Health & Living

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began last year, we have changed many of our behaviours to help prevent transmission of the virus. But in the second year of the pandemic, some of us are starting to feel “COVID fatigue” and are struggling in our efforts to stay vigilant against the virus. We get some advice on how you can motivate yourself and those around you to continue to stay safe from...

The spine is a marvel of human anatomy. It ensures both flexibility, as well as stability, to a person’s body. But it’s not immune to the effects of ageing and degeneration over the years. Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dr Rajesh Singh takes us through the parts that make up the spine, and what age does to it. Image source: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

Family doctors get a unique glimpse into the lives of families in our community. This means that they get to observe the hidden challenges and needs of adolescents when it comes to sexual and reproductive health issues, which are still largely taboo in our society. Family Medicine Specialist Dr Anuradha Thiagarajan dives into the adolescent sexual health issues that are prevalent in our society, a...

What’s the biggest advantage we have in our fight against the COVID-19 pandemic? The obvious answer may be vaccines, but in fact, data is the best weapon we have. But collecting data alone is not enough – how do we make sense of it, and how do we use it to respond more effectively to the outbreak? Dr Dhesi Baha Raja and Michelle Chan from AINQA Health shed light on how data science and...

If you’re someone who’s generally active and involved in sports, who would you see if you have back or neck issues: a chiropractor or an orthopaedic surgeon? Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dr Harjeet Singh is back for his monthly series and today he’s joined by Dr Hayden Pooke, an internationally certified sports chiropractor to discuss whether the roles of a sports chiropractor...

Heart attack is the most common cause of death in Malaysia. How do we recognise when a heart attack happens, and how do we prevent a catastrophic event that could lead to death? Consultant cardiologist, Dr Chong Yoon Sin from ParkCity Medical Centre , shares more about the importance of managing our lifestyles and knowing how to perform CPR.  Image source: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/list...

The world is in the grip of a pandemic that’s been described as “unprecedented”. But infectious diseases are not new in the history of humanity. With our guests Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail, Technical Committee Chairman of Immunise4Life, and Dr Helmy Haja Mydin, Consultant Respiratory Physician, we discuss what we have learned from our experiences in eradicating smallpox, fighting po...

Fragmented cancer care - where patients have to go to different institutions for  different aspects of cancer care - can significantly impact patients both from a financial and medical perspective. If the process is streamlined, what would that look like and how much would that benefit patients? We speak to consultant urologist Dr George Lee, and Phoebe Ho, CEO of Integrated Oncology Centres...

For children with autism, inclusive learning starts in the formative years, so that they are given equal opportunities to learn, play and develop their potential. But many children with autism still face challenges when it comes to getting accepted into, as well as being accepted and embraced in, preschools. This Autism Acceptance Month, we look at what inclusivity really means in early childhood...

Music has the ability to evoke memories and emotions, especially if we’ve associated a significant memory to a song. So how can we use that connection people have to music as a form of therapy for people with dementia? We speak to medical music therapist Dr Indra Selvarajah from Universiti Putra Malaysia on the work that she does and how music therapy benefits dementia patients. Image source...

Just like any major upheaval in life, having a baby comes with enormous challenges and can lead to a great deal of stress. Mental health problems are not unheard of after pregnancy, although women still struggle to find acceptance and support for their mental health struggles. However, it is estimated that one in seven mothers in Malaysia experience postpartum depression during the first six month...

From taking probiotics to consuming more fermented foods, or going on the latest trending diets, we are seeing more people interested in improving their gut health. But is there a right way to take better care of our gut health and where do you start? We bring both Western and Eastern practices to the table to find out if popular diets and supplements work for your digestive health. We speak to Dr...

Pompe disease is a rare, inherited disorder that causes permanent muscle damage in children and adults. It occurs in about one in every 40,000 people, and can go undiagnosed for years. In conjunction with this year's International Pompe Day on 15 April, Dr George Lee joins us in shining a spotlight on this rare disease. We speak to Dr Ngu Lock Hock, Consultant Paediatrician specialising in Clinica...

We are back for our monthly open clinic segment, where we get our doctors to address your health concerns. Following his highly popular appearance last month, consultant allergist and immunologist Dr Kent Woo returns to continue answering your questions about allergies. Image source: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

RM30.6 billion – that’s the amount that the Malaysian government collected from excise taxes on cigarettes, tobacco products and alcohol, from 2012 to 2017.  Compare that to the ever-increasing cost of treating non-communicable diseases like cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, which is placing enormous pressure on public funds, as well as individuals’ private savin...

Stress seems like an inevitable part of everyday life, especially as an adult. But what if experiencing early life stress, including childhood trauma, could lead to changes in gene expression and result in lasting effects? Neurogeneticist Dr Azlina Ahmad Annuar joins us on her monthly series to explain what exactly is happening to our genes under stress, and if this could increase the likelihood o...

As the COVID-19 vaccines start getting into the arms of the general population, there is a lot of anticipation about the possibility of international travel resuming sometime this year. The use of a vaccine or immunity passport is being touted as the way forward, alongside the rollout of immunisation programmes in many countries. As concerns are raised over the feasibility and ethics of vaccine pa...

The Ministry of Health has reported several local COVID-19 cases involving a more contagious variant that was first detected in South Africa. Not only that, some vaccines are said to be less effective against this variant as well. To find out what we’re doing to keep track of different variants and how this will affect ongoing COVID-19 vaccinations, we’ll be speaking to Khairy Jamaludd...

How long does COVID-19 immunity from vaccines last? Will we need booster shots? Why do some people contract COVID-19 twice? Infectious diseases physician Dr Giri Shan Rajahram from Queen Elizabeth II Hospital answers these questions and more in this 101 on COVID-19 immunity.    Image source: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Healthcare workers have been battling at the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic for more than a year, donning restrictive PPEs, and worrying about the risk of contracting COVID-19, all while ensuring that quality healthcare is still provided to everyone who needs it. This World Health Day, we look back on 2020 with two of our healthcare workers, to find out how they are surviving the pandemic - w...

A twinge in your groin or hip when you stand up, some stiffness down your thighs or buttocks, or pain as you settle your weight on one hip – these are among the signs of a hip problem. We get consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dr Rajesh Singh to explain how the hips work, and what to do when hip problems develop. Image source: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We return with our monthly mental health clinic with consultant clinical psychologist Paul Jambunathan. In this segment, we address your concerns regarding mental, emotional and psychosocial issues – with a special focus on how to manage emotions of sadness and find acceptance. Image source: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The COVID-19 pandemic has not been easy for people living with autism and their families. This World Autism Awareness Day, we speak to Hafiz Izzuddin bin Zainudin and a parent, Adli Yahya, who’s also the founder of Autism Cafe Project, to share how they have been coping during the pandemic. With the theme “Inclusion in the Workplace”, we also discuss how the pandemic will impact...

Artificial intelligence and digital technologies are attractive buzzwords in healthcare today. The current hype is preceded by decades of work in using computer science and data analytics to provide solutions for medical research and healthcare. With our guests Prof Patrice Francois Boursier, Programme Director (Health Informatics & Analytics), International Medical University; and Dr Raymond...

The ophthalmologists say that increasing awareness about glaucoma is a lifelong battle for them. It’s no wonder, considering that glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness among people worldwide. Dato’ Dr Linda Teoh Oon Cheng, consultant ophthalmologist and glaucoma surgeon, shines a light on how serious glaucoma is and how to prevent it. Image source: Shutterstock See om...