Health & Living

The brain is a complex organ, and any physical trauma to the brain or neurological disorders can have an impact on your cognition and behaviour. On this episode of Humans of Healthcare, we speak to clinical neuropsychologist Dr A Padmassini to find out more about how the specialisation of neuropsychology is vital as we see a rise in neurological disorders and mental health issues, and what it take...

On 30 December 2003, Cantopop singer Anita Mui passed away from cervical cancer, amid an outpouring of grief from her fans. Thirty years later, this disease is still the fourth most common cancer, and continues to kill one woman every two minutes. The World Health Organization has laid out a strategy to eliminate cervical cancer worldwide as a public health problem, where all countries reach an an...

Medical devices are a billion-dollar industry, and are becoming increasingly ubiquitous in healthcare. They’re also becoming increasingly high-stakes - such devices are costly, but they do very precise jobs and slight errors in usage can result in serious consequences. And yet, you increasingly find medical devices being sold on e-commerce platforms to the public. How do consumers judge the safety...

According to the Alzheimer's Disease Foundation Malaysia, by 2050, the number of older adults in Malaysia living with dementia will rise to 825,000. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, usually accounting for 60-70% of dementia cases. There is currently no cure for this neurodegenerative condition, and many people living with Alzheimer’s are cared for by family members, with s...

Every day, we make small and big decisions in our lives. But what if one day, we find ourselves in circumstances where we are no longer able to make those decisions for ourselves, especially on things like health or even assets? How can we ensure every individual’s wishes and autonomy is respected even when they can’t voice it? Here to talk to me about what it means to have the mental capacity to...

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks healthy cells in the body, causing inflammation and painful swelling of the joints. Research suggests that an imbalance in the gut microbiota may play the role of environmental triggers of arthritis. Together with consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dr Rajesh Singh, and professor in microbiology and molecular biology Prof L...

#instalife doesn’t last forever. How you live today changes how you age tomorrow. At BFM’s Health & Living Live 2023, we looked at ways to disrupt ageing - from maintaining brain power, to staying fit, and being financially prepared. On the third panel session, licensed financial planner Stephen Yong covered the Business, Finance, and Money questions, when it comes to planning your wealth for...

#instalife doesn’t last forever. How you live today changes how you age tomorrow. At BFM’s Health & Living Live 2023, we looked at ways to disrupt ageing - from maintaining brain power, to staying fit, and being financially prepared. In the second panel session, consultant geriatrician Dr Seenikatty Abdul Haki and neurogeneticist Assoc Prof Dr Azlina Ahmad Annuar discussed what happens to the...

#instalife doesn’t last forever. How you live today changes how you age tomorrow. At BFM’s Health & Living Live 2023, we looked at ways to disrupt ageing - from maintaining brain power, to staying fit, and being financially prepared. In the first panel session, we covered plenty of ground when it comes to being fit, strong, flexible…and looking great. The speakers on the panel were Dr Arvin Ra...

While we’ve made leaps and bounds in cancer research, not all diagnostic tools and therapeutics are accessible to all, especially to those in low- and middle-income countries. The International Affordable Diagnostics and Therapeutics Alliance (IA-DATA) aims to close that gap and improve healthcare access in ASEAN countries, including Malaysia. Here to tell us more about it are Prof Dr Sanjeev Kris...

Malaysia's fertility is dropping drastically. In 2022, the fertility rate was 1.6 children per woman, the lowest that the country has recorded in 50 years. What is the impact of low fertility on the population? And if we want to address decreasing fertility, how do we increase access to affordable, high-quality fertility care for those in need, without compromising on family planning and contracep...

Following the recent Cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Azrul Mohd Khalib, CEO, Galen Centre for Health & Social Policy, joins us to look at the appointment - or rather, reappointment - of Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad as Minister of Health, and what are the urgent priorities for the new Minister. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the latest episode of Heart of Medicine, occupational health physician Dr Abed Onn joins consultant cardiologist Dr Kannan Pasamanickam to dive into the importance of occupational health and safety, and how cardiovascular disease intersects with the workplace today. With the rise of cardiovascular disease among working-age adults, we explore work-related CVD risk factors, and how organisations...

