Health & Living

In an age where superheroes like Thor, Black Panther, and Wonder Woman occupy our imaginations, a cancer researcher may not appear to belong in that group. But it’s the scientists working to find better ways to treat and prevent cancer, who are the real heroes in our history. In this episode of Humans of Healthcare, we sit down with Professor Datin Paduka Dr Teo Soo Hwang, Chief Scientific Officer...

When you hear the word “head injury”, many of us often think of the worst case scenario. But with head injuries ranging from mild to the more severe, how might it affect someone’s bodily functions as well as behaviour? If someone is struggling with more severe after-effects, what does caring for the individual look like? We find out from consultant neurosurgeon Dr Gurmit Singh from Subang Jaya Med...

Healthcare providers rely on studies published in scientific journals to keep up-to-date with the latest developments in medical research. But what happens when the study wasn’t even written by a researcher, but by an AI chatbot like ChatGPT? We invite Dr Mark Cheong, Editorial Board Member of PLOS Global Public Health, and Dr Ahmad Syahrizan Sulaiman, Senior Lecturer from University Malaysia Paha...

How often do you think about how your kidneys are doing? While we can lead a healthy and good quality of life with just one kidney, it doesn’t mean that we can or should neglect our kidneys’ health. With chronic kidney disease being one of the main NCDs burdening the Malaysian population, just how healthy are our kidneys, and more importantly, what can we do now to keep them functioning well? We f...

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers - both through HPV vaccinations and screening tests - and could one day be history for Malaysia. But just how far away are we from that reality? On this International Women’s Day special, we’ll be diving into this women’s health issue and also speaking to someone who has made this her mission, Prof Dr Woo Yin Ling, consultant gynaecological on...

Pregnancy is the beginning of a thrilling, roller coaster ride for any couple, but the journey actually begins even before the baby is conceived. Join Dr Goh Huay Yee , Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, from ParkCity Medical Centre, to find out how couples can start the family planning journey, and what they need to know about steering the next nine months - and beyond - together with the...

If you’re on social media, you’ve probably come across posts or videos by people describing how they’ve had oddly specific habits their entire life - like being easily distracted from their work, or being easily frustrated by the smallest things - and how these all point towards having ADHD. In fact, many of us seem to resonate with these posts which highlight how many adults have undiagnosed ADHD...

A recent study by a team of Australian scientists found a protein in the lungs that sticks to the COVID-19 virus like velcro, thus immobilising it. It’s a step forward in understanding COVID-19 immunity, why some people develop more severe symptoms while others don’t, and it’s generally an area where we still have more questions than answers three years after the start of the pandemic. Here to she...

You can’t escape the consequences of an unhealthy lifestyle, especially one centred around a high-fat, calorie-laden diet. One of the organs that can be badly affected is the liver, where excess fat  can accumulate in the liver cells. Consultant gastroenterologist & hepatologist Prof Dr Chan Wah Kheong joins Dr George Lee for a discussion about fatty liver, and its increasing significance...

Part of learning how to manage your mental health is finding a support system that works for you. But telling friends and family that you’re struggling can be hard. And on the other side of that conversation, if someone is opening up about their mental health to you, it can be equally difficult to figure out what to say or do. This is the fourth and final episode of our mini-series My Mind and Me,...

Childhood - a time of fun and play - can be disrupted when a child is born with a faulty valve in the heart. Aortic stenosis is a congenital heart condition where the baby is born with an aortic valve that is too narrow or blocked. While there are surgical treatments available to expand, reconstruct or replace the aortic valve, these procedures have had their limitations. Dr Sivakumar Sivalingam ,...

As a psychologist, Dr Hariyati Sharima Abdul Majid was the one that people turned to when they were struggling with mental health issues. But when Dr Hariyati’s father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, she found herself on the other side of things, coping with her own mental and emotional turmoil as a result of being a caregiver to her father. On this episode of Because Feeli...

