Health & Living

Divorce is tough on any family, but there is a unique impact on children, who can feel conflicted and anxious throughout the process. With a significant jump in divorce rates in Malaysia - the Department of Statistics reported a 43% increase from 2021 to 2022 - we need to keep an eye on how children are affected. Lakshumy Kumar, Senior Manager for Consultancy and Training at Thrive Well, and Dr Ni...

Amendments to the Drug Dependents Act were tabled in Parliament last week, resulting in swift pushback from drug policy experts that these amendments were unscientific and in fact could further harm people with substance use disorders. We speak to Palani Narayanan, Director of the Drug Policy Program Malaysia to explore what a health- and rights-based approach should look like, especially as advoc...

Are our beauty products harbouring carcinogens? Public concerns about asbestos in talcum powder increased when a multitude of lawsuits were filed against Johnson & Johnson for their baby powder products. Other leading cosmetic companies have also been implicated in these health concerns, with cancers like mesothelioma and ovarian cancer being linked to cosmetic talc. Prof Dr Cheong Sok Ching,...

Some of us may be familiar with the idea of a family physician - your local primary care doctor who treated you for your childhood infections, managed your adult ailments, and probably provided care for your own children as well. Increasingly, however, the central role of primary care doctors is fading, replaced by the ease of going directly to secondary and tertiary care specialists. But primary...

Do you own a medical insurance policy, or are thinking of purchasing a new one soon? If so, you could be affected by Bank Negara Malaysia’s new policy that takes effect on 1st September, which requires insurance and takaful companies to provide the option of new medical and health coverage policies with a co-payment feature. What will this mean for current and new policyholders? Will this increase...

In healthcare, there are often situations where medical staff have to make decisions on moral, legal and ethical issues in patient care, or where there may be a conflict between patients’ needs and doctors’ views. This is where a medical ethicist comes in, with their understanding of ethical concepts in healthcare, as well as their ability to view and mediate the different perspectives in the situ...

Whether you’re scrolling through social media or talking to friends, you can easily hear about the latest health hack - little tips and advice on how you can incorporate healthier habits into your life or sometimes trying something completely wacky because it’s said to change your life. From taking fart walks for your digestive health to shoving a clove of garlic in your nose to alleviate congesti...

Breast cancer may not always cause noticeable symptoms, but there are certain changes to your breast and nipples that you must not ignore. Dr Hilawati Yusof, Consultant Clinical Oncologist from Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, talks about symptoms, regular screening, and early diagnosis of breast cancer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Personality tests are everywhere, ranging from the MBTI to the Big Five to other fluffier and fun ones you find on the internet. So what can we learn about ourselves through these tests? How can they shape our lives - or perhaps, should we let these results determine how we behave whether in our professional or personal lives? Licensed counsellor Alan Yong joins us on this episode of Counsellor’s...

How does a prosthetic limb turn a relatively sedentary person into an active para-athlete? Is it the prosthetic, or the willpower? Inspired by the story of 54-year-old Karunakaran Muttiah, a below-knee amputee who is now a para-archer, long-distance cyclist and mountain trekker, we explore the resilience and ability of the body to adapt, and even increase its performance, following an injury.&nbsp...

As the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus once observed: the only constant in life is change. And these changes - or life transitions - are events that most of us would experience throughout our personal and professional lives. Some of us might easily adapt to these changes while others might find it more stressful, depending on how much it’s affecting our routines and habits. Here to help us un...

How does a prosthetic limb turn a relatively sedentary person into an active para-athlete? Is it the prosthetic, or the willpower? Inspired by the story of 54-year-old Karunakaran Muttiah, a below-knee amputee who is now a para-archer, long-distance cyclist and mountain trekker, we explore the resilience and ability of the body to adapt, and even increase its performance, following an injury. See...

For a long time, infertility among couples has always been placed on the shoulders of the woman, but as reports of male infertility continue to rise, we dive into what’s causing the decrease in sperm counts worldwide and whether fears of a ‘spermageddon’ are exaggerated? Consultant urologist Dr George Lee and fertility specialist Dato’ Dr Prashant Nadkarni weigh in. Image Credit: Shutterstock See...

