Health & Living

With SPM done and dusted for the 2022-2023 graduating year, another batch of 18-year-olds stands on the cusp of adulthood, making decisions about studies and careers that will determine their path for the next several years. This brings with it no small measure of stress and anxiety, with pressure and expectations everywhere they turn. To commemorate World Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Healt...

For decades, countries in Southeast Asia have learned to live with a deadly killer: dengue. Dengue is endemic to all countries in this region, and it can sometimes feel like we’ve become complacent in doing something about it. But here’s a terrifying statistic: in 2022, dengue deaths increased by 180% and dengue infections by more than 150% compared to the previous year in Malaysia. So what more c...

A recent study by researchers in the University of Florida found that 21 major toilet paper brands sold worldwide contain PFAS, dubbed “forever chemicals” because they do not degrade in the environment. These chemicals likely enter wastewater treatment systems, and can potentially be a significant source of water pollution. PFAS are not the only chemical pollutants of concern that are increasingly...

Recently, a proposed strike by a group of contract doctors in Malaysia highlighted the question of ethics among healthcare professionals and how these principles should guide their conduct and care of patients. On our bi-monthly show with consultant cardiologist Dr Kannan Pasamanickam, we explore what it means to be an ethical doctor in daily clinical practice, and why this matters for patient car...

Nicotine liquids and gel, used in e-cigarettes and vape devices, have been exempted from poison control, following a gazetted order signed by the Minister of Health. This was done to pave the way for excise taxes to be imposed on the nicotine formulations, but it also effectively makes it possible for e-cigarettes and vape products to be bought and sold over-the-counter with no restrictions. We di...

Have you ever wondered what happens if you need to relearn how to speak or even how to swallow? Speech-language therapists may not be the most glamorous job among healthcare workers - you might not have even heard of them - but they play such an important role to help kids and adults alike. On this episode of Humans of Healthcare, we speak to Tay Chia Yi, speech-language therapist and vice preside...

Is hypnotherapy just a bunch of mumbo-jumbo, or is it a legitimate form of therapy provided by mental healthcare professionals? Why does it matter whether practitioners are properly trained and qualified, or how hypnotherapy is used to help clients? We dive into the murky waters of clinical hypnosis, and separate the science from the hogwash, together with clinical psychologist Dr Shawn Lee Ji Kwa...

This World Health Day, we are asking listeners to tell us what’s the one thing they would change about their healthcare experience, and what they would like in terms of better care and outcomes. Consultant geriatrician Dr Terence Ong and Maheswari Jaganathan, Deputy Head Community Outreach at Cancer Research Malaysia, join us to share their perspectives as a healthcare provider and patient advocat...

The valves in our heart enable blood to flow in the right direction. When there are problems with any of the valves, this can lead to serious complications, like heart failure. We look at what happens when a condition called tricuspid valve regurgitation develops, and recent advances in surgical treatment. Joining us from Institut Jantung Negara, the first hospital in Asia to perform a new valve r...

Social media has been a great platform to raise awareness on mental health issues, but it can also be a trigger for those who are still struggling, especially when it comes to those at risk of self-harm. So how do we ensure that online content is helpful instead of harmful, and are social media companies responsible for moderating these content online? We find out from consultant psychiatrist Dr R...

Our feet get us places. But if they’re not well taken care of with the right footwear, every step becomes a pain-filled one. What role do shoes play in maintaining the function and well-being of our feet, and is there anything to the barefoot bandwagon that some people are jumping on? Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dr Rajesh Singh and musculoskeletal pain specialist Dr Giresh Kanji walk us through...

There are many medical conditions, illnesses or injuries that can affect a person’s ability to live and work independently. Between the point of receiving a diagnosis, and achieving the outcome of recovery, there is a very important aspect of care: occupational therapy. Prof Nathan Vytialingam, Honorary Fellow of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, and Dr Kim Walder, Senior Lecturer f...

