Centre for GI Health

28/04/2026

Menopause is often spoken about as a single moment in time. In reality, it’s a transition that unfolds over years, with physiology, symptoms and long-term risk evolving along the way.

In this second part of Everyday Medicine, I shift the focus from understanding menopause to how we actually manage it in clinical practice, particularly for women struggling with symptoms that disrupt their daily lives.

What’s evident is that menopause care is rarely about a single prescription. In my experience, it’s a broader clinical conversation that includes symptom burden, overall health, risk factors and patient goals, all within the context of evolving evidence.

To explore this further, I’m joined again by Dr Sugandha Kumar, an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist with a specialist interest in menopause care. Sugandha shares how she approaches treatment decisions, including the role of menopausal hormone therapy, changing safety data, and why timing and individual context matter.

We explore:

– Why menopause consultations should include a broader health and lifestyle review

– The role of menopausal hormone therapy, including evolving evidence around safety

– How timing, formulation and delivery (oral vs transdermal) influence risk

– Why treatment decisions, including duration, need to be individualised

This is the second of a two-part conversation.

If you’re a clinician or simply trying to better understand this stage of life, this discussion offers a clear and practical foundation.

🎧 Listen to the episode here: https://www.gihealth.com.au/everyday-medicine-podcast/z6z1khj9rsmwcvqkfvn9mwr66fdlke

As always, I’d welcome your reflections after listening.

It is now increasingly recognised that women’s health care needs at menopause have been both under-recognised and under-treated by medical practitioners, and that menopause management has not been emphasised adequately in graduate and post-graduate education. Considering that half the world’s po...

21/04/2026

For most women, Menopause is often thought about later in life. However, the transition can emerge earlier and can impact more than the menstrual cycle.

A recent study by D’Costa and colleagues (2025) highlights that the menopause transition is also associated with important changes in cardiovascular risk. As oestrogen levels decline, there are measurable effects on lipid metabolism, vascular function, and glucose regulation.

To explore what this means in practice for patients, families, and clinicians, I sat down with Dr Sugandha Kumar to discuss how this shift is presenting in real-world care. Highlighting what the drivers are, how these cases differ from traditional presentations and how we should think about early recognition and screening.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: https://www.gihealth.com.au/everyday-medicine-podcast/episode-187-perimenopause-menopause-and-mht-with-dr-sugandha-kumar-part-1

If this conversation adds perspective to your general practice or allied health, consider sharing it with a colleague or patient. Good medicine spreads through good conversations.

Read the full article: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12511246/

16/04/2026

To understand diets like keto, it helps to first understand the physiology behind them.

In this short snippet, Professor Joseph Proietto explores how ketosis actually works and why the conversation is often misunderstood.

In some cases, this metabolic shift from keto diets can reduce hunger signals, which may influence how much people eat and how their weight changes over time.

This conversation offers a measured look at the physiology behind ketogenic diets and what it may mean in practice.

🎧 Revisit the full episode on our website: https://www.gihealth.com.au/everyday-medicine-podcast/episode-36-why-we-get-fat-with-professor-joseph-proietto

If you found this snippet helpful, consider sharing it with a colleague or patient who may benefit from it.

07/04/2026

IBS affects many people and can appear differently for everyone.

Dr Luke explains common red-flag symptoms, and how IBS is approached clinically.

31/03/2026

Menopause is often spoken about as a single moment in time. In reality, it’s a transition that unfolds over years, along with physiology, symptoms and risk evolving too.

In this episode of Everyday Medicine, I step back and revisit the fundamentals of perimenopause, menopause and menopausal hormone therapy, which is an area of medicine that has historically been under-recognised and under-treated, despite affecting half the population for a significant portion of life.

What becomes clear is that much of the uncertainty surrounding menopause comes not from a lack of evidence, but from how that evidence has been interpreted, communicated and applied in practice.

To explore this further, I’m joined by Dr Sugandha Kumar, an Obstetrician and Gynaecologist with a strong interest in menopause care. Sugandha shares her clinical experience, including how a gap in training and shifting perspectives on hormone therapy shaped her approach to supporting patients.

We explore:

– How to recognise the transition through perimenopause and menopause in clinical practice

– Why menopause is primarily a clinical diagnosis, not a laboratory one

– The role of menopausal hormone therapy, including benefits, risks and timing

– How to think about bone health, cardiovascular risk and long-term care

This is the first of a two-part conversation.

If you’re a clinician, or simply trying to better understand this stage of life, this discussion offers a clear and practical foundation.

🎧 Listen to the episode here: https://www.gihealth.com.au/everyday-medicine-podcast/episode-187-perimenopause-menopause-and-mht-with-dr-sugandha-kumar-part-1

As always, I’d welcome your reflections after listening.

It is now increasingly recognised that women’s health care needs at menopause have been both under-recognised and under-treated by medical practitioners, and that menopause management has not been emphasised adequately in graduate and post-graduate education. Considering that half the world’s po...

24/03/2026

Colorectal cancer is often thought of as something that happens later in life. In reality, that assumption is becoming increasingly difficult to defend.

A 2025 review by Ailawadi and colleagues highlights that early-onset colorectal cancer diagnosed in adults under 50, is a distinct and rising phenomenon, shaped by a combination of genetic predisposition, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Instead of fitting neatly into the same profile as later-onset disease, it carries its own molecular fingerprint, a more aggressive presentation, and a pattern of delayed diagnosis that makes early awareness all the more critical.

To explore what this means in practice for patients, families, and clinicians, I sat down with Professor Dorothy Keefe to discuss what’s shaping this pattern, how early-onset cancers differ from traditional presentations, and how we should be thinking about screening, risk, and patient counselling in a shifting landscape.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: https://www.gihealth.com.au/everyday-medicine-podcast/episode-186-early-onset-cancer-with-professor-dorothy-keefe

If this conversation adds perspective to your general practice or allied health, consider sharing it with a colleague or patient. Good medicine spreads through good conversations.

