Health & Living

The use of music as medicine has existed for as long as the indigenous communities in our country have been creating music. However, formalized music therapy only started in Malaysia about two decades ago by way of Western-trained music therapists and is still in its infancy in terms of therapeutic usage. We discuss the use and benefits of medical music therapy with Dr Lori Gooding, Assistant Prof...

Mental health is not just about illnesses like depression or bipolar disorder – it also refers to the stresses you face in your daily life and your resilience in overcoming these challenges. For low-income communities, socio-economic issues like poverty, welfare or parenting problems present significant risks for mental health problems and often have to be addressed by community services bef...

When we talk about obesity, we often look at its prevalence among adults, but are we doing enough to address it during childhood? On today’s show, we discuss the consequences of childhood obesity, as well as how we can better manage and prevent obesity among children. We will also look at the psychology of childhood obesity, from the perspective of changing unhealthy eating habits.   &n...

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. In this Valentine’s Day special, counsellor Rozy Khalid, who is trained in family therapy, joins Dr George to look at how stress and mental health issues affect relationships. We also discuss what takes place in family and couples therapy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. In this Valentine’s Day special, counsellor Rozy Khalid, who is trained in family therapy, joins Dr George to look at how stress and mental health issues affect relationships. We also discuss what takes place in family and couples therapy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

A team of researchers have recently created bionic neurons that could be implanted into patients. The artificial neurons could potentially help to overcome paralysis as well as restore failing brain circuits. To help us understand how these bionic neurons would work, we’re speaking to neurogeneticist Dr Azlina Ahmad Annuar and Dr Nor Azah Hamzaid from the Department of Biomedical Engineering...

Insurance providers in Malaysia are set to increase premiums as much as 30% for medical policies this year, due to factors like medical inflation, rising hospitalisation costs and increasing number of patients. If healthcare costs continue to rise unchecked, measures like these will be inevitable and will further disadvantage our population that is already struggling to cope. There is no doubt tha...

Growing older should be a time to enjoy life without the pressures of working and supporting a family. But many elderly people find themselves feeling lonely, unhappy and hopeless. We explore the difficult topic of self-harm and suicide among the elderly with consultant geriatric psychiatrist Dr Bharathi Vengadasalam.                       &nb...

What does it really take to become a doctor, and are medical students truly prepared for the path that lies ahead? In the fourth episode of our series exploring health systems in Malaysia, we look at the training of medical personnel with public policy specialist Dr Khor Swee Kheng. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Researchers from various different centres around the world are racing to develop a vaccine for the 2019-nCoV, using different approaches. Dr Jean-Louis Excler, Program Director (New Initiatives) from International Vaccine Institute sheds light on what it would take to develop, test and roll out a new vaccine for an emerging pandemic. See o...

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Researchers from various different centres around the world are racing to develop a vaccine for the 2019-nCoV, using different approaches. Dr Jean-Louis Excler, Program Director (New Initiatives) from International Vaccine Institute sheds light on what it would take to develop, test and roll out a new vaccine for an emerging pandemic. See o...

We are back for our monthly open clinic segment, where we get our doctors to address your health concerns. On today’s show, Dr Yong Junina Fadzil, Consultant Paediatrician and Paediatric Cardiologist, is here to answer your questions about children’s health. 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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common causes of joint pain. What do we know about the underlying causes of osteoarthritis? Is it really due to “wear and tear”, or are we missing out on a crucial aspect of the condition, namely, the source of mechanical stress on the joint? We find out more from consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dr Rajesh Singh. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

When you Google ‘how to fix crooked teeth at home’, you get results to online sites that sell DIY braces and aligners, promising quick and cheap fixes. What are the risks of using these DIY products? Why are so many orthodontic and dental procedures available through unqualified people? Dr Kathiravan Perumal, President of the Malaysian Orthodontic Practitioners Association, and Dr Leon...

A baby learns how to speak and understand others by hearing the sounds and words around them, so what happens when they lose that ability to hear? If hearing loss is not detected early, the consequences can last from childhood into adulthood. To help us find out more, we’re speaking to consultant ENT surgeon Dr Jeyanthi Kulasegarah and audiologist Rashidah Daud. See omnystudio.com/listener f...

New research by Australian scientists has shown that whooping cough (pertussis) bacteria are evolving and becoming smarter in surviving in a human body, even with vaccination. We ask consultant paediatrician and neonatologist Dato’ Dr Musa Mohd Nordin about the dangers of whooping cough becoming a superbug, and whether there are new vaccines to counter this. See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

Leading up to World Cancer Day on 4th February, we look at the advances in cancer treatment and prevention over the past two decades. Following that, we look ahead at what the priorities should be in the coming decade, especially when it comes to ensuring equitable access to cancer treatment, as well supporting people with cancer during recovery. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

Early detection and treatment is crucial for stroke patients to limit brain damage and prevent further stroke complications. Aishah Ismail, a researcher in biomedical engineering and recipient of the Merdeka Award Grant for International Attachment 2018, is currently researching ways to identify stroke biomarkers through ocular blood flow, and we speak to her to find out more about her research an...

“ Shen ti jian kang ” or “wishing you good health” is a common greeting you hear during the Chinese New Year celebrations. An important aspect of good health is diet and fitness. We revisit two shows from our archives: one with culinary expert Amy Beh where she talked about traditional Chinese New Year dishes; and one with personal trainer Karen Siah, who shared about affor...

Self-control and discipline isn’t something you usually associate with children. We tend to think it’s ok when children are easily distracted, have little willpower, do not persevere with tasks or do not control their emotions. But these same traits would not be acceptable in adults. Consultant Developmental Paediatrician Dr Rajini Sarvananthan joins us to discuss how we can teach chil...

In past months, several fatal drunk driving incidents made the news here in Malaysia. When does a drink turn into one too many, and from there, into an addiction? We’ll be looking at alcohol addiction and the challenges on the long road to rehab and recovery, on today’s episode of Mind Matters with Assoc Prof Dr Amer Siddiq, Consultant Psychiatrist, Universiti Malaya Medical Centre and...

Many of us make a New Year’s resolution to exercise more, but how do we go about it? In the current fitness frenzy, we take a look at high intensity interval training, more commonly known as HIIT, and how it actually shapes and affects our body. Find out how to start your fitness regime right with consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dr Harjeet Singh and personal trainer Adly Almanzo Mohd Adnan. S...

Severe burns can leave scars that cause psychological distress to the person, even long after the injury has healed. So how are burn wounds managed and treated to minimise the risk of scarring? What is the role of reconstructive surgery in recovery? To help us find out more, we’re speaking to Dr Jagjeet Singh, consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon. See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. Road accidents have remained one of Malaysia’s leading causes of death every year. Victims of road accidents often face injuries ranging from minor to severe ones, that could leave them with life-long disabilities. So how are emergency and trauma departments equipped to manage these...