Health & Living

On this episode of Health News Digest, our producer and intern bring us on a tour of their favourites: Barbell sports, food, rest and sleep. -- 0:00 - Intro 0:53 - Introduction to barbell sports 16:52 - Supplements and nutrition 33:56 - Rest and recovery See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On 28 June 2017, oncologist Dr Ang Peng Tiam in Singapore was suspended for eight months for professional misconduct. Seven years ago, Ang had presented false information and unsubstantiated advice to a lung cancer patient who died after taking chemotherapy as he recommended. Dr George Lee discusses walking the tightrope of medical advice with oncologists Dr Mastura Md Yusof and Prof Dr Woo Yun Li...

Today, there are about 900 million people above 60 years old. Thirty years later, that number will more than double to 2 billion. Our populations are aging faster than ever and that has prompted scientists and doctors to work on improving the wellbeing of seniors. We speak to a clinical gerontologist about her work on disease prevention during old age. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

We have Dr Rajesh Singh, Consultant Orthopedic with us today to talk about a study that reveals how often yoga causes injuries, despite the common impression that yoga is a low-impact exercise. But before that, we will first turn to our toes to discuss what it means when our big toes are actually shorter than our second toes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you and your partner are not having sex, does that mean your relationship is dead? Apparently, there is a new kind of sex drought, the one brought about by modern life. The good news is, there’s a way to fix it. Join our panel speakers for Health and Living Live 2017 (April 2017) as they discuss the role of the brain in intimacy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earlier this year in the United Kingdom, when a 67-year old woman checked in for her cataract surgery, she surprised her doctors in more ways than one. Twenty-seven, in fact, for the number of contact lenses found stuck in her right eye. How could this have happened, and how could our eyes cope with such extra baggage?  Join us to hear a ophthalmologist shed light on the workings and caring o...

A recent study in England found that children who started school a year younger than others are more susceptible to poor mental health. Yet we could also argue that our children would benefit much from an early start in school, if they have the capacity to do so. How then, can we tell if our children are ready for school? Helping us answer that question today is Dr Rajini Sarvanathan, Developmenta...

Dr Harjeet Singh returns for his monthly show to talk about bones. In this episode, we pore over three recent studies that found weaker bones in idle teenagers and that lighter runners were at higher risk for stress fractures. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 2016 survey revealed the shocking vacuum in Malaysian teenagers’ knowledge of sexual and reproductive health. One-third of teenagers believe that first-time sex cannot lead to pregnancy, and one-fifth trust that wearing two condoms is better than one. What are the consequences of such misconceptions and how can we fill in the gaps? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How are we from curing Dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease? Listen to our panel of experts discuss possible cures, and--while we search--how to help people live with these conditions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It starts with a tremor, then your face loses its expression and your arms its sway. Those are the progressive symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, a disorder of our nerves that can rob us of our mobility and speech. We cannot yet cure Parkinson’s Disease, but scientists and doctors are learning more by the day and trying new methods. We discuss recent advances in the diagnosis and treatme...

Leukemia and lymphoma cancers of the blood where the cells multiply beyond control. How can we detect these cancers and treat them? Also, what are the optimal treatments when we have limited funds? Learn more with a consultant haematologist in the studio. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Biologists observe the world, ask questions about the world, then run studies to collect data and answer the questions. One wrong step in the process would leave the question unanswered. In comes biostatisticians, experts who help biologists think through and design researches. We speak to a biostatistician to learn more about the role and how it improves public health. See omnystudio.com/listener...

“Meditation”--the word conjures a picture of calmness, concentration, healing and to some, perhaps even out-of-body-experience. What is meditation really and how does it affect our health? Dr Rabin Gonzaga who has been meditating for six years now shares his experience and discusses the scientific merits of meditation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By 2020, mental illness is expected to become the second biggest health concern affecting Malaysians, after heart disease. People who live in larger settlements seem more likely to become mentally ill - are our brains equipped for living in urban environments? Join our panel speakers for Health and Living Live 2017 (April 2017) as they discuss common psychological issues that affect people living...

When doctors and parents of a baby boy Charlie Gard in United Kingdom disagree on continuing or removing his life-support system, the debate moved from the ward to the court and into public light. Who should have the final say in deciding Charlie’s fate--his doctors or parents? And what rights does a baby boy like Charlie have? Medico legal expert Sharon Palani helps us understand. See omnys...

Have you wondered what makes you intelligent (or not)? Scientists do, and they have been screening thousands of genes to pinpoint which makes us smart. Surprisingly, many of the genes associated with intelligence are also linked to obesity and mental disorders. We dig into the world of neuroscience and intelligence genes with neurogeneticist Dr Azlina Ahmad Annuar. See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Healthy marriages and families are crucial not just to the well-being of individuals, but also that of societies. When our marriages hit a rock or family ties begin to strain, we can turn to family and relationship therapists for help. Many such therapists will gather in our city soon in a conference discuss their profession. We speak to therapists Dr Johnben Loy and Azah Yazmin about the current...

Is the pursuit of happiness pulling us away from happiness itself? Do indices that measure happiness of cities and countries bring us closer to bliss or focus us on to a wrong spot? Join our panel speakers for Health and Living Live 2017 (April 2017) as they discuss the pursuit happiness. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spina bifida is a birth defect where the baby’s spinal cord fails to close or develop properly. Although the condition is one of the most common birth defects, we do not yet know what causes it. Current studies are limited entirely to mouse models but scientists are making headways. Dr Noraishah Mydin Abdul Aziz, developmental neurobiologist and Dr Dharmendra Ganesan, neurosurgeon, update us...

Diabetes is more common in Alzheimer's patients. Professor John Todd discusses the molecular implication that links diabetes and dementia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the biggest decisions youth make is what to do after secondary school. Should they continue with tertiary education or should they get a job? Their families would be just as concerned too. Joining us in the studio today to talk about education and career choices is Paul Jambunathan, consultant clinical psychologist. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When our nerves are trapped in a tight space or depressed by pressure, we would develop a condition called nerve entrapment syndrome. Tingling feeling, numbness, and pain. We learn about nerve entrapment syndrome today with Dr Rajesh Singh, consultant orthopaedic surgeon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discuss the latest in health news. Bill Nye is getting a bit of flak for his new show, Bill Nye Saves the World, even from scientists . In the age of great public distrust of science , do we need charismatic scientists to assume the mantle as spokespersons of science, or do they make matters worse? And would you consider our very own Dr George Lee a celebrity physician? See omnystudio.com/liste...

A new targeted treatment for ovarian cancer has shown “very promising” results in women in the advanced stages of the disease. Prof Dr Woo Yin Ling, who specialises in gynaecological oncology, explains the meaning of this study. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.