Health & Living

Public Health #17: Pneumococcal Vaccination

24 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

When we talk about diseases that kill children, we sometimes forget about one of the major causes: pneumococcal disease. Statistics from 2015 show tha...

Being Active After An Injury

23 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Cycling, marathons and hiking are increasingly popular activities for those of us looking to get fit. However, physical activity also puts us at risk ...

Rheumatoid Arthritis

22 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Our joints are important when it comes to carrying out daily activities. So when it starts to get swollen, stiff or inflamed, one thing that comes to ...

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea in Children

18 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

There are many types of sleep apnoea, but one type in particular is more common in children. In today’s show, we take a look at this condition a...

Aged Care Facilities

17 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Everywhere around the world, there are now more grandparents than grandchildren. If they were well and healthy, it would not be a problem. But if they...

Ask A Doctor #2: Skin Health

16 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We are back for the second installment of our open clinic series, where you get our doctors to address your health concerns. On today’s show, co...

Orphan Drugs And Rare Diseases

15 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Rare diseases affect a small percentage of the population and as such, the availability of drugs for treatment is limited. In today’s show, we e...

Doctor in the House: The 101 on Oral Herpes

12 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. Last week, a woman allegedly contracted...

Brain Waves #24: The Second Brain

11 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The gut is often considered the second brain. Fresh off the panel session about gut health in BFM's Health & Living Live event, neurogeneticist Dr...

Stuttering and Fluency Disorders

10 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

People who stutter are often misunderstood and shunned in our society. Stuttering is actually an undermined communication disorder, and has nothing to...

Neck Ache, Shoulder Pain

09 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

For most of us who spend our days hunched over at work, neck and shoulder aches become par for the course. But could we be missing something more seri...

Steroid Abuse At The Gym

08 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Some of us see celebrities with physiques like Hugh Jackman and Chris Evans and wonder how they do it. Sculpting a figure like that takes a lot of wor...

Doctor in the House: Ending Tuberculosis – Are We There Yet?

05 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. Joining him this week is consultant pul...

Psychiatry Series: Women and Mental Health Issues

04 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Women experience mental health issues very differently compared to men. Is it related to the cliche that women are “more emotional” than m...

Ask A Psychologist #6: Mental Health Clinic

03 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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

Happier, Healthier Families

02 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What are the factors that affect the health and stability of families? We speak to Shantini Vanniasingham a clinical psychologist from Subang Jay...

Save Your Leg

01 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Although discussions about our circulatory system usually focus on the heart, poor blood flow can also affect your legs. How exactly? Consultant Cardi...

Doctor in the House: Urine 101

29 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. This time, it’s about a urine test for prostate cancer. Researchers from University Co...

World Down Syndrome Day: Leave No One Behind (Part 1)

28 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We celebrated World Down Syndrome Day on 21 March, with the call to “leave no one behind”. Children with Down syndrome need full and fair ...

Yoga As Medicine?

27 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Is yoga only good as a pastime or can it be used as therapy for orthopaedic problems? Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dr Rajesh Singh walks us through ...

Uterine Diseases

26 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The uterus is where a woman carries a new life – it’s where the foetus grows during pregnancy. Therefore, it plays an important role in yo...

World Oral Health Day

25 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How often do you see the dentist? Twice a year, as advised? In conjunction with World Oral Health Day on March 20th, the Ministry of Health reminds us...

Doctor in the House: Arthritis Agony

22 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Arthritis – a common term used for any disorder that affects the joints. Many still believe it's an unavoidable aspect of ageing. But is it real...

Stem Cell Transplant ‘Cures’ People with HIV

21 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This month, we read about two people who had reportedly become HIV-free after undergoing stem cell transplants. This makes three people – includ...

Be Fit Malaysians #10: Treatment or Training?

20 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Can conventional exercise equipment be used for medical rehabilitation? Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr Harjeet Singh and Technogym’s Lester F...

Colour Blindness

18 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What is colour blindness? Can we develop it later in life? How is the thyroid connected to colour vision? In today’s show we unpack this and mor...

Brain Waves #23: Damaged Nerves

14 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Azlina Ahmad Annuar returns with the latest on peripheral neuropathies, which affect the motor and sensory nerves. Joining her in this month’...

Glaucoma

12 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. With an ageing society and the increasing prevalence of risk factors like diabetes in Ma...

The Aorta and The Elephant Trunk

11 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The aorta is our largest artery, allowing our heart to distribute oxygenated blood to all parts of the body. But what happens if your aorta is enlarge...

Doctor in the House: Hearing Loss

08 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. When was the last time you checked your...

