Health & Living

Ask A Psychologist #19: Change

18 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We return with our monthly mental health clinic to address your concerns regarding mental, emotional and psychosocial issues. In this month’s cl...

Healthy Ageing: No Health Without Wealth?

17 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Malaysians have been allowed to make withdrawals from their EPF accounts, which are meant for their retirement fund, to help alleviate the financial s...

Mind Matters: Budget 2022 For Mental Health

16 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We know mental health issues have become more widespread during this pandemic, and more people will need mental health care and support. Will we have ...

Living with Osteoarthritis: Healthy Joints, Active Life

15 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We know that leading an active life as you age is important to keep your joints healthy. But what if your joints are aching, and the pain is affecting...

Doctor in the House: Malaysia Says ‘No’ to Ivermectin

12 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Ministry of Health Malaysia has released the results of its study on ivermectin, which found that the drug does not prevent patients with COVID-19...

Public Health: Malaysia’s Got A Serious Diabetes Problem

11 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Malaysia’s diabetes numbers are staggering, and show no signs of reducing, especially as other related risk factors like obesity and hypertensio...

Brain Waves: Can Scientists Grow Brains in Petri Dishes?

10 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Scientists have been working on growing mini, brain-like models in the lab, commonly known as brain organoids. But are they really growing brains in a...

What If We Told You Lung Cancer Hits Non-Smokers Too?

09 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For decades, lung cancer has been synonymous with smokers. But the profile of people newly diagnosed with lung cancer may be changing. Dr Anand Sachit...

H&L Webinar 2021 #7: Why You're Having Trouble Managing Diabetes

03 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Almost one in every five Malaysians has diabetes. If you’re one of them, are you having trouble managing your condition? Are you at risk of deve...

Can UVC Kill the Coronavirus?

03 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ultraviolet C (UVC) devices are among a long list of products in the market that carry claims of being able to kill coronaviruses and other pathogens....

Can We Afford The First Pill for COVID-19?

02 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Merck & Co’s oral antiviral for COVID-19 is being called a “game-changer”, as it would be the first pill available to treat earl...

Finally, A Pill For COVID-19?

02 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The development of Merck & Co’s oral medication to treat COVID-19 could make it the first pill that people can pop the moment they become in...

Budget 2022: Did We Get A Budget that Puts Health First?

01 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Following the tabling of Budget 2022 in Parliament last Friday (29th Oct), independent health policies specialist Dr Khor Swee Kheng joins us to discu...

Budget 2022: Did We Get A Budget that Puts Health First?

01 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Following the tabling of Budget 2022 in Parliament last Friday (29th Oct), independent health policies specialist Dr Khor Swee Kheng joins us to discu...

Doctor in the House: How is the Health Budget Put Together?

29 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What exactly goes into planning a budget for health? With Budget 2022 being tabled today (29th October), we take a look into what the process looks li...

Why Pulmonary Fibrosis is Under-Recognised in Malaysia

28 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Pulmonary fibrosis is a serious, but under-recognised lung condition. In Europe, it is the fifth biggest respiratory killer after lung cancer, COPD, p...

Because Feelings Matter #3: From Dreams to Depression, And Back

27 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Every mental health struggle has a story behind it. ‘Because Feelings Matter’ is a series that brings you the stories of people and their mental h...

Menstrual Problems and Infertility

26 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For women, the menstrual cycle is at the heart of the reproductive process. If you are having trouble conceiving, a look at your menstrual cycle, and ...

Menstrual Problems and Infertility

26 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For women, the menstrual cycle is at the heart of the reproductive process. If you are having trouble conceiving, a look at your menstrual cycle, and ...

Ethics in New Frontiers of Medicine

25 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

New research discoveries in health and medicine are the reason we have advanced. Without innovative research, we wouldn’t have antibiotics, vacc...

Ethics in New Frontiers of Medicine

25 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

New research discoveries in health and medicine are the reason we have advanced. Without innovative research, we wouldn’t have antibiotics, vacc...

Doctor in the House: World Polio Day - Malaysia Ends Polio

22 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In December 2019, polio was detected in Malaysia for the first time in 27 years. In September 2021, the country declared the polio outbreak to be over...

COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters and Third Shots

21 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Malaysia has now joined a handful of countries around the world that have begun giving out another round of vaccinations for people who have been full...

Brain Waves: The Promise of Gene Therapy

21 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We hear the words “gene therapy” and immediately many people may be fearful of what it means, that it would involve altering our genes, an...

Trying To Conceive?

20 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

More couples in Malaysia are having children only when they’re in their 30s and 40s, but age poses a challenge to fertility. We explore what are...