As COVID-19 cases climb once again, it’s more important than ever to remain vigilant. What precautions should we take, and especially for those who are at high-risk, when should you seek medical treatment if your symptoms worsen? We speak to Dato’ Dr Chow Ting Soo, infectious disease physician, on how to protect ourselves and our loved ones. This interview is brought to you by Pfizer Malaysia. Ima...

According to the National Health & Morbidity Survey 2022 on Maternal and Child Health, only less than half of women of reproductive age or their partner use any contraceptive methods in Malaysia. What is the impact of low contraceptive use on the health and well-being of women and their families, and what are the unmet needs for family planning? Dr Lavitha Sivapatham, Consultant Obstetrician &...

Last week (on 30th Nov), the long awaited Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023 was passed by the Dewan Rakyat, to address the lacuna in the law following the exemption of liquid nicotine from the Poisons Act back in April, among others. But this bill has been criticised by healthcare professionals and policymakers on both sides of the divide for omitting the generational endgame...

It’s the most wonderful time of the year again, as we wind down, take our holidays, and spend time with family and friends. It’s also the time when people typically pause and reflect upon the year that has passed. Consultant clinical psychologist Paul Jambunathan joins us for his annual conversation on self-reflection, exploring different areas of our lives that would benefit from introspection. I...

Cancers among children are rare, but leukaemia is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among children. While it is a devastating diagnosis for the family, with early diagnosis and effective treatment, children diagnosed with childhood leukaemia have a good outlook. Here to tell us more about that are Dr Chan Lee Lee , a consultant paediatric haemato-oncologist at Subang Jaya Medical Centre, and Etha...

The Ministry of Health recently reported a 57.3% spike in cases of COVID-19, from the week of Nov 19 to 25 compared to the week before. Paired with increasing anecdotal evidence that more people are falling ill, many Malaysians are worried if this signals a comeback for the coronavirus. To help us understand what’s happening and what can be done about it, we speak to Dr Victor Hoe, Professor of Oc...

In 2024, the Ministry of Health will provide Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria and Acellular Pertussis) vaccination to all pregnant mothers at all government primary health clinics. The vaccination is aimed at protecting newborn babies against the three highly infectious and serious diseases. Prof Dr Nazimah Idris, President of the Obstetrical & Gynaecological Society of Malaysia, joins the show to ex...

Everyone’s talking about how AI can change how we live our lives and make things just a bit easier for us, including in medicine. One of those potential areas is in radiology, where research is being carried out about how AI could help in different areas such as diagnoses as well as to generate datasets. But does this necessarily mean AI will take over the role of our doctors? Here to offer some i...

To end the AIDS epidemic, community-based action must be an integral part of the process. But what does that look like here in Malaysia? In conjunction with World AIDS Day, which is commemorated on the 1st of Dec, consultant urologist Dr George Lee is joined by Raymond Tai, acting Chief Operating Officer of PT Foundation to find out more. Image Credit: UNAIDs See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

Parenting neurodivergent children is both a challenging and rewarding journey. One of the pivotal moments in this journey is discussing the diagnosis with the children themselves. As parents, how and when do you approach the conversation? And how do you help children understand their diagnosis and the interventions, while celebrating their strengths and uniqueness? We discuss with consultant devel...

On this episode of Ask A Doctor, consultant gastroenterologist Dato’ Dr Mahendra Raj joins us to answer all your hard questions about poo and your gastrointestinal health. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Children’s Day is celebrated on the 20th of November every year, to remind us all that children’s voices matter. On this special episode of Because Feelings Matter, the kids are getting behind the microphones to tell us what matters to them, and how their perspectives should challenge adults to see the world through their eyes. In the first part of this episode, 13-year-old Branden Lim talks...