Health & Living

From figuring out what’s causing a rare condition in a child to helping that child thrive into adulthood, the profession of a paediatrician and clinical geneticist can be pretty challenging. We speak to Prof Dr Thong Meow Keong, who was Malaysia’s first board-certified clinical geneticist back in the 1990s, about his career as a clinical geneticist, why it shouldn’t be a paediatric subspecialty, a...

The worsening haze has caused a 250% surge in asthma cases in recent weeks. The link between poor air quality and respiratory diseases is clear, but people with asthma and COPD should not wait for the haze to trigger a serious episode before taking preventive action. Consultant respiratory physician Dr Helmy Haja Mydin is here with reminders about how to keep asthma under control, especially durin...

Once, a cancer diagnosis was thought to be the entire book on its own. But as cancer patients live longer today, there’s more to the story than just (that phase of) completing cancer treatment. Heart health is also an increasingly important focus in cancer survivorship, including addressing certain risks associated with cancer and preventing the same cardiovascular diseases that the rest of the po...

For low and middle income countries, the high cost of novel treatments can be a significant barrier for the people who need these medicines the most - especially when it comes to cancers and rare diseases. This is where drug repurposing can offer a more affordable yet still innovative option that could lead to better access to treatment. So why aren’t we investing more into this? And is it safe to...

Today, many IVF packages offer optional ‘add-on’ treatments that claim to boost a couple’s chances at a successful pregnancy. But a recent study found that it’s not obvious if most of these ‘add-ons’ actually help, even if it doesn’t have clear negative effects. So what should couples seeking IVF know before making that decision? We speak to Dr Sarah Lensen, the lead author of that study as well a...

In 1986, the mission for setting up the Breast Cancer Welfare Association (BCWA) was clear: a volunteer or a trained breast cancer survivor uses her experience to help another woman recovering from breast cancer. 40 years later, BCWA has become the country’s leading breast cancer support organisation, while holding on to its core mission of being there for the next woman diagnosed with breast canc...

For a young adult entering university, the idea of independence is thrilling and liberating. But the excitement can also mask the anxiety and struggle to balance responsibility and expectations. We discuss what mental health and peer support should look like for students in tertiary education, and hear this month’s impact story about how a corporate leadership programme is supporting students’ men...

Almost 70,000 people in Malaysia are registered with the Department of Social Welfare as having blindness or visual impairment. The healthcare needs of this community often go unnoticed, and many people living with blindness and visual impairment still struggle to have their rights recognised, including equitable access to healthcare. We speak to the Malaysian Association for the Blind to find out...

There are 55,000 people in Malaysia on dialysis and the number is expected to double by year 2040. Dialysis keeps patients with end-stage renal disease alive, but unwell. Leelavathi K. Ragu and Manvir Victor from Wira Transplant Malaysia describe the physical and financial burden of haemodialysis, while Dr Mohamad Zaimi Abdul Wahab delves into why a kidney transplant is still the best treatment fo...

Malaysia has recorded more than 54,000 dengue cases and 36 deaths as of August this year. One of the factors for the increase in cases is the shift in DENV-3 serotype as the dominant circulating virus. In conjunction with World Mosquito Day on 20 August, we’re exploring what the serotype shift means, and whether Malaysia’s dengue strategy is adequate to protect those most likely to develop serious...

GLP-1 medications and peptides have grown exceedingly popular in recent years, with many celebrities claiming them as effective in helping with weight loss. Are they really as miraculous as they seem, or are there potential side effects that could alter your health for the worse? We speak to Dr Lim Quan Hziung, consultant endocrinologist, to find out more. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio...

Expecting mothers often hear conflicting opinions on the effects of exercise during pregnancy. How often do you need to exercise during different trimesters? What are the potential risks that can affect your baby? Joining us on the show to answer these questions are Dr Doris Ng, consultant obstetrician & gynaecologist, Dr Arvin Raj, consultant sports medicine physician, and Juli Joe, prenatal...

When a workplace wants to welcome more neurodivergent employees, what does this mean? Is it about meeting a hiring quota? Or is it about having a structure that recognises and supports the unique strengths of each employee? We find out how two neurodivergent individuals view their roles within a corporate organisation like PETRONAS, how the company developed its Neurodiverse Centre of Excellence,...