Living with Osteoporosis

18 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We often think that osteoporosis is a natural and expected part of ageing - that as we grow older, our bones will grow weaker and more brittle. But is...

Doctor in the House: Ready or Not, COVID-19 is Here to Stay

15 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

“We have to learn to live with COVID-19” is a phrase we’ve been hearing all too often these days. Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin ...

Ask A Doctor: Low Vision Problems

14 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In conjunction with World Sight Day, this month’s open clinic segment features clinical optometrist Vinodhini Naidu to answer all your questions...

Public Health: Budget 2022 Must Prioritise Non-Communicable Diseases

13 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve experienced 18 months of living through an infectious disease pandemic, but we’ve been living with the global epidemic of non-commun...

Mind Matters: How Does The Built Environment Impact Your Mental Health?

12 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

During the strictest lockdowns of this pandemic, many of us felt the loss of something we had taken for granted - the freedom to move around in open s...

Living with Scoliosis - From Childhood to Adulthood

11 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The spine is our body’s central support structure, but when you have scoliosis - where the spine curves abnormally - it can affect not only how ...

Living with Scoliosis - From Childhood to Adulthood

11 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The spine is our body’s central support structure, but when you have scoliosis - where the spine curves abnormally - it can affect not only how ...

Doctor in the House: World Mental Health Day - Is Mental Health Care A Reality For All?

08 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This year, World Mental Health Day on 10 October will be commemorated with the theme ‘Mental health care for all: let's make it a reality’...

Be Fit Malaysians: Recovering from a Knee Injury - Part 3 of 3 (The Finish Line)

07 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It is our third and last episode of our three part mini-series on the recovery process after a knee injury and surgery, together with consultant ortho...

Ask A Psychologist #18: Mental Health Clinic

06 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We return with our monthly mental health clinic to address your concerns regarding mental, emotional and psychosocial issues. This month’s show ...

When ‘Dr Google’ Gets It Wrong

05 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve all done it - experienced a persistent headache, a twinge in the knee, or some chest pains, and headed straight to Google for answers. Fro...

Sudden Cardiac Arrests In Young People

04 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when your heart suddenly stops? While a cardiac arrest in someone who is young, healthy and doesn’t have any underlying heart condi...

Sudden Cardiac Arrests In Young People

04 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What happens when your heart suddenly stops? While a cardiac arrest in someone who is young, healthy and doesn’t have any underlying heart condi...

Doctor in the House: On Vaccinating Teens and Real-World Efficacy of COVID Vaccines

01 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With COVID-19 vaccinations for adolescents aged between 12 to 17 years old underway, we take a look at what concerns parents might still have and some...

Ethical Issues in Digital Health

30 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Digital technologies have consumed our lives, and will continue to play an increasingly important role in healthcare. However, the use of digital tech...

Ethical Issues in Digital Health

30 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Digital technologies have consumed our lives, and will continue to play an increasingly important role in healthcare. However, the use of digital tech...

World Heart Day 2021: Pacemakers Provide The Beat

29 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Thump thump, or beep beep - whether you’re feeling your heartbeat with your hand, or measuring it on an ECG, a normal heart rhythm should be rep...

H&L Webinar 2021 #6: Cancer Support Isn’t Just About Treatment

29 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to talking about cancer treatment, do you feel that the psychosocial and financial needs of cancer patients are neglected? On this webin...

Because Feelings Matter #2: When Family And Feelings Collide

28 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Every mental health struggle has a story behind it. ‘Because Feelings Matter’ is a series that brings you the stories of people and their mental h...

The Road to Recovery After a Hip Replacement

27 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve just undergone a hip surgery, it’s normal to want to get back on your feet as soon as you can; in fact, you’re probably lo...

The Road to Recovery After a Hip Replacement

27 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve just undergone a hip surgery, it’s normal to want to get back on your feet as soon as you can; in fact, you’re probably lo...

Doctor in the House: Recovered From COVID-19? What Next?

24 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As countries worldwide hobble along under the onslaught of the Delta variant, healthcare professionals are turning their attention to the “long-...

Let’s Teach Sign Languages To All Children

23 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

To commemorate the International Day of Sign Languages on 23 September, we look at how to promote more widespread use of sign languages in all areas o...

Let’s Teach Sign Languages To All Children

23 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

To commemorate the International Day of Sign Languages on 23 September, we look at how to promote more widespread use of sign languages in all areas o...

Advances in Joint Replacement Surgery - How Far Have We Come?

22 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Having to undergo joint replacement surgery, such as at your knee or your hip, can be scary, even if the pain in your joints is debilitating or affect...

Mind Matters: When Uni Students Return to Campus, How Will They Cope Mentally?

21 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

University students will return to campus for in-person classes from 15 October. For first-year students, they will face anxiety over settling in; whi...

