Health & Living

Hypertension or high blood pressure is one of the most common non-communicable diseases among Malaysians, and as you get older the risk for hypertension increases, which in turn increases the risk of other conditions like heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke. But do Malaysians, especially older adults, take it seriously when they’re told to bring their blood pressure down? On this episode of...

With advanced imaging and targeted therapies, doctors can now “see what they treat, and treat what they see”. We explore how nuclear medicine is delivering on this promise for prostate cancer - from improving diagnosis to therapy options - and what are the challenges that patients face in accessing nuclear medicine therapy. Image credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

Severe period and pelvic pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, pain during urination, bowel movements and sexual intercourse - imagine living in such constant pain. It is estimated that approximately 350,000 women in Malaysia have endometriosis, the condition that causes these symptoms. Unfortunately, endometriosis is poorly recognised, even by healthcare professionals, and often misdiagnosed or ignored...

In the second episode of the mini-series on patient safety, we take a deeper dive into the inextricable link between the health workforce and patient safety. Together with Dr Melvyn Chin, Associate Director, ECRI Asia-Pacific and Dr Timothy Cheng, Chairman of MMA SCHOMOS, we explore how burnout, poor working conditions, low wages, and lack of support for healthcare workers put patients at risk. Cl...

Humans are inherently social creatures, but despite a world that is more interconnected than ever, people are increasingly disconnected socially. In fact, the World Health Organisation recently reported that 1 in 6 people are affected by loneliness and social isolation. So how do we combat this? The answer might just lie in helping people build better social connections. Here to help us break down...

We live in a world where we’re constantly told to remember to look after our own wellbeing and to find a way to balance self-care with our work, family, and personal responsibilities. It’s for a good reason because you can’t pour from an empty cup. But what if filling your own cup means emptying out someone else’s? On this episode of Counsellor’s Corner, to help us navigate whether self-care can b...

Typically, we’ve thought of bariatric surgery as invasive procedures that remove part of the stomach, or bypass it. As the technology improves, surgeons are now able to move towards minimally invasive procedures, such as the Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty. But how effective is this procedure for weight-loss, are there any risks or complications to manage, and is it a quick-fix for treating obesity...

It’s time to look past the imperfections you see and start learning how to love your body - no matter what other people on your Instagram feed look like or how much skincare products they use. Your glow starts from within, so learn how to kickstart that change through diet, exercise and the right skincare - without needing expensive products. Every woman (and body) is different, so hear from the e...

Budgeting and managing your finances shouldn’t be a chore. Learn how to grow your income and make your money work for you, whether you want to afford that holiday, buy your first home, or get a headstart on your retirement lifestyle. Because “rich auntie” is a vibe we can all strive for. This is an edited replay of the third series of BFM Health & Living (For Her) events, with the theme “Brill...

Feeling drained from juggling work and personal commitments while looking like you’ve got it all held together? Whether it’s managing work stress or maintaining healthy family and personal relationships, we can’t deny that women are expected to do more all the time. So here’s a safe space to figure out what exactly you need and ask the experts for advice. No judgement, just real talk and empowerme...

When there are problems or errors in healthcare that cause patients harm or injury, who pays the price? Not just the patients and families, but the rest of us as well. Unsafe care burdens the entire health system when extra resources are needed to fix complications. Ultimately, the rest of us, as current and future users of healthcare services, bear the cost of an overburdened system. So what goes...

We learned at a young age that protein is an essential part of our diet, but with high-protein foods and protein supplements being marketed at us constantly, are we all undershooting our protein requirements? How much protein do we really need? We speak to nutritionist Lee Zhi Ling to find out. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a field where the tiniest of organisms can have the largest of impacts, just how important is the role of a medical microbiologist? And how much do we know about the work they do? On this episode of Humans of Healthcare, we speak to Prof Dr Jamal I-Ching Sam, medical microbiologist from Universiti Malaya to find out more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You might have seen people talk about having “ghost poops” on social media, and no, this isn’t related to Halloween. What it refers to is stool that is easy to pass and leaves no residue when you wipe yourself. But what does this actually tell you about your gut health and bowel movements? Consultant urologist Dr George Lee is joined by consultant gastroenterologist Dr Madhav Kudva to answer all y...

Being diagnosed with a life-limiting or terminal illness brings with it a lot of existential questions about what happens next, and how you will face it. In conjunction with World Hospice & Palliative Care Day in October, we explore how a faith- and spirituality-based perspective offers meaning and comfort for patients and caregivers facing the diagnosis, especially when there is no certainty...

Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of arrhythmia, where someone with this condition has an irregular heart rhythm. If left untreated, it increases your risk of stroke and heart failure. But treatment options for atrial fibrillation have made significant advances - no longer just reliant on blood thinners. We speak to Dr Surinder Kaur Khelae, a senior consultant cardiologist at the Nationa...

What happens when a promise of lifelong healthcare is suddenly cut off? That was the case for Amanda Mei Chu Damian, who was diagnosed with HIV as a baby and her parents were promised that she would always get access to medications and care when they adopted her. But things changed one day, when Amanda’s access to care became more and more limited because she didn’t have the documentation to prove...

Losing a pet can feel like losing a member of the family. Yet many people find their grief dismissed or misunderstood, making the healing process even more difficult. In this conversation, we speak with Shuang Ao, a licensed and registered counsellor about how to navigate the emotions of losing a pet, and how to honour that bond in healthy, meaningful ways. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudi...

You’ve probably heard people say that kids these days have poorer immune systems compared to previous generations because they’re less exposed to germs and their environment is “too hygienic”. But how much of that is true? Why does it seem like newer generations tend to develop more allergies and infections? To help us understand what’s driving this, we speak to Dr Sangeetha Siniah, paediatric inf...

Martial arts is something familiar to many Malaysians, from those taekwondo classes in schools to people doing muay thai as part of their weekend workouts. We speak to consultant sports medicine physician Dr Aston Ngai to explore how different martial arts work the body as well as the injuries that often happen among amateur practitioners.  Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listen...

In the UK, scientists are embarking on an ambitious project to create human DNA from scratch, in hopes that it will lead to new therapies to treat diseases. Called the Synthetic Human Genome project, its launch has been met by both excitement and concern, especially over how it could be misused one day. We discuss how this changes DNA research with neurogeneticist Dr Azlina Ahmad Annuar. Image Cre...

Childhood experiences aren’t always nostalgic pictures in a photo album. Many issues in our childhood can also be painful, difficult or coloured by conflict. These Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) may shape our future - our health, psychological and social outcomes - but trauma-informed care by healthcare providers and communities can support individuals and families in mitigating the impact o...

Catering to the needs of an ageing population means planning ahead and setting aside enough funds for those policies and programmes, but with aged care so glaringly missing from Budget 2026, are we doing enough to plan ahead? Consultant urologist Dr George Lee is joined by Chai Sen Tyng, Senior Research Officer at the Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing (MyAgeing) to break down how Budget 2026...

When it comes to the treatment of prostate cancer, the thought of surgery and radiotherapy can be frightening for some patients, even if these are the standard of care for the disease. On the other hand, not all men are suited for active surveillance, a form of vigilant monitoring for low-risk, slow-growing cancers. Therefore, there is growing interest in finding the middle ground - minimally inva...

In our open clinic session, two consultant geriatricians - Prof Dr Tan Maw Pin and Dr Kejal Hasmukharay - join us to answer questions about vaccinations for older adults. What kinds of vaccinations are important, who needs them, and how safe are they? Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.