Psychiatry Series: Suicide and the Media

07 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How suicide is reported or portrayed in the media has a huge impact on people who are watching or reading it. Assoc Prof Dr Amer Siddiq bin Amer Nordi...

Psychiatry Series: Suicide and the Media

07 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How suicide is reported or portrayed in the media has a huge impact on people who are watching or reading it. Assoc Prof Dr Amer Siddiq bin Amer Nordi...

Ask A Psychologist #5: Mental Health Clinic

06 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We return with our monthly mental health clinic with consultant clinical psychologist Paul J. On this segment, we address your concerns regarding ment...

When Healthcare Causes Trauma

05 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Healthcare is supposed to be healing, but in reality, a medical experience, such as the diagnosis of an illness or a hospital stay, can be very trauma...

The Planetary Health Diet

04 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

30 world-leading scientists from across the globe created the ‘planetary health diet’ which is said to define a healthy and sustainable di...

Doctor in the House: The ‘Premiest’ of Them All

01 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. Joining him is neonatologist Dr Azanna ...

World Rare Disease Day 2019 – Shedding Light on Albinism

27 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

To observe World Rare Disease Day, we are highlighting one of the more visible rare diseases, albinism. Despite not being as life-threatening as other...

The Role of Surgery in Treating Cancers

26 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Surgery is a well-known form of treatment for cancers, especially to remove tumours. As cancer treatments improve and become less invasive, is surgery...

The Gut

25 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How well do we know our gut? In today’s show, we explore the basic functions of our intestines and some of the common diseases such as diverticu...

Doctor in the House: Lyme Disease

22 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. There are reports of people in Malaysia...

Pain Management in Cancer

21 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Cancer in itself is a painful diagnosis, but beyond that, the disease progression and subsequent treatments can add to the pain. Consultant neurosurge...

A Closer Look at Pancreatic Health

18 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Your pancreatic health plays an important role in your quality of life. So how much do we really understand about our pancreas? In today’s show ...

Doctor in the House: Is LASIK Really Safe?

15 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. Every now and then, news about the safe...

Brain Waves #22: Spotlight on Rare Disease

14 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

International Rare Disease Day falls on the last day of February each year. So, joining resident neuroscientist and geneticist Dr Azlina Ahmad Annuar ...

Public Health #15: Breast Cancer – Women Left Behind

13 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Almost 90% of breast cancer deaths are avoidable – according to one study in Malaysia. Why are women dying unnecessarily from breast cancer? Cou...

Rapid Stroke Treatment Saves Lives

12 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Stroke kills approximately 6,000 people in Malaysia every year. Getting fast treatment immediately after a stroke can save your life. Dr Loh Pei Kee, ...

Painkillers

11 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Painkillers can be easily purchased by almost anyone. We use it for a variety of reasons, from fevers to relieving aches. Today, we take a deeper look...

Doctor in the House: The Doctor Who Never Rests

08 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. Joining him this week is Prof Rohan Raj...

Psychiatry Series: Body Image and Eating Disorders

07 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Eating disorders are not about food, greed or hunger. They are complex psychological conditions, tied to our cultural notions about body image and hea...

The Physics in Medicine

04 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

X-rays, CAT scans and MRIs have become common terms in our everyday language, as these imaging techniques are increasingly being used to diagnose and ...

Do Fertility Add-On Treatments Add Up?

31 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The British Medical Journal published a new paper that said that fertility treatment facilities must be more transparent about the treatments offered....

Frailty in Older People

30 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We tend to assume that it’s normal for people to become frail as they get older. However, being frail is actually a medical syndrome that increa...

Community CPR Saves Lives

29 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

If you were to suffer a cardiac arrest at home or at work, your survival would depend on a bystander giving you immediate CPR to help get your heart b...

Understanding How The Placenta Works

28 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The placenta plays a vital role in ensuring the health of the foetus during pregnancy. This transient organ may hold the key to understanding pregnanc...

Doctor in the House: Is Fibre The New Superfood?

25 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. Many of us do not consume enough fibre ...

Children and Chores

24 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Washing the dishes, doing the laundry or helping to clean the house – most of you would have grown up doing some amount of household work. But a...

Be Fit Malaysians #9: New Year New Start

23 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Get fit, stay healthy. That's probably one of the most common New Year's Resolutions. After almost a month into the new year, consultant orthopaedic s...

DUMP-ing Unused Medication

22 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What do you do with medications that you don’t need anymore? Do you throw them away, flush them down the toilet or give them to someone else? Pr...