World Heart Day 2021: Will Wearable Tech Save Our Lives?

20 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Digital technology has been at the forefront of this pandemic. It has been harnessed to support the public health response, as well as to facilitate d...

Doctor in the House: Are We Ready to Reopen Schools Amid Delta?

17 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Schools across Malaysia will reopen in stages, starting from 3rd October and based on individual states’ phases in the National Recovery Plan. B...

Malaysia Day 2021 - The Healthcare System that Sabah & Sarawak Need

15 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

While Malaysia’s public healthcare system is available to all legal residents in Malaysia, accessing healthcare services and facilities isn&rsqu...

Healthy Ageing: How a Dementia Diagnosis Changes Families

14 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

September is World Alzheimer’s Month, an annual international campaign to raise awareness and to challenge the stigma around dementia. This year...

Malaysia Day 2021: Dr Rebecca George - Paediatrician, Pioneer, Trailblazer

13 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We celebrate the achievements of Puan Sri Dr Rebecca George, one of the earliest female doctors in Malaysia to qualify as a paediatrician. Dr Rebecca ...

Doctor in the House: A Chat With An Award-Winning Cancer Researcher

10 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Recipient of the prestigious Dr Josef Steiner Award for cancer genome research in 2019, Dr Serena Nik-Zainal was recently also honoured with the Franc...

Doctor in the House: A Chat With An Award-Winning Cancer Researcher

10 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Recipient of the prestigious Dr Josef Steiner Award for cancer genome research in 2019, Dr Serena Nik-Zainal was recently also honoured with the Franc...

Early Detection of Breast Cancer Saves Lives

09 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Breast cancer is one of the most treatable cancers, especially when it is detected early. And with greater accessibility to screening tests like mammo...

Public Health: When Will Malaysia Decriminalise Suicide?

08 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In conjunction with World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September, we look at the long-standing debate about decriminalising suicide in Malaysia. What ...

Cushioning Joints and Tendons

07 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Bursae and tendon sheaths play an important role in protecting our joints and tendons, and in enabling smooth movement. We look at why they matter, an...

Protecting Babies From The Other Deadly Cough

06 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us how contagious and dangerous infectious diseases can be. Before children were immunised against common childhood in...

Changing How We Talk About Mental Health

06 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Words help us to describe how we feel during the highs and the lows, and they’re especially important in our conversations about mental health. ...

Doctor in the House: World Sexual Health Day 2021 - Turn It On

03 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We are observing World Sexual Health Day which is commemorated every 4th September to promote sexual health, well-being and rights for all. This year&...

Doctor in the House: World Sexual Health Day 2021 - Turn It On

03 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We are observing World Sexual Health Day which is commemorated every 4th September to promote sexual health, well-being and rights for all. This year&...

Addressing Workplace Clusters in the Pandemic

02 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

During the July Parliamentary sitting, Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said that workplace clusters specific...

Ask A Psychologist #17 : Mental Health Clinic (Listening)

01 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We return with our monthly mental health clinic to address your concerns regarding mental, emotional and psychosocial issues. This month’s show ...

Ask A Psychologist #17 : Mental Health Clinic (Listening)

01 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We return with our monthly mental health clinic to address your concerns regarding mental, emotional and psychosocial issues. This month’s show ...

H&L Webinar 2021 #5: How To Care For Your Kids and Elderly Parents Without Burning Out

01 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The COVID-19 pandemic has created a pressure-cooker situation in most households. Many working adults are struggling with the stress of juggling work ...

Merdeka 2021: Perspectives On The Future of Healthcare

30 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What is the future of Malaysia's healthcare? A junior doctor and a senior specialist share their perspectives, from different stages of their respecti...

Merdeka 2021: Perspectives On The Future of Healthcare

30 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What is the future of Malaysia's healthcare? A junior doctor and a senior specialist share their perspectives, from different stages of their respecti...

Doctor in the House: As Pandemic Peaks, A New Health Minister

27 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The 9th Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, has just announced his new Cabinet, with YB Khairy Jamaluddin as the Minister of Hea...

Should Students Repeat The School Year?

26 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The reopening of schools nationwide has been deferred to 3 October, beginning with exam-year students in states that have entered Phase 2 of the Natio...

Is the Delta Variant Causing “Breakthrough Infections”?

25 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As the number of people vaccinated in Malaysia and globally continues to climb, we are now hearing more about “breakthrough infections”, o...

Because Feelings Matter #1: Living with ADHD

24 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Every mental health struggle has a story behind it. ‘Because Feelings Matter’ is a series that brings you the stories of people and their mental h...

Ethics of Caring For Vulnerable Populations

23 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

People in need of health services are often at their most vulnerable - they’re unwell and likely afraid as well. What happens when those from ma...

