The Beat

Heart surgery can save lives, but it can also cause serious kidney damage. Now, Australian researchers are working to understand why this happens and how it might be prevented.

In this episode, Professor Yugeesh Lankadeva from the Florey Institute discusses research into the causes of kidney injury during heart surgery and the development of a potential targeted treatment.

The studies discussed include research conducted in sheep. Further research, including clinical trials, is needed to determine whether the findings can be applied to humans.

With $4.9 million in research funding supporting the next phase of this work, could researchers find a way to protect patients' kidneys during heart surgery?

Research discussed in this episode

• ⁠Understanding why the kidneys are injured after cardiac surgery
• ⁠Renal oxygenation, function and histopathology in an ovine model of heart failure undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass

Presented and produced by Michael Zubreckyj.

What if we could grow human heart valve tissue in the lab and use it to better understand heart valve disease?

Researchers at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute have developed 3D heart valve-like tissue using pluripotent stem cells. Unlike traditional models that grow valve cells on flat plastic surfaces, the new model more closely replicates the three-dimensional environment of a real heart valve.

In this episode of The Beat, Dr Holly Voges explains how the team created the tissue, how they used it to model inflammatory valve disease, and how it could eventually help researchers test potential treatments. We also look at the longer-term possibility of growing replacement valve tissue using a patient's own cells.

Dr Holly Voges is a current Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellow and a valued member of the Victorian Cardiovascular Research Network community. She is also a member of the Vic CVRN Rising Stars Subcommittee.

Presented and produced by Michael Zubreckyj.

Should you take a statin after 70? Until now, there hasn't been much evidence to answer that question in otherwise healthy older people.

Now, a major Australian study led by researchers at Monash University has provided some important new evidence.

The STAREE trial followed almost 10,000 Australians aged 70 and over for almost six years. Researchers found that people taking the statin atorvastatin had a 30 per cent lower risk of a major cardiovascular event, including heart attack and stroke.

But the results weren't straightforward. The trial didn't find that statins extended the amount of time people lived without dementia or major physical disability, and some medically important side effects were more common among people taking atorvastatin.

So what does STAREE actually tell us about statins and older age?

On this episode we speak with Professor Sophia Zoungas, a lead researcher on the STAREE trial from Monash University and Executive Director of The George Institute for Global Health Australia.

Presented and produced by Michael Zubreckyj.

High blood pressure isn't just an adult condition. New Australian guidelines now recommend children have their blood pressure checked from age seven, with experts warning thousands of Australian children could be living with undiagnosed hypertension.

In this episode of The Beat, Dr Nick Larkins, Paediatrician at Perth Children's Hospital and Senior Research Fellow at Edith Cowan University, joins the Heart Foundation's Chief Medical Officer, Professor Garry Jennings, to explain why early screening matters, what's driving the rise in childhood high blood pressure, and how healthy habits established early in life can help prevent heart disease later on.

To learn more about the Australian Guideline for the Identification and Management of Hypertension in Children and Adolescents, visit ⁠Hypertension Australia – Children and Adolescents Guideline.

Presented and produced by Michael Zubreckyj.

What happens when obesity care starts with compassion instead of blame?

Tammy Merton has lived with obesity for most of her adult life. After surviving a sudden cardiac arrest and later experiencing the emotional toll of recovery, she found herself confronting not only the challenges of managing her weight, but also the stigma that can stop people from seeking help.

In this episode of The Beat, Tammy shares her personal experience living with obesity and heart disease, the impact of weight stigma in healthcare, and why she believes Australia's first Clinical Consensus Statement on Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease could help change the conversation.

As a consumer advocate and member of the national taskforce behind the statement, Tammy offers a powerful reminder that obesity is a complex, chronic condition - and that listening to patients is an essential part of better care.

Learn more about the Heart Foundation's Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease Clinical Consensus Statement here.

The Beat is a podcast from the Heart Foundation exploring the people, stories and research shaping heart health in Australia.

Produced and presented by Michael Zubreckyj.

Are seed oils really harmful - or just misunderstood?

With misinformation spreading online, many people are questioning whether common cooking oils are safe for heart health. In this episode of The Beat, Heart Foundation dietitian Nikita Kelly breaks down the evidence behind seed oils, inflammation and cholesterol, and explains why some of the most common claims don't hold up in human studies.

You'll also hear why saturated fats like butter and coconut oil can increase heart disease risk, and why your overall eating pattern matters more than any single ingredient.

Presented and produced by Michael Zubreckyj.

Statins are one of the most widely prescribed medications in Australia, but they've also become a lightning rod for misinformation.

A major global study has found that many of the side effects people blame on statins aren't actually caused by the drug. Yet the myths persist - spreading through social media, online communities and even some corners of academia.

In this episode of The Beat, the Heart Foundation's Head of Clinical Evidence, Dannii Dougherty, explains what the science actually shows, why misinformation about statins spreads so easily, and how it can lead people to stop taking life-saving medication.

A recent study has linked long-term melatonin use with higher rates of heart failure and hospitalisation, raising questions about whether a common sleep supplement could affect heart health.

In this episode of The Beat, leading cardiologist Professor Garry Jennings explains what the research does and doesn't show, why association doesn't mean causation, and how sleep problems and disrupted body clocks may be the real issue.

We unpack why sleep is so important for the heart, what melatonin actually does in the body, and what to consider if you're using sleep aids regularly.

Presented and Produced by Michael Zubreckyj.

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are everywhere - and growing evidence shows they're harming our health. In this episode of The Beat, we unpack the latest findings from the Lancet Ultra-Processed Foods Series, exploring what UPFs are, how they affect heart health, and why they dominate Australian diets.

We also look at a pivotal moment for Australia's food system. The national food regulatory framework is under review, and proposed reforms to the FSANZ Act could allow ultra-processed foods into the market with less scrutiny - without public health protections built in.

Joined by Lancet Series co-author Dr Phillip Baker from the University of Sydney and Heart Foundation Senior Nutrition Advisor Nikita Muller, we examine what's driving UPF consumption, which policy solutions are working overseas, and why transparency and strong public health safeguards in Australia's food laws matter - so healthy choices become the easier choice.

Can your daily cup of coffee actually be good for your heart? New research from the University of Adelaide suggests that moderate coffee drinkers may have a lower risk of heart disease and even live longer.

In this episode, we explore what's really going on between caffeine and cardiovascular health - separating fact from froth. We speak with the study's author Professor Christopher Wong about what the evidence shows, how much coffee might be too much, and why your morning brew could be more than just a pick-me-up.

Presented and produced by Michael Zubreckyj.