Health & Living

We take our medicine when we’re sick but how much do we really know and understand about the ingredients they’re made out of and what else they may do to us besides making us feel better? Umikalsom binti Ibrahim of the Pharmaceutical Enforcement Division from the Ministry of Health illuminates the matter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Continuing his Know Thy Cancer series, Dr. Sri is focusing on the technology and know-how needed to diagnose diseases on a cellular level. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Contrary to what many think, the youthful appearance of skin is not just about wrinkles. Many other factors - pigmentation and so on - play a role. Explaining the factors that determine the ageing of skin as well as the latest technologies to combat it is Dr. Kee Yong Seng, medical aesthetic practitioner. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In conjunction with World Health Day 2014, we stick to the theme of vector borne disease, with the head of the Vector Borne Disease Sector from the Ministry of Health - Dr. Rose Nani Mudin- explaining what this entails and how infection of this nature spreads. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Humans have always sought ways to fight heart disease. Recently, researchers debated the safety of using statin drugs that can lower cholesterol. We speak to Dr. Azani Mohamed Daud, consultant cardiologist and Dr. George Lee, consultant urologist, to learn more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eczema is a term for a group of medical conditions that cause the skin to become inflamed or irritated and can affect children and infants. Professor Adelaide Hebert, paediatric dermatologist, gives us her expert perspective. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reports in February indicated that there was a new and deadlystrain of avian flu threatening us. How much do we need to worry, and what steps are being taken to keep it in check? Director of Institute of Bioscience, Abdul Rahman Omar of Universiti Putra Malaysia explains further. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With it being April Fool’s, Dr. Rajesh Singh has a special trick or two up his sleeve for his monthly slot discussing all matters health and orthopaedic. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With an upcoming event, and an ongoing focus on healthy ageing, Dr. Lim Poh Hin and Professor Nathan Vytialingam from the Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society explain the holistic process of ageing, while Datuk Mahadev Shankar provides a perspective from the frontlines. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah's female cancer month kicks off, we invite Dr Ragu Shanmuganathan, Senior Consultant and Head of Gynae Oncology unit, Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah, to discuss cancers that specifically affect women - looking at symptoms, treatment and screening. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With recent reports suggesting that a new (and still legal) party drug may be to blame for the tragic deaths at Future Music Festival Asia, we speak to Dr Mazlan Mahmud, addiction therapist, to find out more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hot on the heels of a recent report that suggested that a biological test for clinical depression in adolescents may soon be available, Dr. Fairuz Nazri Abdul Rahman, child and adolescent psychiatrist, discusses the study and what its implications may be. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In conjunction with New Zealand week, we speak to cook and dietitian Nadia Lim. As she grew up with two distinct cultures - Malaysian and Kiwi- we learn more about how these food cultures intersect and the challenges faced in eating well and healthily. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ruminations on itching doesn't just occur every seven years - the truth is, doctors and scientists often don’t understand the source or reason for why we itch. Making some sense of the confusion is Dr Maya Nagaratnam, pain management consultant and anaesthetist. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When dealing with an injury or illness and wondering whether you'll ever be back to 100 percent - help can be welcome. This Friday, meet one of those people providing the help. Find out what A Day in the Life of a physiotherapist entails, as we follow Clement Francis Xavier from Sunway Medical Centre. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following on the recent tragic deaths at Future Music Festival Asia, Dr. George Lee cautions everyone on the toxic effects of drug use on the kidney and asks - What will it take to get people to stop? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spinal surgery is a scary prospect to many - which is why having minimally invasive options are a very attractive proposition. Explaining the latest research in this area is Dr. Dharmendra Ganesan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A previously unknown giant virus has been revived from 30000-year-old permafrost, suggesting another possible threat from climate change as well as to public health. Before sounding the alarms though, we speak to Professor Jonathan Ball to find out more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we attempt to answer the question of whether back, neck and shoulder pains are just “part of our evolutionary heritage”. Experts from Sunway Medical Centre Dr Ravi Krishnapillai (Consultant Neurosurgeon), Dr Saw Lim Beng (Consultant Spine Surgeon) and Dr Suhail Suresh (Consultant Orthopaedic & Trauma Surgeon) explain. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

3D printing has made a huge impact on the world surrounding us, but might bioprinting be taking it to the next level? Envisioning a future in which we may be able to print a functioning human heart out of live tissue, Assistant Professor Thian Eng San explains the possibilities and limitation of this new technology. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new study has recently added to the growing body of research that suggests that loneliness can be seriously detrimental to the physical and mental health of the elderly. Looking at it through a Malaysian lens is Professor Nathan Vytialingam, president of the Asia Pacific Occupational Therapy Regional Group.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While most of us believe that having had chickenpox once immunises us for life, the truth is that studies have shown that about 95% of adults over 50 years old who has had chickenpox are at risk of contracting shingles. Telling us more about this painful disease is Associate Professor at University Malaya Medical Centre, MP Tan.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Technology and medicine are the most comfortable of bedfellows, and modern technology allows for unprecedented access and understanding of anatomy and surgical procedures. Today, Dr. Rajesh Singh tries to answer the question - Navigation in Surgery: Where will it get you? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With at least five deaths being blamed on the viral spread of binge drinking game, Neknominate, and with it being such a prevalent problem in East Malaysia, we discuss the dangers of binge drinking with Dr. Wendy Shoesmith of University Malaysia Sabah. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new study has suggested that older fathers potentially produce children with a wide variety of disabilities or problems. To get to the bottom of this, Dr. George Lee is accompanied by Dr. Rabin Gonzaga, psychiatrist. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.