COVID-19 Survivor: I Was Close To The Edge

20 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We look beyond the numbers and statistics of COVID-19 to talk to Azlee, a COVID-19 survivor who recounts the severity of his symptoms, how he barely s...

Doctor in the House: Can Technology Solve Healthcare’s Problems?

20 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

During this pandemic, healthcare has found itself at a crossroads. Amid a global crisis and scarce resources, the immediate priority has been to ensur...

Loosening Restrictions for the Fully Vaccinated - Too Much, Too Soon?

19 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Last week, on the 8th of August it was announced that some restrictions would be loosened for individuals who are fully vaccinated, especially for tho...

Ask A Doctor: Supplements

18 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s time for our monthly open clinic, where you get to ask a doctor about various health topics. This month, Prof Dr Winnie Chee, president of ...

Mind Matters: No Quick Fixes for Workplace Mental Health

17 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The high pressure and rapid pace of work today has taken a toll on our mental well-being, and the pandemic has only caused further stress. Employers a...

Doctor in the House: Is Ivermectin Safe To Use For COVID-19?

13 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Everyone’s talking about ivermectin, a veterinary antiparasitic drug that is touted to be effective in treating COVID-19. What do the latest stu...

Brain Waves: Living with SMA in Malaysia

12 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In conjunction with SMA Awareness Month, which is observed every August, we discuss a new study which looks at what it is like living with SMA in Mala...

Public Health: We Are Underfunded and Overstretched

11 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In July 2019, Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham tweeted: “We are currently underfunded, understaffed, underpaid, overworked, overst...

Diabetes and COVID-19

09 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The death toll from COVID-19 continues to rise every day, especially as the Delta variant rips through vulnerable countries. In Malaysia, seven in 10 ...

Doctor in the House: 1 Million COVID-19 Cases and Counting

06 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Malaysia hit the 1 million cases milestone the previous week, a number of psychological significance considering the country’s success in contro...

A Self-Test Programme for Hepatitis C

05 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Globally, an estimated 58 million people have chronic hepatitis C virus infection. But experts often speak about the missing millions when it comes to...

What To Know About the COVID-19 Self Tests

05 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

You can now test for COVID-19 with a simple saliva test kit at home. And with cases at an all-time high, this will make it easier for people in the co...

Ask A Psychologist #16 : Mental Health Clinic (Anger)

04 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We return with our monthly mental health clinic with consultant clinical psychologist Paul Jambunathan. In this segment, we address your concerns rega...

H&L Webinar 2021 #4: Why Vaccination Matters For Your Child

04 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Catch up with one of Malaysia’s top experts to find out why immunisation, especially the regular jabs against childhood diseases, is more import...

H&L Webinar 2021 #4: Why Vaccination Matters For Your Child

04 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Catch up with one of Malaysia’s top experts to find out why immunisation, especially the regular jabs against childhood diseases, is more import...

Behind The Scenes at the Tokyo Olympics: When Injuries Occur

03 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

All eyes are on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and how the world’s top athletes are performing amid a global pandemic. But what happens when these elit...

Ivermectin for COVID-19: Hero or Zero?

02 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Last year, the COVID-19 pandemic had hydroxychloroquine, which has since been debunked as being effective in preventing and treating COVID-19. This ye...

Doctor in the House: How Bad COVID-19 Really Is

30 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The media is reporting record-breaking numbers almost on a daily basis, whether it’s in terms of new COVID-19 cases or deaths. However, the posi...

Be Fit Malaysians: Recovering from a Knee Injury - Part 2 of 3

29 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In the second episode of our three part mini-series, consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dr Harjeet Singh is back to look at the process of recovering from...

The Ethics of Your Healthcare Providers

28 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Doctors are bound by the Hippocratic Oath, which spells out several ethical standards, and is where the principle of “First do no harm” is...

Mind Matters: Our Frontliners Are Burning Out

27 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Hospitals, quarantine centres and COVID-19 Assessment Centres in the Klang Valley have been bearing the brunt of an unending increase in COVID-19 case...

Keluhan Frontliners

26 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As more cases and deaths related to COVID-19 are reported every day, healthcare frontliners – whether junior or senior, contract or permanent &n...

Doctor in the House: #HartalDoktorKontrak – The Ethics of Striking During A Pandemic

23 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On 26 July, a group of junior contract doctors in Malaysia are planning to strike as a sign of protest, until their demands for permanent positions an...

Kids Getting COVID-19: Helping Them Cope

22 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Amid record-breaking numbers of COVID-19 cases, the COVID-19 Assessment Centres (CAC), particularly in the Klang Valley, have been dealing with thousa...