Health & Living

Earlier this month, there was the shocking incident of the murder-suicide involving a refugee man and his two children, which led to calls for better recognition of the pressures that the refugee community face here in Malaysia. But in a society which continues to marginalise and provide little to no protection for refugees here, how are these circumstances impacting the mental health of refugees?...

We all know that chest pains are a possible sign of a heart attack. But what about those niggling pains or uncomfortable symptoms that come and go sometimes? Consultant cardiologist Dr Rafidah Abu Bakar joins us to discuss how concerned should we be about these repeated signs of chest pains, and why it’s important to get medical attention instead of brushing them off. Follow Angina Awareness Initi...

More than seven years after the civil war began, Yemen is one of the largest humanitarian crises we’re seeing globally. With reports indicating that less than half of their health facilities are functioning and that many of those remaining lack basic operational equipment, how are healthcare workers providing much needed healthcare services? Consultant urologist Dr George Lee is joined by trauma a...

Instead of getting health education information from a clinic, how about getting it from your regular barber shop? Or at your beauty salon during your next facial? The National Cancer Society of Malaysia has embarked on a programme called ‘Beauty And Health’, which aims to use local beauty salons and barber shops to increase cancer awareness among the community. We speak to NCSM’s Managing Directo...

The pituitary gland is called the “master gland” because it controls several other hormone glands in your body. Because of that, a pituitary tumour can cause serious health problems. So how do you know when a tumour is benign, and when it is cause for concern? We’ll find out from Dr Johan Quah , consultant neurosurgeon from Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City.  See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Being bullied is a common experience for many children and adolescents, but with its serious impact on mental health, it should not be dismissed as just a rite of passage. On this episode of  ‘ Because Feelings Matter ’, 13-year-old Gabrielle Maria Fernandez and her mother Geraldine Wong discuss Gabrielle’s experience of being bullied in primary school, and the support needed from parents, te...

If you’ve had a sports injury or some sort of joint pain, you’ve probably had to undergo physiotherapy. If you’re a stroke survivor, rehabilitation like occupational or speech therapy helps you recover functions for daily living. These are just some of the rehabilitation services that support millions of people to become as independent as possible following an injury or illness. (Globally, about 2...

Many countries are breathing a sigh of relief for having come through an infectious disease pandemic. However, this is no time to pause - the world has been backsliding when it comes to the HIV pandemic, with progress slowing down amid COVID-19 and other global crises. Prof Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, Immediate Past President of the International AIDS Society, and infectious diseases physician at Univ...

If you’re a parent, you’re probably exhausted from dealing with yet another case of the sniffles or cough at home. Clinics have been swamped with cases of childhood respiratory infections like influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), but is this increase normal during this period? Consultant paediatrician Dr Sanjay Woodhull steps away from his consultation room to catch us up on why cases...

For many older adults, having pill organisers filled with a variety of medications and supplements would be a common sight. But while medicines are meant to help, being on too many of them at one time can lead to harm, which would be the opposite outcome that we want. We discuss the importance of balancing between addressing various medical conditions among older adults, while ensuring that they’r...

Several countries have experienced record-breaking high temperatures this year: Delhi, India recorded a new high of more than 49°C in May; the UK went beyond 40°C; and Portugal hit 47°C in July. Although Malaysia has been spared such scorching temperatures, we will not be spared the effects of climate change on our weather. And with scientists warning that wet-bulb temperatures pose even greater d...

In our monthly open clinic segment, Assoc Prof Dr Nik Sherina Hanafi, Primary Care Physician, joins us to answer questions about going for health checkups and screening tests - why, what and how often? Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The recent debate surrounding the Tobacco and Smoking Control Bill, or more specifically the aspects relating to the generational ban on smoking for those born after 1st January 2007, has generated heated discussions from those within and without the medical profession. But for healthcare professionals and health associations, the question arises: are they equipped to look beyond the public health...

