Health & Living

Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) is a long name for a what can be a very painful condition of the skin. Telling us more are Dr. Leong Kin Fon, consultant paediatric dermatologist and President of DEBRA Malaysia, as well as Khatijah Abdullah, Vice President of DEBRA Malaysia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Home births, once the only option for expecting mothers, has faded away in the 20th century, but may be experiencing a revival of sorts. However, after a recent tragic death here in Malaysia, the issue of safety has yet again been raised. Addressing that today, among many finer points of home births, are Dr. Gunasegaran Rajan, consultant obstetrician and gynecologist and Karin Henemann, doula. See...

The first case of HIV in Malaysia was reported in 1986. As of 2011, the number of people living with HIV in Malaysia is approximately 79,855 persons. While HIV-positive people live among us, how much does the average Malaysian really understand about what they go through? In conjunction with World AIDS Day, Andrew Tan, founder and president of myPlus, shares his experience of living with HIV/AIDS....

Recent research suggests that a test that focuses on the use of biomarkers is a good indication of whether or not there is sperm left in the testes. Joining us for a discussion on male infertility and more is Dr. George Lee, Consultant Urologist.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Made famous by movies and David Vetter, the term 'bubble boy' refers to children with severe combined immunodeficiency, a genetic disorder. Recent inroads have been made in treating this with gene therapy. Dr. Arif ANwar, resident geneticist, sheds light on the matter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Motor neurone disease is the name for a rare condition where parts of the nervous system become damaged - very much an incurable disease. This causes progressive weakness, usually with muscle wasting. Telling us more about this condition are Pallitative Care Specialist, Dr. Loh Ee Chin, Caregiver, Mr. Soo Cheong Futt and Volunteer, Benny Ng. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Children with special needs often have the odds stacked against them as far as learning and education goes, and Deena Al Sharif, as a specialist speech and language therapist, is instrumental in removing one of those blocks. She tells us more about her work today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The test that identifies whether prostate cancer is aggressive or benign has been developed by scientists, who say it could help patients decide whether to undergo surgery. We speak to Dr. George Lee, Consultant Urologist and Dr. Arif Anwar, Resident Geneticist on this matter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the ancient San Bushmen of the Kalahari to the extraordinary feats of Usain Bolt, humans have always run, whether to eat, compete or improve their health. We all possess the genetic blueprint to make us efficient runners. This has evolved over the millennia. Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr. Harjeet Singh explains. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're all told to exercise 3-5 times a week, take 10,000 steps a day and so on. We know what we need to be doing to get fit and stay healthy. Sometimes though, life and unforeseen circumstances can get in the way of that. Discussing correctional training with me today is Wenisa Ng, fitness trainer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a staple storyline on dramas like Grey's Anatomy, but in real life, how many of us really understand the ramifications of medical law on our experience of healthcare? Explaining more on medical laws in Malaysia is Dato' Dr. NKS Tharmaseelan of the Medico Legal Society of Malaysia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A technology that's only become available in the last few years, egg freezing is allowing women to have more fertility options. But it's newness is also cause for concern and misunderstanding. Here to explain more and to clear up the air is Dato' Dr. Prashant Nadkarni, fertility specialist and Dr. Helena Lim, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

A device that could one day restore bladder function to patients with a severed spinal cord has been devised by UK researchers and has been tested in animals. Dr. George Lee and Jodi Nikolic talk with us about prosthetic bladders, bladder dysfunction as well as the science involving nerve damage and the bladder. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Adriano Arguedas speaks to us about the science of vaccines and their importance in terms of the protection they offer children.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The human body carries about 100 trillion microorganisms in its intestines, a number ten times greater than the total number of human cells in the body. What does this powerful number do for our health? Telling us all about it is Professor Bengt Jeppsson. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the most deficient areasof adequate medical care in the remote north Indian Himalayan region of Ladakh is that of women's health. Countless women suffer needlessly from preventable and curable maladies such as cervical cancer, infections and injuries from difficult childbirth. Professor Khoo Suan Phaik, oral physician tells us about her recent experience in Ladakh and about the medical care...

In the search for weight loss solutions, hypnotherapy offers a seemingly perfect solution: use your mind to help your body lose weight. Is it really that simple? We find out more from Sheila Menon of the London College of Clinical Hypnosis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just the idea that someone has the fortitude to swim, bike and run for dozens - sometimes hundreds of miles is fascinating. IRONMAN is a triathlon that is held annually in many countries worldwide. Telling us more about triathlons and IRONMAN Malaysia, which will be held next year, is Geoff Meyer, CEO of IRONMAN Asia Pacific and Craig Alexander, multiple IRONMAN champion. See omnystudio.com/listen...

As of 2010, an estimated 285 million people had diabetes, with this number expected to double by 2030, mostly in Asia and Africa. How much of this burden is being borne by children, and how do the symptoms and treatment differ from childhood to adulthood? We get two separate perspectives from Dr. Izzurina Bashah Mohamed Ibrahim and Ambreth Kaur, parent of 10-year-old diabetic patient, Veena. See o...

Last month, Dr. Sri Ganesh Kalimuthu, consultant histopathologist, joined us to talk about artificial intelligence in histopathology and how it might change the field. This month, he is joined by Professor Dato' Dr. Fuad Ismail, consultant oncologist, to talk about how artificial intelligence in histopathology may be implemented here in Malaysia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

Unlike what Fifty Shades of Grey might want us to believe, pain during sexual intercourse is not always a desirable thing. In fact,  it might be a sign of a medical condition, or just a sign that a change of pace might be required. Providing insight on the matter is Dr. Martha Lee, Clinical Sexologist. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A recent study found that regular endurance exercise could trigger brain growth, and researchers at the Dana Farber Medical Centre at Harvard Medical School went on to suggest that this effect could be bottled as medicine that could help patients with early stage cognitive decline. Joining us for a discussion regarding the link between brain growth and exercise are Professor Dr. Jafri Malin Abdull...

Though sleep is a crucial part of our wellbeing and happiness, it seems like many busy Malaysians just can't seem to get it right. Getting to the bottom of this is Lee Chwi Lynn along with various sleepers and specialists including Dr. Lau Wee-Ming, internal medicine specialist, Dr. HM Goh, medical director at University Malaya Specialist Centre and Dr. Kumar RS, a primary physician who runs sleep...

Malaria vaccines have been a tricky proposition, to say the least, but now there might be inroads led by genetics research, in both humans and mosquitos. Explaining more is Dr. Arif Anwar, our resident geneticist and Professors Lau Yee Ling and Fong Mun Yik, from University Malaya. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holistic lifestyle coach and sports therapist, Liam Harkness joins us for a discussion about the six pillars of wellness as well as their importance to our health. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.