Health & Living

Should I Be Worried About “Blank” COVID-19 Vaccines?

22 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As our COVID-19 vaccination numbers continue to be ramped up, everyone’s following our progress closely while waiting for their turn to be vacci...

Healthy Ageing: How Are People With Dementia Coping During the Pandemic?

21 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The pandemic has resulted in many of us pressing the pause button on in-person social interactions, which has become more difficult as the pandemic dr...

We Are In A Mental Health Crisis: How To Provide First Aid

19 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The COVID-19 pandemic has spared no one in terms of the mental health impact – whether it’s anxiety over the disease, or stress and anguis...

Doctor in the House: Are We Ready to Live With COVID-19?

16 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Singapore is preparing to live with COVID-19 as an endemic disease, just like the flu, while the UK plans to scrap regulations on face masks and physi...

Brain Waves: Have Scientists Found The “Grandmother Neuron”?

15 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever wondered why sometimes when you bump into strangers, you feel like you’ve seen their face before? Or maybe you’ve noticed th...

The Gender Bias in Autism - Are Girls & Women Going Undiagnosed?

14 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

You might have heard that autism is more common among boys than girls, and the ratio that is often quoted is four boys to one girl. But is there a gen...

Gift of Life #3: My Kidney Transplant Story

14 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For patients with end-stage kidney disease, receiving a kidney transplant can make a significant difference in their quality of life. We speak to Teoh...

Gift of Life #2: Life After A Kidney Transplant

13 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

 If you had or need a kidney transplant, what does life after your surgery look like? We speak to consultant nephrologist Dr Ng Eng Khim and cons...

Gift of Life #1: What Happens If I Need a Kidney Transplant?

12 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A kidney transplant offers hope for a better quality of life for people living with kidney failure. But the idea of a transplant can be daunting. At w...

Doctor in the House: Will We Ever Curb Dengue?

09 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dengue is the most rapidly spreading mosquito-borne disease in the world. In 2019-2020, the number of reported cases and deaths reached record levels,...

Ask A Psychologist #15: Mental Health Clinic (Burnout)

08 Jul 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...

Public Health: Ensuring a Future for Contract Medical Officers

07 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On the 26th of July, a group of contract medical officers are planning a nationwide strike in response to lack of job security and opportunities for c...

Overcoming WFH Aches and Pains

06 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Working long hours at home with poor posture has led to pain being a dominant complaint during this pandemic. With consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dr R...

Overcoming WFH Aches and Pains

06 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Working long hours at home with poor posture has led to pain being a dominant complaint during this pandemic. With consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dr R...

Ethical Considerations in Vaccinating Teenagers

05 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

SPM-year students might be getting their COVID-19 vaccination very soon, so we explore the safety, efficacy, as well as ethical considerations in vacc...

Doctor in the House: Should Malaysia Mix COVID-19 Vaccines?

02 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Coordinating Minister for the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme Khairy Jamaluddin recently announced that there is not enough data for Malaysia...

Osteoarthritis - Not Just An Ageing Condition

01 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Osteoarthritis is a chronic disease that we often associate with the elderly, because it’s seen as caused by wear and tear of the cartilage in t...

H&L Webinar 2021 #3: Work (From Home)-Related Aches and Pains

30 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Work – it’s where we spend eight hours or more hunched over our computers and desks. And with more people working from home during the pan...

H&L Webinar 2021 #3: Work (From Home)-Related Aches and Pains

30 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Work – it’s where we spend eight hours or more hunched over our computers and desks. And with more people working from home during the pan...

H&L Webinar 2021 #3: Work (From Home)-Related Aches and Pains

30 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Work – it’s where we spend eight hours or more hunched over our computers and desks. And with more people working from home during the pan...

Be Fit Malaysians: Recovering from a Knee Injury - Part 1 of 3

30 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Having to deal with a sports injury can be difficult, more so if you’re an active person and it’s affecting your mobility. In this first o...

Mind Matters: Mental Health Support for B40 Communities

29 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The economic impact of the pandemic has pushed more people into lower-income groups, amid an increase in Malaysia’s poverty rate. Several cycles...

Understanding Ethics in Medical Research

28 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this past year, we have heard a lot about clinical trials and how important they are in the development of COVID-19 vaccines. Conducting research o...

Doctor in the House: COVID-19 is Airborne, So What Should We Do?

25 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The World Health Organization has finally recognised that COVID-19 can be spread through the air, instead of just through contact with droplets. What ...

How Lockdowns Have Affected Speech and Language Skills

24 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you have a preschool-aged child, this past year has probably disrupted normal learning and development. Research from the UK shows that lockdowns d...

