never too late to consider quitting. In fact, …

This week we feature Julie Schutz who is a Fellow of the Australian Society of Lifestyle Medicine, a Physiotherapist and a Health Coach who predominantly supports women with autoimmune diseases and other chronic diseases. Julie’s interest in Health Coaching stemmed from her personal experience of being diagnosed with an autoimmune condition. She wa…

The concept of fasting is not new to many especially if we look at the various cultures and religions around the world e.g., Muslims fast during Ramadan, or the various fasts practiced by Hindus and Buddhists. Even Greek philosophers such as Hippocrates and Aristotle have prescribed fasting for various ailments. This week, we look at how and why in…

This week Saveena and Ferghal discuss the Keto Diet Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/medheads)By Dr Ferghal Armstrong - MRCGP

The highs and the lows of the “Low Carb High Fat” diet. Many people tend to subscribe to the famous “Low Carb High Fat” diet and others swear by it but a pertinent question to ask is whether these individuals do it well or if they are successful? Can the diet really improve diabetes control? Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/medheads)…

Pass the ‘DASH’ on the table – The DASH Diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) We often hear practitioners recommending the DASH diet to someone with high blood pressure. But how people friendly is this diet? On this episode of Lifestyle Matters, Dr Ferghal and Dr Saveena explore the famous DASH diet. Support the show (https://www.patreon.c…

“A diet as good as the famous statins?” This week, Dr Ferghal and I explore the ‘Portfolio Diet’; known for its effectiveness in lowering LDL i.e. ‘bad cholesterol’. This diet is said to be as effective as Lovastatin, which is a cholesterol lowering medication! Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/medheads)…

I chat with Dr Jesse Zanker, a geriatrician who specialises in the care of elderly patients. We discuss the impact that COVID has had on elderly vulnerable patients and the important role that vaccination has in firstly preventing serious illness and secondly in preventing ongoing transmission to friends and loved ones. We both look forward to a ti…

The Mediterranean diet is proven to reduce all cause mortality. It reduces the mortality associated with heart disease, metabolic syndrome, Diabetes, Cancer and improves longevity and quality of life. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/medheads)By Dr Ferghal Armstrong - MRCGP

In this episode, we discuss tools to use when choosing a diet and what a weight loss plateau is. Over the upcoming episodes, we will be reviewing the various diets that are out there from a medical perspective. This episode is to introduce how beneficial diets can be to our lives when chosen correctly. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/medh…

How can you trigger a change in someone, how can you unlock their potential for recovery? In this episode tells us how he has used the miracle question to help a patient suffering from PTSD and prescription opioid dependency find his true purpose in life and thereby escape the shackles of drug dependency. Click below to hear more. Support the show …

In this episode Dr Andrew Rees and I discuss human needs in the context of benzodiazepine dependency. We discuss why they are so difficult to come off, but also why coming off them is so important. Andrew describes the his coaching approach which he uses to help his patients free themselves from the shackles of dependency. Support the show (https:/…