What is it like growing up alongside a neurodivergent sibling? How does it shape your identity, your relationship and dynamics within the family, and your life choices? Consultant developmental paediatrician Dr Rajini Sarvananthan is joined by Ku Jie Yee, who has an elder sister with autism, and shares about her experience and challenges as “the sister”, as well as growing up on the advocacy circu...

Motor neuron disease (MND) - also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - is a progressive neurological condition that leads to weakness and wasting of the muscles. It is estimated that there are probably more than 2,000 Malaysians with MND, with 600 new cases diagnosed every year. We speak to Benny Ng, Chairman, and Soo Cheong Futt, Vice-Chairman, of MND Malaysia to find out how the NGO supports...

Maurizio Rosini ’s past of getting into street fights against fascist groups in Italy is so far removed - geographically and metaphorically - from the life he leads now as a men’s coach and mentor, as well as a marketing professional for a French university. On this episode of ‘ Because Feelings Matter ’, he reflects on his struggle to define himself and his worth, and how stereotypes of masculini...

In Malaysia, it is estimated that about one in 700 babies is born with a cleft lip or palate. If your baby is born with a cleft, you may be distressed and anxious about whether your child will be able to feed well and grow normally. Dr Darsha Meyyappan, specialist orthodontist, joins us to explain more about the treatment of cleft lip and palate. Find support from the Cleft Lip and Palate Associat...

Geography determines whether or not you receive treatment for cancer, and whether you will suffer painfully or live with a good quality of life. This is a fact of the cancer divide, placing the disproportionate burden of cancer deaths and disabilities on the developing world. How do we dismantle the barriers to cancer care in low- and middle-income countries, and ensure that cancer isn’t a death s...

Malaysians pride ourselves on the affordability of our public healthcare services, but is it affordable for all communities that need it? This World Refugee Day, we’re shining the spotlight on the healthcare challenges that refugee communities in Malaysia face and the work that Refugee Emergency Fund does to help bridge the gap whenever they can. We find out from Liza Nordeen, fund coordinator fro...

When we think of people struggling with their mental health being placed in psychiatric institutions, it’s usually not a pretty picture. In fact, psychiatric institutions have had their fair share of stigma and horror stories about how their residents are treated. But in recent decades, we have seen a shift in mindset towards the importance of community care instead, to better support people strug...

It’s normal for parent-child relationships to change and evolve as you and your parents grow older, but what happens when your ageing parents develop more difficult behaviours and you find yourself being the parent in that relationship? On this episode of Healthy Ageing, consultant psychiatrist Dr Wan Izwin Wan Hassan dives into behavioural changes among older adults, how their kids and family mem...

The idea of subjecting an elderly  person - the grandfathers and grandmothers in our lives - to abuse or neglect is an abhorrent one. And yet, elder abuse does occur with horrifying frequency around the world - hence, the annual commemoration of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on 15 June to shine a spotlight on this grievous violation of the rights of older people. Family medicine specialist...

Chances are, you know someone who has a non-communicable disease, like diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol or obesity. In fact, you probably know someone who has all four of these conditions. The National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023: Non-Communicable Diseases and Healthcare Demand, reveals that more than half a million Malaysian adults (2.5% of population), suffer from all four diseases,...

If you injured yourself while playing a sport or exercising, what kind of treatment would you need to help you get back on your feet and working out again? When is surgery needed and will that affect how you recover? Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dr Harjeet Singh joins us on the show today, together with consultant sports physician Dr Kamaljeet Singh to dive into both their roles in this journey....

If asked to picture what a pharmacist does, most of us probably imagine someone dispensing medications. But that’s only a small part of what a pharmacist does. In this episode of Humans of Healthcare, pharmacist Dr Mark Cheong breaks down misconceptions about the role of pharmacists, the career opportunities after a degree in pharmacy, and how they work hand in hand with both physicians and patien...