There's hope that the current Omicron sub variant wave will be in decline again just in time for Christmas - but like everything COVID, it's hard to know for sure.

Both case loads and hospitalisations due to COVID have continued to increase in the last week.

The latest advice from state health authorities say that overseas experience suggests the current wave might pass relatively quickly, though they warn local conditions may mean it's different here.

So what do we know about the latest wave? And is it better to have a quick one, or one that lasts for a longer time?

Are the waves getting smaller?

Get answers to the health questions everyone's asking. Our experts give you the information you need to feel good and make the best decisions for your brain and body.

Medicine

Science & Medicine

Science

Health & Fitness

It's an age-old adage that youth is wasted on the young – you don't know what you’ve got until it's gone.

The aches and pains that start to linger longer as you approach your 30s can feel like a rite of passage.

Norman and Tegan explore why this happens, and whether it's inevitable.

Got a health question? Shoot us a line @ABCHealth on Instagram, or send a voice memo to thatrash@abc.net.au. We'd love to hear from you!

References:
Does your body really start falling apart in your 30s? - ABC Health
Age changes in pain perception: A systematic-review and meta-analysis of age effects on pain and tolerance thresholds
Declining muscle mass is part of aging, but that does not mean you are helpless to stop it

Why everything hurts when you turn 30

Dementia is common – more than 400,000 Australians are living with it – but it’s not an inevitable part of ageing.

There are ways to lower your risk, and the sooner you start, the better off you’ll be.

Norman and Tegan give us the top tips needed to lower your risk of developing the illness as you get older.

References:
Physical and Mental Activity, Disease Susceptibility, and Risk of Dementia: A Prospective Cohort Study Based on UK Biobank
Association of Lifespan Cognitive Reserve Indicator With Dementia Risk in the Presence of Brain Pathologies
Drugs Contributing to Anticholinergic Burden and Risk of Fall or Fall-Related Injury among Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment, Dementia and Multiple Chronic Conditions

Can sudoku really keep your brain younger for longer?

Much has been said about the single glass of red wine. It's good for you, it’s bad for you, it's good for you again.

It can be confusing to follow.

Norman and Tegan take on this age-old health question — does a single glass of red wine have health boosting benefits?

References: 
The French paradox: Lessons for other countries
Moderate Wine Consumption and Health: A Narrative Review
Health Effects of Red Wine Consumption: A Narrative Review of an Issue That Still Deserves Debate

A single glass of red wine for your health, yeah or nah?

Do you have your water bottle beside you right now? How close are you to reaching your daily water goal?

It can feel like a slog sometimes to meet the recommended two lites of water a day.

Norman and Tegan pour over the evidence to find out whether it's REALLY necessary to drink that much.

References:
Food and macronutrient intake of elite Ethiopian distance runners
Statement of the 3rd International Exercise-Associated Hyponatremia Consensus Development Conference

Your emotional support water bottle is probably too big

As the weather cools down, you may be noticing more people around you are dropping from cold or flu.

And with COVID-19 also in the mix, it’s understandable that many are wondering how they can boost their immunity to avoid getting sick so often.

Norman and Tegan take us through some of the approaches that have the evidence to back them up (and the ones that don’t).

References:
Nutrition and Athlete Immune Health: New Perspectives on an Old Paradigm
Effect of air pollution on the human immune system
Current Directions in Stress and Human Immune Function

Are the waves getting smaller?

Download our free app to listen on your phone