Last month, a 12-year-old boy collapsed and died while taking part in an Under-12 football tournament in Johor Bahru, highlighting the reality that a medical emergency can happen at any time, even during sporting events involving children and amateurs. We speak to Dr Ahmad Munawwar Helmi Salim, consultant sports medicine physician from the National Sports Institute, and Dr Mohd Hafyzuddin Md Yusuf...

Description: AI scribes are no longer just taking meeting minutes, but helping doctors take notes during clinic consultations. On the one hand, it can be seen to reduce the administrative tasks a doctor has to do. On the other hand, who takes responsibility if a patient’s medical history is inaccurate and leads to medical malpractice? Consultant urologist Dr George Lee is joined by Dr Ezam Mat Ali...

This month, the Selangor state government is rolling out a free breakfast programme in all public schools statewide. This has sparked fresh debate about whether Malaysia needs a universal school feeding programme, especially in light of worrying malnutrition issues among children in Malaysia. We speak to Dr Tee E Siong and Teo Choon Huey from the Nutrition Society of Malaysia (NSM) about its schoo...

We’ve all heard that overreliance on technology can affect the brain - and not in a good way. So in a world where many of us use AI every day, and offload cognitive tasks to these LLMs, what does it actually do to our brain? We unpack this with neurogeneticist Dr Azlina Ahmad Annuar.   Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When hormones don’t work as they should as a child grows, that’s where a paediatric endocrinologist comes in. On this episode of Humans of Healthcare, we speak to consultant paediatric endocrinologist Dr Azriyanti Anuar Zaini about how she helps children with hormone-related disorders and illnesses, and why she sees this as a calmer medical career path.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

Traveling with older adults requires a different kind of itinerary—one that prioritizes health and safety without sacrificing fun. Whether you’re travelling when you’re older or with older family members, planning the trip is more than just what happens during but how you prepare for it too. For this guide to stress-free travel with seniors, we speak to Prof Dr James Koh, consultant infectious dis...

Spermageddon. That’s the word that has been used to describe the allegedly drastic decline in male fertility in recent years. But is this just fearmongering or is there truth to this? And if men are worried about their fertility, what can be done about it? Consultant urologist Dr George Lee is joined by Allan Pacey, Professor of Andrology at the University of Manchester to unpack this. Image Credi...

No one likes to lose, especially if you’re prepared or trained as much as you can to succeed and win. Just think of how Argentina were labelled as ‘sore losers’ after their defeat at the recent Men’s World Cup finals. So why do some of us take losing well, and others don’t? How can we be a better loser and learn from our mistakes? We unpack this with licensed & registered counsellor, Justin Ya...

Mother kangaroos carry their babies, or joeys, in their pouch for eight to 10 months after birth to keep them safe and help them grow. Scientific evidence now shows that human babies carried by their mothers in a similarly fashioned pouch can be beneficial for breastfeeding, and can even be life-saving for preterm babies. We dive into kangaroo mother care and how mums (and dads as well as extended...

An irregular heartbeat isn’t just an annoying symptom - it is a sign of a heart that has an abnormal rhythm and isn’t able to pump blood properly throughout the body. Atrial fibrillation is a common cause of abnormal rhythms, and can cause an increased risk of stroke, if it is not well-managed. We hear from Dr Adleen Binti Che Ani about her personal experience of being diagnosed with atrial fibril...

Management consultants Bain & Company’s 2026 report on healthcare trends and opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region, revealing widening tensions across the healthcare system. We speak to Vikram Kapur, Head of Global Healthcare & Life Sciences from Bain & Co to break down the survey’s findings about patients’ expectations, clinicians’ challenges and AI trends in healthcare. Image Cred...

We know how effective the HPV vaccine can be at preventing 90% of cervical cancer cases. Now a new study from the UK shows that women who receive the vaccine as a teen have virtually zero risk of dying from the cancer before they turn 30. How does this add to what we already know about the benefits of a HPV vaccination? Consultant urologist Dr George Lee is joined by consultant gynaecological onco...