A New Milestone in Hepatitis C Treatment

23 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Earlier this month, Malaysia’s Drug Control Authority granted conditional registration of a new drug to treat hepatitis C. This move was hailed ...

Should Kids Get The COVID-19 Vaccination?

22 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) in Malaysia has approved Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for use in children aged 12 yea...

What Do We Know About Long COVID?

21 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

More reports are surfacing about long COVID – a range of symptoms that last weeks or months after the initial COVID-19 infection. For these &ldq...

Doctor in the House: Why We Need Continuous Genomic Surveillance of COVID-19 Variants

18 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Medical experts have been talking about COVID-19 variants and the importance of genomic surveillance, but what exactly does that involve? With variant...

Ask A Doctor: About Your Poo

17 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

 We are back for our monthly open clinic segment, where we get our doctors to address your health concerns. Consultant gastroenterologist and hep...

Healthy Ageing: Assistive Technology for the Elderly

16 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Many of us are familiar with the story of trying to convince older family members to familiarise themselves with devices like smartphones or smart wat...

Why You’ve Been Feeling ‘Blah’ Throughout the Pandemic

15 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Have you been going through the motions of work, friendships and family life in recent months, while feeling “blah”? According to a sociol...

As Malaysia Ages, How Do We Protect Older Adults?

14 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Malaysia is an ageing nation, which means that by 2030, 15 per cent of our population will be above the age of 65. Will they be healthy and fit, or bu...

Doctor in the House: A Better Understanding of Psoriasis

11 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Psoriasis is often seen as just a “cosmetic” problem, although there is a lot more going on beneath the surface of the skin. What’s ...

Brain Waves: The Human Genome Project - 20 Years Later

10 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

2021 marks twenty years since the first sequencing of the human genome was published back in February 2001. In the past two decades, the Human Genome ...

Public Health: MCO 3.0 – What Next?

09 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Malaysia has entered a full lockdown under MCO 3.0, amid record numbers of COVID-19 cases, deaths and ICU admissions. What is the exit strategy to ens...

How To Spot Mental Health Issues In Senior Citizens

08 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

 If you’re over 60, or if you’re caring for an elderly family member, you’re no stranger to health issues like diabetes or hear...

Doctor in the House: Anti Tobacco Efforts Up in Smoke During the Pandemic?

04 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Has the smoking ban in eateries been sufficiently enforced during the pandemic? Should we take the pandemic as an opportunity to ban smoking in all pu...

Which COVID-19 Vaccine is Safe For Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women?

03 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Last week, the Special Committee for Ensuring Access to COVID-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV) confirmed which COVID-19 vaccines are suitable for pregnancy a...

H&L Webinar 2021 #2: Raising Digital Natives

02 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Are your kids on their devices 24/7? Are you aware of TikTok, Snapchat, and all the apps they’re on? With kids spending more time on their gadge...

Living with Endometriosis: Tackling Taboos About Menstrual Health

01 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For many women, dealing with menstrual cramps and the pain that comes with it is all too familiar, and they might even be used to it happening every m...

Could My Child Have Hypertension?

31 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Many of us would associate hypertension with adults, but it is a condition that can also affect children, and that could be worrying for parents. But ...

Doctor in the House: It’s Okay To Get Treated For Depression

28 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Today, there is better acceptance and understanding of depression as a mental health condition. But people with depression still face a challenging jo...

COVID-19 Variants Detected in Malaysia: What Does It Mean?

27 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There has been a lot of talk about variants of concern when it comes to COVID-19, especially with the surge of cases in India being linked to the B.1....

COVID-19 Variants Detected in Malaysia: What Does It Mean?

27 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There has been a lot of talk about variants of concern when it comes to COVID-19, especially with the surge of cases in India being linked to the B.1....

What Are Children Reading In Books? (And How To Talk To Them About It)

27 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In March, it was reported that six Dr Seuss books will cease publication because of racist themes in them. What should parents do when children come a...

Dangers of Severe Hypertension

25 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

One-third of Malaysians have hypertension – that means one in three of us is walking around at risk of a heart attack, stroke or kidney dis...

Ethics in Health & Medicine: Why It Matters

24 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Is it alright for a doctor to have a romantic relationship with a patient? What if your doctor or hospital insists on giving you a treatment that you ...

Doctor in the House: Inflammatory Bowel Disease – Not Just Any Digestive Disease

21 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When you experience frequent bloatedness, wind, constipation or diarrhoea, you’ll probably shrug them off. But these are the same symptoms often...

