Health & Living

Following the tabling of Budget 2021 on 6th November, Prof Datuk Dr M. Subramaniam, President of the Malaysian Medical Association, and Prof Dato' Dr Syed Mohamed Aljunid, Professor of Health Economics and Public Health Medicine & President, Malaysia Health Economics Association, join us to break down the health allocations, looking at where it hit the right spots, and where it missed the mark...

Following the tabling of Budget 2021 on 6th November, Prof Datuk Dr M. Subramaniam, President of the Malaysian Medical Association, and Prof Dato' Dr Syed Mohamed Aljunid, Professor of Health Economics and Public Health Medicine & President, Malaysia Health Economics Association, join us to break down the health allocations, looking at where it hit the right spots, and where it missed the mark...

With Budget 2021 set to be tabled this week, all eyes are on the health budget as COVID-19 is expected to be in the limelight. But what about other public health concerns that have long been plaguing Malaysians? We check in with Prof Dr Rosmawati Mohamad, Master of the Academy of Medicine Malaysia to discuss what it will take to effectively address NCDs in Malaysia and what is on AMM’s wishl...

Breast lumps are usually a cause for concern but they can be common among breastfeeding women. How do you know if they are normal or something more serious? If a breastfeeding mother is diagnosed with breast cancer, how does treatment impact their mental and emotional well-being? We speak to consultant breast & endocrine surgeon Dr Harjit Kaur to find out more. Image Source: Shutterstock ...

Several years ago, an analysis of the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink database found that the risk of a child breaking a bone can depend on their ethnicity and where they live in the UK. We’ve come to increasingly recognise that socio-economic determinants, like poverty, education, access to social services, and racism, influence our health and well-being. We find out from consultant...

The risk of a stroke increases as you get older. With the advances in treatment, surviving a stroke seems to be a better bet today. But what are the potential complications that follow a stroke, and how does age complicate the recovery process? We find out from Assoc Prof Dr Tan Kit Mun, Consultant Geriatrician, Universiti Malaya Medical Centre. Image Source: Shutterstock  See omnystudio.com/...

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. As children, we often hear all sorts of advice on how to strengthen our bones from drinking more milk to doing more exercises. But what if you missed that window in your youth? Are you at higher risk of osteoporosis as you age? Consultant urologist Dr George Lee is joined by consultant ge...

One of the things we’ve heard often since the start of the pandemic is that we shouldn’t forgo exercise. But whether you’ve managed to carve out time for some physical activity or not, what does it actually mean to be fit? How has the concept of fitness changed as new technology comes into the picture and has that changed how we assess the fitness level and performance of athlete...

M any women are terrified at the diagnosis of breast cancer, for reasons beyond the cancer itself. A lot of the fears revolve around the notion of breast cancer surgery and what that will entail. We explore whether a lumpectomy is better than a mastectomy when it comes to surgery for treating breast cancer. Image Source: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Australian study has found that the virus that causes COVID-19 can survive for 28 days on mobile phone screens and on banknotes, under certain conditions. How does this translate into the risk of us contracting the virus through contact with high-touch surfaces in our homes or workplaces? We ask Dr Chang Li Yen, virologist from University of Malaya, to put this study into perspective, as well a...

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. Several states in Malaysia are dealing with sudden spikes in COVID-19 cases, due to outbreaks in certain clusters. Not all states have the resources and capacity that Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley enjoy. We speak to two members of Universiti Sains Malaysia’s COVID-19 Task Force:...

During this COVID-19 pandemic, an entire generation of digital natives have had to shift to online learning and education. While this may be a seamless transition for some children, for others, there may be challenges keeping up with learning on a virtual platform. In conjunction with Dyslexia Awareness Month, we look at how parents and educators can support children with dyslexia to ensure they a...

There are many conditions that can affect your ability to communicate verbally. However, this impairment should not be a barrier to daily communication with your loved ones, or to continue learning and working. We speak to Deborah Yong, Speech-Language Therapist, Assistive Technology Professional, and Alternative & Augmentative Communication (AAC) Specialist, to find out how AAC can help those...

As human beings, we communicate in many ways and languages is a medium that allows us to communicate clearly and specifically. The human brain is finely tuned to process and produce language, whether it’s spoken or written, but it is a skill that needs to be developed. To find out more about the neuroscience of language, we’re speaking to neurogeneticist, Dr Azlina Ahmad Annuar, and Dr...

Nearly one in five Malaysian adults, or 18.3%, has diabetes – which, in turn, is the leading cause of end-stage kidney disease. You can see where these statistics are pointing to: a potentially catastrophic burden of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure in the coming decade. The Ministry of Health has already warned that by the year 2040, there could be more than 100,000 Malaysians on d...

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. COVID-19 poses major risks to healthcare workers in neurocritical care. While efforts are made to limit the number of medical personnel attending patients in neurosurgical wards, there is also a need to find a sustainable solution. Could virtual medicine be the answer? Prof Dr Vicknes War...

When it comes to breast cancer, early detection is key to successful treatment. However, many women are still diagnosed with breast cancer in the late stages. So what does treatment look like for these women? We speak to consultant clinical oncologist, Dr Jennifer Leong , from Sunway Medical Centre to discuss the latest advances in treatment for metastatic breast cancer and how it improves quality...

The recent spike in Malaysia’s COVID-19 cases is a stark reminder that the pandemic is not going away anytime soon. Amid recent developments on the vaccine front, we look at what are Malaysia’s options for procuring a COVID-19 vaccine, and what the COVAX facility means for Malaysia. Image Source: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Any sort of trauma that causes disfigurement to the face can lead to significant problems. It doesn’t only affect your appearance, but also the basic functions of the facial structures, like how you breathe, eat, speak or see. Dr Somasundaran Sathappan, consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon from Subang Jaya Medical Centre, joins us to discuss reconstructive surgery for facial trauma....

We are all familiar with the stereotype of the “forgetful older person”. Memory issues among the elderly are often blamed on ageing, and are not given much attention. But is forgetfulness normal, and when could it be a sign of other medical conditions? Dr Wan Izwin Wan Hassan, Consultant Geriatric Psychiatrist from Ara Damansara & ParkCity Medical Centre, joins us to explain more a...

This year’s World Mental Health Day is taking place while we’re still battling COVID-19, as well as its impact on society, especially on our mental health. Right now, it’s more important than ever for us to invest in mental health to cope with a possible mental health crisis when the pandemic has caused and exacerbated many mental health issues among the population. Joining consu...

This year’s World Mental Health Day is taking place while we’re still battling COVID-19, as well as its impact on society, especially on our mental health. Right now, it’s more important than ever for us to invest in mental health to cope with a possible mental health crisis when the pandemic has caused and exacerbated many mental health issues among the population. Joining consu...

We spend almost half our lives working. It’s no wonder that our work demands and environment affect our mental well-being. How do workplaces help employees manage stress, anxiety and emotional issues? At the same time, how do we create a workplace that accepts and supports people with mental health conditions? In conjunction with the upcoming World Mental Health Day on 10th October, we speak...

Until today, tuberculosis (TB) remains the world’s deadliest infectious disease, despite that it is curable and preventable. We speak to consultant respiratory physician Dr Hilmi Lockman to find out how we can move towards ending the global epidemic and how we can improve vaccines and vaccinations towards that goal.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey did not have much good news, in terms of the health of the Malaysian population. However, one statistic stood out above the rest, alarming in its significant increase: the overall prevalence of diabetes was 18.3%, up from 13.4% in 2015. What does this increased prevalence mean, and what can we do to reduce the burden of diabetes on the population? Imag...