Budget 2023 has been retabled - once again - with health receiving the second largest share out of the entire budget at RM36.3 billion. But is this enough for a healthcare system at its breaking point? We check in with Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai, president of the Malaysian Medical Association, and Dato’ Dr Saunthari Somasundaram, co-chairperson of NCD Malaysia.  Brought to you by Mah Sing. Rein...

“Why does she look like that?” or “He talks funny” are some things children may say when they encounter someone who is differently-abled, or has special needs. We sometimes say that children can be cruel, but children can also be kind, accepting and inclusive, if they are taught from a young age that everyone is different in their own ways. But what does being inclusive mean from a child’s eyes, a...

This is the second part of an NCD Chronicles cancer special in conjunction with World Cancer Day on 4 February. In the previous episode, Hiba Abdul Rahman , a 32-year-old breast cancer survivor, shared how the inequities in the wider landscape of insurance and medical financing have put her in precarious financial position vis-a-vis her cancer and overall care. In this episode, Hiba shares more ab...

Where do children and teenagers spend most of their time, with the most significant amount of influence? Without a doubt, it is the school - and this is where education and awareness about mental health can also have the greatest impact. Chase Tan, Clinical Psychologist at Thrive Well and Clinical Coordinator of the KAMI Juara programme, joins us to discuss the ins and outs of introducing mental h...

Eating healthy is expensive. That’s what a lot of us think, but is it necessarily true? With the recent introduction of RM5 meals through Menu Rahmah, many are wondering: is it still possible to eat a balanced meal amidst rising food costs? Is cheap always bad? On our monthly open clinic segment, Prof Dr Winnie Chee, President of the Malaysian Dietitians' Association joins us to answer all your qu...

It’s no secret that Malaysians love food, and maybe we also love the salt in our food, a little too much. But just how much salt are we consuming, and if we’re over the limit, how do we cut down on salt without compromising on taste? And is it really so bad to have that little bit more salt in our food? Prof Datin Dr Chia Yook Chin, founder and president of the Malaysian Society for World Action o...

The human body changes physiologically as you age, and that includes your muscles. But why do some older adults tend to lose muscle strength, while others don’t? And how can we maintain good muscle health as we age? On this episode of Healthy Ageing, consultant geriatrician Dr Terence Ong weighs in on why we should talk about sarcopenia and whether it is inevitable that we will lose our muscles as...

Is pain during sex common, especially for women? In a society where sexual health is still a taboo topic, questions like these aren’t always asked and answered, even though they could be a sign of a more serious health condition. Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Hoo Mei Lin joins us to shed more light on this and break some taboos along the way.  Click here to find out more about...

With increasing attention on mental health issues, the role of a psychologist as a healthcare provider has become central in supporting the mental wellbeing of the population. But what does a psychologist actually do? Do you listen to people talk about their problems all day long? What kind of training and qualifications do you need to pursue this career? What kind of personality best suits this p...

If you’ve just been diagnosed with a mental health condition, it can be overwhelming to process. What happens next? How will it change how you manage your mental health? This is the third episode of My Mind and Me, a mini-series exploring what it looks like to seek help for your mental health. On today’s show, we’ll be looking at what to expect after a mental illness diagnosis, together with Hasbe...

If you have chest pains, difficulty breathing, or stomach problems, you see a doctor. And yet, when you have skin issues like acne, pigmentation or itching, your first port of call may not be a doctor or a dermatologist, but a beautician who is not trained in the medical care of skin conditions. We question why skin health gets the short shrift, and explore the risks of certain cosmetic procedures...

“First, do no harm” is the oft-repeated mantra from the Hippocratic Oath that medical professionals ascribe to. Underlying that concept is the philosophy that the patient is of utmost importance, and thus, their safety and well-being should come first when a doctor  sees to them and makes decisions regarding their health needs. We explore the idea of patient-centric care and whether this is r...

After Malaysia was born as a nation, we took good care of our mothers and infants, by building up a vast network of rural healthcare. This resulted in low maternal and infant mortality rates for many years. But in 2021, Malaysia recorded 300 pregnancy-related deaths, which is the country’s highest maternal mortality rate in several decades. On Public Health, consultant ob-gyn Dr John Teo joins Azr...