Read the full article: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/7/1572

17/03/2026

Understanding healthy ageing often starts with understanding the small biological processes happening inside our cells.

In this short snippet, Dr John Levin explains the role of Carnosine, a naturally occurring dipeptide that has been studied for its potential effects on cellular ageing, oxidative stress and protein stability.

While ageing is complex and influenced by many factors, emerging research suggests compounds like Carnosine may play a role in protecting tissues from some of the biochemical changes that occur over time.

This conversation offers a thoughtful exploration of the evidence behind carnosine and its potential relevance to longevity and metabolic health.

🎧 Revisit the full episode on our website: https://www.gihealth.com.au/everyday-medicine-podcast/episode-82-advances-in-anti-ageing-medicine-with-dr-john-levin

If today’s snippet is useful, consider sharing it with a colleague or patient who may find it helpful.

10/03/2026

Early onset cancer isn’t just a statistical shift. It’s a pattern that deserves careful attention.

Australians in their 30s and 40s are experiencing rising rates of several cancers — including colorectal, pancreatic, liver, uterine and kidney cancer. In some cases, the increase since 2000 has been substantial, and many are diagnosed at a more advanced stage.

What becomes clear is that there isn’t a single explanation. Emerging research points to specific DNA mutation patterns in young onset colorectal cancer, possible environmental toxin exposures, changes in obesity rates, alterations in the microbiome, antibiotic use, ultra-processed foods and even early-life microbial influences. The Human Exposome Project is now attempting to map these complex interactions.

After reflecting on these trends, I invited Professor Dorothy Keefe, CEO of Cancer Australia, to join me on Everyday Medicine.

We explore:
– What the data is actually showing in younger Australians

– Why early onset cancers may have distinct biological features

– How we should be thinking about screening age and patient counselling

– What remains uncertain and why nuance matters

This isn’t about alarm. It’s about understanding patterns early, interpreting them responsibly and helping patients make informed decisions in a changing landscape.

If you’re interested in oncology, prevention, public health or the evolving science behind cancer risk, this is an important and thoughtful discussion.

🎧 Listen to the episode here: https://www.gihealth.com.au/everyday-medicine-podcast/episode-186-early-onset-cancer-with-professor-dorothy-keefe

As always, I’d value your reflections after listening.

Australians in their 30s and 40s are experiencing unprecedented rates of at least 10 different cancers. Between the year 2000 and 2024, for 30- to 39-year-olds, early onset prostate cancer increased by 500%, pancreatic cancer by 200%, liver cancer by 150%, uterine cancer by 138%, and kidney cancer b

05/03/2026

Have you heard about Polyps, but aren’t sure what they are?

In this short video, Dr Ali Eqbal explains what Polyps are, symptoms to look out for and when a specialist assessment may be recommended.

Watch the full reel to learn more.

03/03/2026

Gastric cancer isn’t common, but recognising it early is vital.

In this clip, Dr Luke explains potential symptoms, risk factors, and when further assessment may be required.

24/02/2026

Pandemics aren’t just medical events. They’re social, psychological and deeply human.

In this episode of Everyday Medicine, I step back and reflect on how societies have responded to pandemics across recorded history – from the Black Death and smallpox, to Spanish Flu, HIV and Covid-19.

What becomes clear is that the damage of epidemics is often amplified by human behaviour – fear, denial, misinformation and complacency – as much as by the pathogens themselves. History shows us recurring patterns, but also important lessons about resilience, communication and preparedness.

After reading an excellent piece by Dr Robert Kaplan in Gut Republic, I invited him to join me for this conversation. Rob is a forensic psychiatrist, clinical associate professor, historian and author, with a sharp eye for how psychology shapes collective responses in times of crisis.

We explore:

– Why fear so easily crowds perspective during epidemics

– How past pandemics reshaped societies, sometimes in unexpected ways

– What history can teach us about responding better next time

If you’re interested in medicine, public health, psychology or simply understanding how we got here, this is a thoughtful discussion worth your time.

🎧 Listen to the episode here: https://www.gihealth.com.au/everyday-medicine-podcast/episode-185-pandemics-a-repeating-history-with-dr-robert-m-kaplan

As always, I’d welcome your reflections after listening

A pandemic is defined as a new disease or new strain of an existing disease spreading worldwide. An ‘outbreak’ refers to a localised epidemic – something that affects hundreds, sometimes thousands; an ‘epidemic’ refers to an illness or infection that is in excess of normal, and ‘pandemic...

17/02/2026

Preparing for pandemics is often discussed in terms of vaccines, lockdowns and emergency public health measures.

However, the 2025 article by Embrett and colleagues makes an important point: our ability to respond to epidemics and pandemics depends heavily on the strength of our health research systems.

When research infrastructure is coordinated, well-governed and embedded within clinical systems, countries can generate evidence quickly, translate findings into policy, and adapt in real time. When those systems are fragmented, guidance is slower to emerge and harder to implement consistently.

To explore how this translates into everyday clinical practice, I speak with Professor Robert Kaplan about pandemics as a repeating feature of human history, and what systems science and psychology teach us about how communities respond under pressure.

🎧 Listen to the full episode here: https://www.gihealth.com.au/everyday-medicine-podcast/episode-185-pandemics-a-repeating-history-with-dr-robert-m-kaplan

If this conversation adds perspective in your general practice or allied health, consider sharing it with a colleague or patient. Good medicine spreads through good conversations.

Read the full article: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12961-024-01229-0