Health & Living

As babies grow into toddlers and young children, their muscles develop and strengthen. They began to grab, to swipe, to flip pages and press buttons on the remote control. Motor skills seem to come naturally to children, but are there potential pitfalls that we need to be aware of? And might we help children develop motor skills as best as they could? Dr Rajini Sarvanathan explains. See omnystudio...

According to a new study by associate professor of business Jane Tong, cultural values of different ethnic groups have been magnified by the media, but share more similarities than differences. We get professor Tong to explain her research findings.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you know that there are more living good bacteria in your gut than the stars in the universe? They do a lot for you, who help digestion, improve immunity and regulate your bowel. Tune in this Wednesday on Health & Living segment to find out more from Dato’ Dr Rajen., natural health practitioner and columnist. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Roti canai, nasi lemak, char kuey teow! These calories and salt loaded food--very delicious food, let’s not deny that--tempt us every day. Is it ever possible to stay healthy without rejecting pisang goreng? Dr Tee E Siong, a nutritionist and author of “Malaysian Diet: The Plain Truth”, helps us find the healthy Malaysian diet. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine toiling for days or weeks on fishing boats far out in the rocky seas. That’s the tough life of sea fishermen. Unfortunately, the strenuous effort demanded of honest fishing folk also promote substance use through unsafe practices. Dr Martin Choo from The Center of Excellence for Research in AIDS, Universiti Malaya shares his recent findings of injection drug use and HIV among fishing...

For Hari Merdeka, we speak to one of our pioneer doctors, Dr Chan Yoo Kuen. We talk to her about her journey in becoming an anaesthesiologist, the challenges she faced and her experiences she gained. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For our Merdeka Special, we speak to Malaysian doctors who had started their medical careers around the time of Independence. On this second episode, we hear from Dato Dr Mahmood Merican, an 80-year old orthopaedic surgeon who charted healthcare in Tunku Abdul Rahman’s vision. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For our Merdeka Special, we speak to aMalaysian doctors who had started their medical careers around the time of Independence. On this first episode, we hear from Dato Dr A. Damodaran,  a 79-year old anaesthesiologist who set up the first intensive care unit in Alor Setar. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the more popular health supplements in Malaysia is fish oil, among that, Pristin Omega-3. Why is it so popular and how does it work? Dato’ Dr Rajen M. explains. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Costs of living are rising in Malaysia. We grapple with higher drug prices as the dollar strengthens. Could the Malaysian pharmaceutical industry--relatively small but growing--help rein in drug prices? Professor Dato' Dr. Abu Bakar Abdul Majeed, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Research at Universiti Teknologi MARA, helps us explore the landscape of pharmaceuticals in Malaysia and what we should look...

There are more than 7 billion people living on Earth now. Some of them were born to parents who were technically infertile and who would not know the joys of parenthood without the help of assisted reproductive technology. Dr Richard Fisher, fertility medicine specialist who introduced IVF to New Zealand, joins us in the studio to discuss the progresses in his field. See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

Losing our hair may be a natural part of aging, but for those of us who dread exposing their scalp, here is a new kid on the block that offers promise of reversing hair loss: Caffeine. How effective is caffeine in stimulating hair growth and how does it work? Dr Adolf Klenk who leads the research at the Dr Wulff Group explains. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An important industrial material used to strengthen plastics, Bisphenol A (BPA) coats many of our bottles and plastic containers. Even as some countries ban BPA-containing bottles, scientists continue to debate the health impacts of BPA, a new study in PLoS One shows BPA increases prostate stem cells in ‘organoids’. Does this seal the debate? Prof Dr Mustafa Ali Mohamad and Dr George L...

When one loses an eye, one has to learn to see the world with reduced vision. One also has to cope with how the world now sees them. Prosthetic eyes are available, but how much do they help the individual cope with the unfortunate loss of an eye? We learn about the science and art of prosthetic eye and eye care in general with Dr Sree Kumar, Consultant Ophthalmologist & Oculoplastic Surgeon an...

Do dietary supplements give us more than just expensive urine? The merits of dietary supplements continue to spark controversy and debate among scientists and nutritionists. As consumers seeking better health and ways to augment our oft-nutritionally deprived diets, we are confused by the arguments from opposing camps. Dato Dr Rajen M weighs in on the debate, supporting the benefits of dietary sup...

Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that infects rats and drives them fearlessly into the claws of cats, also infects us. Pregnant women and those who handle cat feces should be aware because they are particularly susceptible to infection. Dr Veeranoot Nissapatorn whose research group is one of the few that has studied the parasite in Malaysia helps us understand.   See omnystudio.com/listener for...

A couple of months ago, the renowned obstetrician Dr Michael Odent warned of the common use of drugs and surgeries during labour. The reliance on modern aids during labour could cost women their natural ability to give birth. How valid was Odent’s alarm and what explains the increase in caesarean section procedures? Consultant  Gynaecologist and Obstetrician, Dr Raman Subramaniam explai...

Malaysia has the most diabetic patients in Southeast Asia. For every ten Malaysian adults, two suffer from high blood sugar with one of them oblivious to the condition. With discipline and awareness, diabetic patients can manage their blood sugar levels by following dietary recommendations. But is sugar intake the only concern in a diabetes diet? And can one possibly capture the culinary delights...

Age-related macular degeneration is responsible for severe vision loss in developed countries. When our eyes fail, the world slips into a blur and darkness, and life dims. English surgeons however, recently brought light to the blind by installing bionic eyes into an 80-year old patient who suffered severe AMD. Dr Kenneth Fong helps us unravel the technology behind bionic eyes and eye health in ge...

In recent years, public comments have warned about the increasing workload that Malaysian doctors have to grapple with. When an anesthesiologist died in a car accident while driving home from hospital duty, her death was associated with fatigue from work. On the other hand, the medical faculty has also raised concerns that Malaysia is training too many doctors. How do we concile these contradictor...

 Children often grow up in the mold of their parents. Now scientists say that children’s potentials also grow to match what their parents believe. A recent study in the USA shows that parent expectations partially explained the  differences in academic performance among siblings. What should we make of this study and what are the implications of parent expectations in other aspects...

Many of us imagine a relaxing, care-free life after retirement. The ‘Golden Years’ were meant to be enjoyed. Unfortunately, many seniors suffer depression. Doctors emphasize that depression is not a natural part of aging. So what triggers depression in the elderly, and what can we do to return the shine to those golden years? Consultant psychiatrist, Dr Philip George helps us relieve t...

At the end of a long day, we leave the office only to be trapped in our cars, crawling home in traffic. At least we can sit and relax, no? Apparently not as prolonged sitting at the work desk and in the car may lead to obesity and a range of unhealthy metabolic syndromes. Here to caution us against prolonged sitting and inactivity is family medicine specialist, Dr Raja Ahmad Shaharul. See omnystud...

Eight months ago, South African doctors successfully transplanted a penis onto a 21-year old man who wasted little time in using his new member. Two months ago, we learned that the man’s girlfriend is expecting a baby later this year. The penis transplant is hailed as a medical breakthrough but what are the ethical considerations? Join Dr George Lee in the debate.     See omnystudi...

We all know that breastfeeding helps our children but many working mothers who wish to breastfeed struggle to do so. The lack of breastfeeding facilities at work and training on breastfeeding compound the challenges. Fret not, for in conjunction with Breastfeeding Week, Dr Nazul Neezam Noordin, consultant paediatrician, and Sr Tham Kwee Peng, certified lactation counsellor, from Sunway Medical Cen...