PrEP - or pre-exposure prophylaxis - can be life-saving, as it’s highly effective in preventing HIV when taken as prescribed. Recently, Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni said that the Ministry of Health will be further expanding a pilot programme which sees PrEP being dispensed for free. But this comes amidst growing sentiment that sexual abstinence should be emphasised instead of PrEP...

About half of the Malaysian population are either overweight or obese, and it’s not surprising when Malaysia is the fattest nation in Southeast Asia. But being overweight or obese isn’t just about how someone looks, but how it impacts them physically - and mentally. Syed Amierul Asyraf joins us on this episode to share how he came to terms with his weight and the struggles of making lifestyle chan...

Back pain is one of the most common problems in the modern world, and most of us have probably experienced it at one point or another. But how do you know if it’s something more serious? Dr Azman Raffiq , consultant neurosurgeon from Pantai Hospital KL joins us to shed more light on degenerative spine diseases and how far we’ve come with minimally invasive procedures. See omnystudio.com/listener f...

From a young age, Sumitra Visvanathan, Executive Director of the Women’s Aid Organisation, was imbued with a strong sense of service towards others in need. This naturally led to her vocation for human rights work, but also profoundly affected her mental health. On this episode of Because Feelings Matter, Sumitra shares how her years as a careworker left her vulnerable to secondary trauma, but als...

Did you know that before COVID-19, tuberculosis was the leading infectious killer, even higher than HIV/AIDS? While it has now been overtaken by COVID-19, it doesn’t mean TB is any less of a threat to public health than it used to be. In fact, many experts are concerned that the focus on COVID-19 has set us back on making progress with TB. So how do we get to the point where TB is a part of our hi...

Will Ellie find out the truth about what Joel did? This is the cliffhanger question in the season finale of ‘The Last Of Us’, a TV series about a zombifying fungal infection that has destroyed civilisation for 20 years. While viewers have to wait for Season 2 to find out whether a vaccine will ever be invented for this deadly fungus, the Health & Living team has another question in mind: Is th...

Worldwide, 78 million people have glaucoma, which is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness around the world. However, it is also a preventable cause of blindness, as early diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma can prevent needless loss of vision. How do we prevent blindness from glaucoma, especially when it is a silent disease and many people are unaware that they have it? We find out...

What if you were told that you had “zombie cells” in your brain? And that they have an impact on age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s or even cancer? Neurogeneticist Dr Azlina Ahmad Annuar is back for her Brain Waves series to help us understand what these cells are doing and whether we should be alarmed, and joining her is pharmacologist Prof Dr Wong Pooi Fong. Image Credit: Nabora Reyes/Peng La...

When it comes to obesity, one of the main solutions prescribed to people is to exercise to lose some of their weight. How do you do it right so that you don’t injure yourself in the process? And is the goal about losing weight or getting fit? Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dr Harjeet Singh is back to answer all your questions. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

In our open clinic segment on World Oral Health Day, Associate Professor Dr Mas Suryalis Ahmad, President-Elect of the Malaysian Dental Association, joins us to answer questions about the teeth, gums and general oral health. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Death and dying is still a taboo subject in Malaysian society. But to live well until your last days also means planning your care for times when you might not be able to make such decisions anymore. Dr Ednin Hamzah, CEO of Hospis Malaysia joins us to share what advance care planning looks like and the importance of decision-making for the end of life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

We often hear that you are what you eat. But does your diet affect your risk of stomach cancer? Who is at higher risk of stomach cancer - also known as gastric cancer? Consultant gastroenterologist Datuk Dr Ryan Ponnudurai joins us to help us better understand what it means to maintain good gut health and how it could help to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal cancers such as stomach cancer. See...

Last week, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa brought up in the Dewan Rakyat that people living in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya have the highest rates of anxiety and depression in the whole country. What is it about living in the Federal Territories that is contributing to bad mental health? We find out from consultant psychiatrist Assoc Prof Dr Amer Siddiq bin Amer Nordin, and ask him if it’s time f...