Health & Living

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 second part of this episode, teenagers Kate, Joshua, and...

Dr Yong De Jun’s life seemed to be mapped out - a bright young man with a promising career in surgery, and a desire to help others. Then came an unexpected diagnosis of heart failure, and a cloud over his future. On this episode of NCD Chronicles , Dr Yong reflects on the bumpy road leading to his diagnosis, and how he has learned to manage his heart failure without giving up his dream. Consultant...

World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) is commemorated every year from 18-24 November. The theme for WAAW 2023 is "Preventing antimicrobial resistance together", continuing the theme from the previous year. Consultant Infectious Diseases Physician Associate Professor Dr Sasheela Ponnampalavanar joins us on the show to explore what a post-antibiotic (as well as antiviral and antifunga...

We are approaching the one-year anniversary since Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as the tenth Prime Minister of Malaysia on 24th November last year, and we’re taking a look at the different issues in health and healthcare that the Prime Minister and the government can prioritise in the next year. Healthcare financing has surfaced time and again under several administrations, but will Dato’...

We are approaching the one-year anniversary since Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as the tenth Prime Minister of Malaysia on 24th November last year, and we’re taking a look at the different issues in health and healthcare that the Prime Minister and the government can prioritise in the next year. The fact that Malaysia is a rapidly ageing middle-income country has not escaped the attention...

We don’t usually think of pancreatic cancer with optimism, but there is hope for better outcomes if the cancer is diagnosed early. Consultant clinical oncologist Dr Jennifer Leong shares more about the urgent need to treat pancreatic cancer if it is picked up early, while clinical psychologist from the National Cancer Society of Malaysia Lee Kah Yee sheds light on how emotional and psychological s...

As we approach the one year anniversary since Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as the tenth Prime Minister of Malaysia on 24th November last year, we’re taking a look at the different issues in health and healthcare that the Prime Minister and the government can prioritise in the next year. On the first of this mini-series, we’re joined by Assoc Prof Dr Adina Abdullah from the Dept of Primary...

We are approaching the one year anniversary since Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sworn in as the tenth Prime Minister of Malaysia on 24th November last year, and we’re taking a look at the different issues in health and healthcare that the Prime Minister and the government can prioritise in the next year. We speak to Dr Sivabala Selvaratnam, Chairman, MMA SCHOMOS (Section Concerning House Officers,...

The enteric nervous system is found within our gastrointestinal tract and is able to function independently of our brain and spinal cord. On this episode of Brain Waves, neurogeneticist Dr Azlina Ahmad Annuar is joined by enteric neuroscientist Dr Chalystha Lee to discuss what we know about the enteric nervous system, and how its function differs among people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorde...

While vapes and e-cigarettes were initially marketed as a potentially safer alternative to traditional tobacco smoking, vaping has given rise to a new and concerning public health issue: nicotine addiction. Countries around the world are now grappling with a vaping crisis among children and young people, due to the easy ways young people can lay their hands on vape products, even those containing...

Lung cancer has a long and difficult history in our society. It bears the stigma of being associated with men who smoke, and is still thought to be the deadliest of all cancers. The latter is true when lung cancer is diagnosed at late stages, which is the case for 90% of patients in Malaysia. However, it is time to stop thinking of lung cancer as a self-inflicted disease of smokers, and recognise...

Every second Thursday of November is dedicated to Genetic Counselor Awareness Day, to raise awareness about how genetic counsellors work in a healthcare team within our community. On this episode of Humans of Healthcare, we speak to Rifhan Azwani Mazlan and Sharifah Azween Syed Omar, genetic counsellors from the Genetic Counselling Society of Malaysia , on their increasingly important role as heal...

It’s a bitter pill to swallow - Malaysia has the highest rate of diabetes in the Western Pacific region and one of the highest in the world. In just eight years, between 2011 and 2019, the prevalence of diabetes increased by a whopping 68% to 18.3% of the population - that’s almost 1 in 5 adults with diabetes. By 2025, the prevalence is expected to increase to 31.3% of the population. This burden...

2023 marks the 13th year of HPV vaccination in Malaysia’s national immunisation programme, where 13-year-old girls in Form 1 receive the vaccination in schools. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, we had achieved near-universal immunisation, reaching an estimated 250,000 13-year-old girls each year. Following recent news that the Ministry of Health will switch to a single-dose regime, we speak to Prof M...

Malaysia has said a lot about being prepared for an ageing society. But are we headed for an ageing crisis instead, with older adults continuing to be dependent on informal care for their daily, social, health and financial needs, while carers remain invisible, underpaid or even unpaid? With the first ever International Day of Care and Support recently commemorated on 29 October, we discuss the ur...

What does having good mobility mean? Is it simply about being flexible or about the way you move whether you’re simply going about your daily routines or while playing sports? On this episode of Be Fit Malaysians, consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dr Harjeet Singh is joined by fitness trainer Josephine See, to dive into what mobility training is and why all of us should pay closer attention to how we...

We’ll be celebrating World Children’s Day on 20 November, and as we look towards upholding children’s rights, consultant clinical psychologist Paul Jambunathan joins us to discuss how to help children develop emotional intelligence for better mental health and resilience. Image Credit: 123RF See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Receiving a cancer diagnosis is challenging for anyone, but it can be especially so for older adults who are already living with other medical and cognitive issues. So how can treatment and support for older adults look beyond their cancer diagnosis, to their other medical as well as social needs? Here to share more about the need for combined geriatric-oncology services are consultant geriatricia...

A stroke is a severe and sudden medical condition that can have profound consequences for survivors and families. Rapid treatment, as well as proper stroke rehabilitation can help one recover from a stroke, and regain independence and quality of life. Knowing what to expect in stroke rehab, and empowering caregivers to seek support, is key to successful rehabilitation and recovery. We look at thes...

According to the 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey, only 22% of Malaysians have personal health insurance, with 43% saying that they cannot afford it, while 36% think that it is unnecessary. However, without a financial safety net, households can find themselves facing dire situations if a family member falls critically ill. Can embedded insurance - small amounts of insurance that we purch...

1 in 8 adolescents in Malaysia have had suicidal thoughts while 1 in 10 adolescents have attempted suicide. Those are some of the concerning statistics that have been revealed by the latest National Health & Morbidity Survey 2022, which focuses on adolescent health. On this month’s Mind Matters series, we speak to Nur Arfah Zaini, who is both a clinical psychologist as well as a licensed &...

Following news several months ago about cord blood banking company Cellsafe International seeking liquidation, we speak to Assoc Prof Chua Kien Hui, Cell Therapy Scientist at the Department of Physiology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, about what options are available for desperate parents who have been left in limbo over their children’s stored cord blood. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystud...

How would you react if you were diagnosed with breast cancer? For Grace Tam, a visit to the doctor for neck pain saw her coming out with a diagnosis of advanced breast cancer, but she took it all in stride. In fact, she is proof that a good quality of life is possible even with a terminal illness.  In conjunction with Pink October, Grace shares her story on NCD Chronicles , while consultant c...

In conjunction with World Hospice & Palliative Care Day on 14 October, Health & Living has been featuring various perspectives of living and dying well, challenging the norms in healthcare and society when it comes to death. In this final perspective, we explore the role of community volunteers in supporting people with life-limiting illnesses, and how interdependence within the community...

In conjunction with World Mental Health Day in October, we’re looking at the mental health struggles that parents and children are facing, especially in the post-COVID normal. While there are a lot of concerns about the impact of the pandemic and increasing social media exposure on children’s mental well-being, we are also shining a spotlight on whether parents’ mental health challenges are being...