Ask A Doctor: Childhood Fevers

20 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We are back for our monthly open clinic segment, where we get our doctors to address your health concerns. Consultant paediatrician Dr Sanjay Woodhull...

Can Artificial Intelligence Improve Diagnosis of Diseases?

19 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine a computer being able to diagnose cancer better than a team of doctors. That was the promise of artificial intelligence – that it would ...

Mind Matters: What Happens When Children Are Threatened and Bullied?

18 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

After 17-year-old Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam started the #MakeSchoolASaferPlace movement, she received rape threats, lewd comments and harsh criticisms....

The Link Between Weight and Musculoskeletal Problems

17 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Your musculoskeletal system bears the weight of your body. So if you’re carrying excess body weight, there are effects on your bones, joints, an...

The Link Between Weight and Musculoskeletal Problems

17 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Your musculoskeletal system bears the weight of your body. So if you’re carrying excess body weight, there are effects on your bones, joints, an...

Public Health: Is Personalised Cancer Treatment A Reality?

12 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The idea that you can provide personalised medicine – i.e. tailoring treatment approaches to patients’ individual risks and needs – ...

Spending Too Much Time On Your Phone? It Could Cause Text Neck

11 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The numbers vary, but it is estimated that we spend anywhere between two and four hours a day hunched over our phones. If you feel your head tipping f...

Spending Too Much Time On Your Phone? It Could Cause Text Neck

11 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The numbers vary, but it is estimated that we spend anywhere between two and four hours a day hunched over our phones. If you feel your head tipping f...

Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Among Seniors

10 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you are above 60, or have an elderly parent, you’re probably familiar with going for annual health checkups. But when was the last annual vac...

Doctor in the House: The Ongoing Battle To Build Trust in COVID-19 Vaccines

07 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With certain COVID-19 vaccine candidates hitting hurdles before they’re even introduced into Malaysia’s National COVID-19 Immunisation Pro...

Ask A Psychologist #14: Mental Health Clinic (Fear)

06 May 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...

World Hand Hygiene Day: The Man Who Championed Hand Hygiene

05 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Once, hospitals were among the most dangerous places to be in. Patients lost their lives due to infections acquired in hospitals. Then an infectious d...

H&L Webinar 2021 #1: Tired Of Being Vigilant? Getting Over COVID Fatigue

05 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began last year, we have changed many of our behaviours to help prevent transmission of the virus. But in the second year ...

How Your Spine Ages

04 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The spine is a marvel of human anatomy. It ensures both flexibility, as well as stability, to a person’s body. But it’s not immune to the ...

Yes, It’s Okay To Talk To Teens About Sex

03 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Family doctors get a unique glimpse into the lives of families in our community. This means that they get to observe the hidden challenges and needs o...

Doctor in the House: Can Data Help Fight the Next Pandemic?

30 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

What’s the biggest advantage we have in our fight against the COVID-19 pandemic? The obvious answer may be vaccines, but in fact, data is the be...

Be Fit Malaysians: Should I See A Chiropractor or an Orthopaedic Surgeon?

28 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you’re someone who’s generally active and involved in sports, who would you see if you have back or neck issues: a chiropractor or an o...

Preventing Cardiac Catastrophe

27 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Heart attack is the most common cause of death in Malaysia. How do we recognise when a heart attack happens, and how do we prevent a catastrophic even...

Vaccines and Infectious Diseases: Learning From History

26 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The world is in the grip of a pandemic that’s been described as “unprecedented”. But infectious diseases are not new in the history ...

Doctor in the House: Is Cancer Care Too Fragmented in Malaysia?

23 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Fragmented cancer care - where patients have to go to different institutions for  different aspects of cancer care - can significantly impact pat...

Will My Child with Autism Be Accepted in Preschools?

22 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For children with autism, inclusive learning starts in the formative years, so that they are given equal opportunities to learn, play and develop thei...

Healthy Ageing: Helping Dementia Patients Through Music

21 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Music has the ability to evoke memories and emotions, especially if we’ve associated a significant memory to a song. So how can we use that conn...

Mind Matters: Mothers Struggling With Depression

20 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Just like any major upheaval in life, having a baby comes with enormous challenges and can lead to a great deal of stress. Mental health problems are ...

What Should I Eat For A Healthy Gut?

19 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

From taking probiotics to consuming more fermented foods, or going on the latest trending diets, we are seeing more people interested in improving the...

Doctor in the House: International Pompe Day

16 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Pompe disease is a rare, inherited disorder that causes permanent muscle damage in children and adults. It occurs in about one in every 40,000 people,...

