Health & Living

What happens when your heart suddenly stops? While a cardiac arrest in someone who is young, healthy and doesn’t have any underlying heart condition is rare, there is the small possibility that it could happen. To find out what explains these situations and what can be done to improve the person’s chances of survival when it happens, we’re joined by Dato’ Dr Yap Yee Guan ,...

What happens when your heart suddenly stops? While a cardiac arrest in someone who is young, healthy and doesn’t have any underlying heart condition is rare, there is the small possibility that it could happen. To find out what explains these situations and what can be done to improve the person’s chances of survival when it happens, we’re joined by Dato’ Dr Yap Yee Guan ,...

With COVID-19 vaccinations for adolescents aged between 12 to 17 years old underway, we take a look at what concerns parents might still have and some of the misinformation that is going around. We also discuss the planned roll-out of third doses for high-risk groups, as well as what the latest studies tell us about the real-world efficacy of the vaccines that have been used in Malaysia, especiall...

Digital technologies have consumed our lives, and will continue to play an increasingly important role in healthcare. However, the use of digital tech for diagnosis and treatment, consultations, and consumer health, is not without its issues and challenges. We explore the ethical issues in digital health with Assoc Prof Dr Julia Patrick Engkasan, and Assoc Prof Dr Pang Yong Kek, from the Faculty o...

Digital technologies have consumed our lives, and will continue to play an increasingly important role in healthcare. However, the use of digital tech for diagnosis and treatment, consultations, and consumer health, is not without its issues and challenges. We explore the ethical issues in digital health with Assoc Prof Dr Julia Patrick Engkasan, and Assoc Prof Dr Pang Yong Kek, from the Faculty o...

Thump thump, or beep beep - whether you’re feeling your heartbeat with your hand, or measuring it on an ECG, a normal heart rhythm should be represented by regular beats. When there is a problem with our heart rhythm, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or irregularly. Pacemakers are devices that have been around for more than 60 years to regulate the heart rhythm. We have a conversation...

When it comes to talking about cancer treatment, do you feel that the psychosocial and financial needs of cancer patients are neglected? On this webinar, we have a candid discussion about the financial difficulties faced by cancer patients, and what options they have in the current landscape. We also discuss how to get psychosocial support and palliative care at the community level, especially as...

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. This episode features Aishah, and how she coped with po...

If you’ve just undergone a hip surgery, it’s normal to want to get back on your feet as soon as you can; in fact, you’re probably looking forward to resume as much of your usual daily activities as possible. But a hip replacement is a major surgery, and the recovery process can take time. So what can you do to make that process better, and what shouldn’t you do to avoid ham...

If you’ve just undergone a hip surgery, it’s normal to want to get back on your feet as soon as you can; in fact, you’re probably looking forward to resume as much of your usual daily activities as possible. But a hip replacement is a major surgery, and the recovery process can take time. So what can you do to make that process better, and what shouldn’t you do to avoid ham...

As countries worldwide hobble along under the onslaught of the Delta variant, healthcare professionals are turning their attention to the “long-haulers” - COVID-19 survivors who continue to experience a range of symptoms for weeks or months after their initial infection. We check in with Dr Ashari Yunus, Consultant Pulmonologist, Institut Jantung Negara, on what kind of long-term damag...

To commemorate the International Day of Sign Languages on 23 September, we look at how to promote more widespread use of sign languages in all areas of life, starting with teaching sign languages to all children at school level, for both the deaf and the hearing. We also discuss what the pandemic has taught us about the risks of leaving the deaf community out from communication and public health s...

To commemorate the International Day of Sign Languages on 23 September, we look at how to promote more widespread use of sign languages in all areas of life, starting with teaching sign languages to all children at school level, for both the deaf and the hearing. We also discuss what the pandemic has taught us about the risks of leaving the deaf community out from communication and public health s...

Having to undergo joint replacement surgery, such as at your knee or your hip, can be scary, even if the pain in your joints is debilitating or affects your everyday activities. But with advances such as minimally invasive techniques and new technologies, joint replacement surgeries have come a long way. Dato' Dr Badrul Shah Badaruddin , consultant orthopaedic and sports surgeon, and Assoc Prof Dr...

University students will return to campus for in-person classes from 15 October. For first-year students, they will face anxiety over settling in; while for returning students, there is the pressure of resuming studies after the long months of online learning. Will their mental and emotional wellbeing be prioritised in the race to catch up on studies? How should tertiary institutions manage studen...

Digital technology has been at the forefront of this pandemic. It has been harnessed to support the public health response, as well as to facilitate daily activities, like learning, working and communicating. We’ve also seen the adoption of digital technology in healthcare to improve patient care, and to put patients in control of managing their health. Smart wearable technology and devices...

Schools across Malaysia will reopen in stages, starting from 3rd October and based on individual states’ phases in the National Recovery Plan. But with the Delta variant causing high community transmission of COVID-19, what is the safest way to get children back to schools? We speak to senior consultant paediatrician Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS, and secondary school teacher Anny, to discus...

While Malaysia’s public healthcare system is available to all legal residents in Malaysia, accessing healthcare services and facilities isn’t always as straightforward, especially in Sabah and Sarawak. Inequities caused by geographical limitations, awareness, or in some cases, documentation, are major barriers to providing healthcare for all in those states. In the past 18 months, the...

September is World Alzheimer’s Month, an annual international campaign to raise awareness and to challenge the stigma around dementia. This year’s campaign aims to shine a light on the warning signs of dementia, and to encourage people to seek out information, advice and support. In conjunction with it, we’re taking a look at how a dementia diagnosis affects not just the individu...

We celebrate the achievements of Puan Sri Dr Rebecca George, one of the earliest female doctors in Malaysia to qualify as a paediatrician. Dr Rebecca was instrumental in identifying and managing many public health problems that children faced in the 70s and 80s. She was involved in implementing the National Immunisation Programme, child growth monitoring, tackling the dengue epidemic among childre...

Recipient of the prestigious Dr Josef Steiner Award for cancer genome research in 2019, Dr Serena Nik-Zainal was recently also honoured with the Francis Crick Medal and Lecture 2022. We catch up with the award-winning cancer researcher from the University of Cambridge, to find out more about her work in cancer genomics, and what drives her to continue looking for answers in the genes of cancer. Se...

Recipient of the prestigious Dr Josef Steiner Award for cancer genome research in 2019, Dr Serena Nik-Zainal was recently also honoured with the Francis Crick Medal and Lecture 2022. We catch up with the award-winning cancer researcher from the University of Cambridge, to find out more about her work in cancer genomics, and what drives her to continue looking for answers in the genes of cancer. Im...

Breast cancer is one of the most treatable cancers, especially when it is detected early. And with greater accessibility to screening tests like mammograms, as well as greater awareness about breast self-exams, early detection of breast cancer has improved over the decades. But with statistics indicating a significant number of Malaysian women diagnosed with breast cancer in the late stages, have...

In conjunction with World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September, we look at the long-standing debate about decriminalising suicide in Malaysia. What are the legal and political hurdles that stand in the way of efforts to review Section 309 of the Penal Code? We ask YB Kasthuri Patto, Batu Kawan MP, and member of the Decriminalisation of Suicide Focus Group, National Coalition for Mental Wellbeing...

Bursae and tendon sheaths play an important role in protecting our joints and tendons, and in enabling smooth movement. We look at why they matter, and what happens when they’re not functioning optimally. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.