Eating disorders should never be taken lightly, as it can have serious consequences on the individual’s physical and mental health. But in a world where people - young and old - are often told or shown that they should look a certain way, are we seeing an increase in eating disorders? And if your loved one is struggling with an eating disorder, what can you do to support them? We speak to Dr Chua...

It’s no secret that Malaysia’s population is already an ageing one. For years, a Senior Citizens Bill to protect the rights and welfare of older adults has been discussed and debated, but nothing concrete has yet to be tabled or presented in Parliament. With recent reports of more than 2,000 senior citizens abandoned at hospitals from 2018 till June this year, we take a step back to discuss who sh...

Consultant clinical psychologists Paul Jambunathan and Evelyn Soong join our monthly mental health clinic to address your concerns regarding mental, emotional and psychosocial issues. On this show, we discuss parenting, and the myriad mental and emotional challenges related to raising children. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By now, we’ve learned that having COVID-19 isn’t just about the toll it takes on your body when you first contract the virus, but the lingering symptoms even when you’ve recovered from the infection. Also known as long COVID, these symptoms can significantly affect your quality of life,  so on this show, we take a look at the role of rehabilitation medicine in helping “long haulers” to get ba...

After weeks of deliberation since the end of June, the World Health Organisation declared that monkeypox is a public health emergency of international concern - or PHEIC - over the weekend, as cases continued to be detected in countries where the disease is not endemic. However, monkeypox is not an unknown infectious disease, and has been endemic to west and central Africa for years. So what does...

If you think your child is the only one who has become more fussy and problematic with eating, sleeping and daily routines, think again. More children have been experiencing feeding problems, sleep disruptions, and increased anxiety - and it’s not just due to the pandemic alone. Consultant developmental paediatrician Dr Rajini Sarvananthan enlightens us on why these issues are worsening, and what...

Recently, videos of a woman losing her temper at another driver on the Tuas Second Link went viral on social media. The videos showed her pulling off the license plate of the other driver’s vehicle and throwing it at the windscreen. This case of road rage is not an isolated incident, especially in Malaysia, where driving can be stressful. But how does stress on the road escalate into road rage, an...

Every mental health struggle has a story behind it. ‘ Because Feelings Matter ’ is a series that brings you the stories of people and their mental health issues. These stories aim to normalise conversations about mental health, and to show that it’s okay to struggle emotionally and psychologically, but more importantly, to reach out for help. In this episode, TV host, emcee and mental health advoc...

NCD Chronicles is a series about people living with NCDs, going beyond the diagnosis to explore their personal experiences, their challenges, as well as the impact of their health condition on their loved ones. These stories reveal the importance of understanding the unique struggles and needs of the individuals behind the disease, in our response to the NCD epidemic. In this first episode, Jayara...

More than 20 years ago, neurosurgeon Prof Dr Vickneswaran Mathaneswaran set up a one-person Neurosurgery Unit in University Malaya Medical Centre. Today, the unit is recognised as a major Neurosurgical Service and Training Centre in Malaysia. In conjunction with World Brain Day 2022, with its theme of ‘Brain Health For All’, Prof Vickneswaran joins us to take a retrospective look at how far neuros...

Minister of Health Khairy Jamaluddin has said that the Tobacco and Smoking Control Bill will be tabled in the current Parliamentary session, which will sit until 4th August. One of the most hotly debated provisions in the proposed legislation is the generational ban on smoking and vaping, which prohibits the sale of cigarettes, tobacco, and vape to anyone born on or after January 1, 2005. We check...

Whether you’re a casual coffee drinker or a connoisseur, many of us rely on coffee to kick start our day. But what explains the buzz that we get after a cup - or ten? How do our coffee habits impact our brain? On this episode of Brain Waves, neurogeneticist Dr Azlina Ahmad Annuar is joined by neurophysiologist Dr Jaya Kumar Murthy to discuss what’s brewing when it comes to research on coffee and t...