Ask A Doctor: Allergies (Part 3)

15 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We are back for our monthly open clinic segment, where we get our doctors to address your health concerns. Following his highly popular appearance las...

Public Health: Should Malaysia Use Sin Taxes for Health Funding?

14 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

RM30.6 billion – that’s the amount that the Malaysian government collected from excise taxes on cigarettes, tobacco products and alcohol, ...

Brain Waves: Genes Under Stress

13 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Stress seems like an inevitable part of everyday life, especially as an adult. But what if experiencing early life stress, including childhood trauma,...

Are Vaccine Passports A Good Idea?

12 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As the COVID-19 vaccines start getting into the arms of the general population, there is a lot of anticipation about the possibility of international ...

Doctor in the House: Tracking COVID-19 Variants In Malaysia

09 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Ministry of Health has reported several local COVID-19 cases involving a more contagious variant that was first detected in South Africa. Not only...

101 on COVID-19 Immunity

08 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How long does COVID-19 immunity from vaccines last? Will we need booster shots? Why do some people contract COVID-19 twice? Infectious diseases physic...

World Health Day 2021: Surviving the Pandemic

07 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Healthcare workers have been battling at the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic for more than a year, donning restrictive PPEs, and worrying about th...

(Pain in Your) Hips Don’t Lie

06 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A twinge in your groin or hip when you stand up, some stiffness down your thighs or buttocks, or pain as you settle your weight on one hip – the...

Ask A Psychologist #13: Mental Health Clinic (Sadness)

05 Apr 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...

Doctor in the House: World Autism Awareness Day 2021 - Inclusion in the Workplace

02 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The COVID-19 pandemic has not been easy for people living with autism and their families. This World Autism Awareness Day, we speak to Hafiz Izzuddin ...

AI and Digital Technologies in Healthcare

01 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Artificial intelligence and digital technologies are attractive buzzwords in healthcare today. The current hype is preceded by decades of work in usin...

The Pressure to Prevent Glaucoma

31 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The ophthalmologists say that increasing awareness about glaucoma is a lifelong battle for them. It’s no wonder, considering that glaucoma is th...

Entering Phase 2 of COVID-19 Vaccination: Who’s Eligible?

30 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

April marks the 2nd phase of the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme. While it has been reported that this phase covers the elderly and those wit...

Entering Phase 2 of COVID-19 Vaccination: Who’s Eligible?

30 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

April marks the 2nd phase of the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme. While it has been reported that this phase covers the elderly and those wit...

Are Mothers At A Breaking Point Because of COVID-19?

29 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Work-life balance has not come easy for many parents, as they had to learn how to juggle family and work responsibilities from home. But in a househol...

Doctor in the House: Prostate Cancer in a (Wal)Nut Shell

26 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. There is a belief that if you are diagn...

Raising Children Who Give Back to Society

25 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Children today live in a materially-driven world. How do we raise them to embrace volunteerism or charity, and nurture the spirit of giving back to so...

Be Fit Malaysians: Tired of Being Fatigued

24 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s normal to feel sore and tired after a good workout, but at what point is it not normal to continuously feel tired? If not properly addresse...

The COVID-19 Infodemic - Are We Doing Enough to Tackle Misinformation?

23 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Technology, social media and messaging apps have played an incredibly crucial role in keeping all of us connected and updated throughout the COVID-19 ...

Don’t Neglect Women in Perimenopause

22 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We pay a lot of attention to the changes that happen to a woman after menopause (rightly so), but the experience of perimenopause is often neglected. ...

Doctor in the House: Managing Multiple Myeloma

19 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. Our bone marrow plays an important role...

Ask A Doctor: Allergies (Part 2)

18 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We are back for our monthly open clinic segment, where we get our doctors to address your health concerns. On today’s show, consultant allergist...

Healthy Ageing: Let’s Get Our Seniors Registered For The COVID-19 Vaccine

17 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve talked about why it’s important for our elderly to get the COVID-19 vaccine - which is to prevent them from getting the disease, esp...

Mind Matters: Suicide Among Young People

16 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Suicide is the leading cause of death among young people in Malaysia, at great social and economic cost to the country. What drives youths to attempt ...

Pregnant & Breastfeeding - Should I Get The COVID-19 Vaccine?

15 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, you’re probably wondering if it’s safe to get the COVID-19 vaccine. We speak to two consultant ...

Doctor in the House: What If Private Hospitals Bought Their Own COVID Vaccines?

12 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Three weeks into the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme, private hospitals are now calling for the government to allow them to procure their own...