According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, over 2 million Australians are living with osteoarthritis — a condition that results from the degeneration of joint cartilage and underlying bone, leading to pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility, particularly in the knees, hips, hands, and feet. But is osteoarthritis simply a result of 'wear and tear'? And more importantly, what can be done about it?

On this edition, we'll explore not only what causes knee osteoarthritis, but also hear about a range of treatment and management options available — that can help people maintain their mobility and quality of life.

Associate Professor Christina Abdel Shaheed is a National Health and Medical Research Council Principal Research Fellow at the Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Public Health, University of Sydney.

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On this edition, Professor David Durrheim chats with Graham Wilson about Influenza.

Professor David Durrheim is a Conjoint Professor of Public Health Medicine, University of Newcastle and Director of Health Protection, Hunter New England Health.

David answers some of the big questions surrounding the impending flu season, such as why some people still get the flu after vaccination, how influenza is different from the common cold, what age people should start getting vaccinated and more.

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Which Way? is dedicated to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on their journey toward improved health, with a strong focus on smoking and vaping cessation. Led by Associate Professor Michelle Kennedy, a proud Wiradjuri woman, the team generated the first Indigenous-led primary research designed by and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. This groundbreaking work aims to inform and shape culturally appropriate policy and practice in cessation care.

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We’re constantly hearing conflicting advice about diets — one day something is good for you, the next day a new study says it’s not. With so much information, it’s no wonder many of us feel confused about what we should be eating to stay healthy.

The reality is, there may not be a one-size-fits-all answer. What works well for one person might not work for another, and Dr Erin Clarke is a researcher with the Food and Nutrition Research Program at the Hunter Medical Research Institute, and she's is exploring how our genetic and metabolic differences can influence the way our bodies respond to food.

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Recent measles cases in Australia underscore the need for high vaccination rates to prevent outbreaks.

Professor Joshua Davis, Senior Staff Specialist in Infectious Disease at Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital, and Deputy Director of the Hunter Medical Research Institute’s Infection Research Program, discusses what measles is, why it is so contagious, why there is an increase in cases despite Australia reaching herd immunity in 2014, and why vaccinations are so effective in controlling the disease.

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For many Australians, alcohol feels as much a part of our culture and barbecues and weekend sports. But even occasional drinks can affect us more than we realise. On this edition of Wellbeing, a Beyond Blue psychologist looks at the issues around alcohol and mental health.

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Today on Wellbeing we are talking with Phoebe Sanders, a student counsellor at The University of Newcastle's Wollotuka Institute. The Wollotuka Institute supports indigenous students with academic, cultural and emotional well-being needs in a culturally safe way. Phoebe describes herself as an Indigenous ally who lives, works and plays on Awabakal and Worimi country.

In this episode Phoebe talks about her role at The Wollotuka Institute, the support that Wollotuka provides, its importance to the university journey for indigenous students, innovative programs it has available to indigenous students, some of the mental health journeys she sees in indigenous students as a student counsellor, and how she would like to see universities all over Australia embrace similar models to The Wollotuka Institute.

"Having a culturally safe space for our students is really important. Many students may not have felt comfortable going to the main student counselling service, so The Wollotuka Institute is a culturally safe space." -- Phoebe Sanders on this episode of Wellbeing

We would love to hear from you! If you would like to suggest topics, give us feedback, or just say hi, you can contact us on wellbeing@2nurfm.com

Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins
Wellbeing website: https://www.2nurfm.com.au/wellbeing

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Wellbeing is the last episode in our six part series on depression. We are joined by Dr. Drew Ramsey and we are discussing depression recovery through diet. Drew Ramsey, M.D. is a psychiatrist and is a leader in Nutritional Psychiatry having authored Eat To Beat Depression and Anxiety in 2021. He is also an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He is pioneer in the Nutritional Psychiatry field having, along with his team, offered the first Nutritional Psychiatry Clinician Training program to mental health clinicians whereby they learn evidence and clinical methods to effectively use nutrition in their work. Other books he has authored concerning food and mental health include the award-winning cookbook Eat Complete: The 21 Nutrients that Fuel Brain Power and the bestseller 50 Shades of Kale. He has done TedTalks on the subject and been featured in CBS, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and now The Wellbeing Podcast.

In this episode, Dr Ramsey talks about his book, how the food we eat impacts our mental health, how the western diet doesn't promote good mental health, the similar impact better diet has to that of antidepressants, steps in how to change your diet over time, how gut health and the brain interact, the types of foods that promote good mental health and the impact processed foods have on mental health.

"What happens with foods is that over time, if you're missing certain nutrients you're going to have a lot more inflammation, but you're also just not going to be able to make some of these basic building blocks you need for mental health." - Dr Drew Ramsey on this episode of Wellbeing

Tune in the new year for more Wellbeing

We would love to hear from you! If you would like to suggest topics, give us feedback, or just say hi, you can contact us on wellbeing@2nurfm.com

Hosted and Produced by Jack Hodgins
Wellbeing website: https://www.2nurfm.com.au/wellbeing

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.