Doctor in the House: Breaking Down Male Contraceptives

18 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. For a long time, the responsibility of ...

Can Surgery Make You Taller?

17 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Rajesh Singh joins us to discuss the ethical questions surrounding a limb-lengthening surgical procedure that’s becoming increasingly popular...

Gentle Birth Through Pilates

16 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Pilates is well known as a popular physical fitness activity. It is popular amongst women and is known to help many women stay fit while pregnant and ...

State of Malaysia’s Nutrition

15 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Malaysia has the highest rate of obesity in Southeast Asia. The Global Nutrition Report 2018, released last November, has revealed that we also bear t...

Delivering Quality in Healthcare

14 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Quality in healthcare means providing the care the patient needs when the patient needs it, in an affordable, safe, effective manner. In order to deli...

Doctor in the House: HPV Vaccination – Malaysia’s Success Story

11 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. Since Malaysia’s HPV vaccination ...

Brain Waves #21: The Importance of Sleep

10 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most common New Year's resolutions is to get more sleep. For the first show of the new year, neuroscientist and geneticist Dr Azlina Ahmad ...

Public Health #14: Healthcare in Sabah and Sarawak

09 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Sabah and Sarawak suffer huge inequities in terms of healthcare resources. The remote and rural population is often underserved in terms of access to...

Mental Health: The Youth Perspective

08 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We always think that young people are carefree and contented, with nothing to worry about. But in reality, young people struggle just as much as adult...

Access to Medicine – Patents versus Patients

07 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Price gouging in the pharmaceutical industry has become a common feature of health news. Who can forget Martin Shkreli’s infamous price hike of ...

Doctor in the House: From Death, Arises Life

04 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. In December last year, Brazil reported ...

Psychiatry Series: Smoking is an Addiction

03 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

On 1 January 2019, the ban on smoking in eateries came into force. While this is a bold move towards discouraging smoking and protecting non-smokers, ...

New Year’s Resolutions

02 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It’s the new year, time for making resolutions to improve yourself. Consultant clinical psychologist Paul Jambunathan shares his tips on how to ...

Hole in Heart

31 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Congenital heart disease is the most common type of birth defects. IJN's consultant paediatric cardiologist, Dr Marhisham Che Mood explains the treatm...

Health & Living Jr 2018 Part 4 of 4: Gadgets and Relationships

28 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A Health and Morbidity Survey conducted last year showed that 34.9 per cent of Malaysian children between the ages of 13 and 17 show a prevalence towa...

Health & Living Jr 2018 Part 3 of 4: To Vaccinate or Not

27 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

According to the Health Ministry, the MMR immunisation coverage dropped to 92 per cent in 2017. We need more than 95 per cent coverage to provide herd...

Health & Living Jr 2018 Part 2 of 4: Children’s eyesight

26 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Association of Optometrists of the UK recently revealed that children are developing permanent problems with their vision because they are not bei...

Health & Living Jr 2018 Part 1 of 4: Why is my child struggling in school?

24 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The education system in Malaysia can be quite demanding on the kids, even from as early as preschool, but does it cater to those with learning difficu...

How Government Hospitals Are Held Liable for Medical Negligence

21 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Several cases of medical negligence made the news this year, among them a case involving Hospital Kuala Lumpur. We look at patients’ rights with...

Extreme Health Part 4 of 4: Bad sleep, bad diet, bad heart

20 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Sleep deprivation can mean a lot more than a bad night’s sleep. A poor diet can lead to weight gain, which can cause sleep apnoea. We examine h...

Extreme Health Part 3 of 4: Cholesterol chaos

19 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A high-cholesterol diet can wreak havoc on more than just your heart – it can also affect your legs, neck and kidneys, among others. We discuss ...

Extreme Health Part 2 of 4: Lung cancer in non-smokers

18 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Cigarette smoking remains a major risk factor for lung cancer, but increasingly, non-smokers are being diagnosed as well. We explore why. This is an e...

Extreme Health Part 1 of 4: When the fit die young

17 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Is there such a thing as too much exercise? What causes seemingly healthy and fit people to collapse in the middle of exercising? We talk about how mu...

Doctor in the House: Biosimilar Drugs – Making Cancer Treatment Affordable

14 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. Earlier this week, the Health Ministry ...

Brain Waves #20: Brain Atlas

13 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Resident neuroscientist and geneticist Dr Azlina Ahmad Annuar wraps up the year with the latest in brain science by introducing us to yet another newl...

Public Health #13: HIV – What Have We Learned From Harm Reduction?

12 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

HIV used to be concentrated among people who inject drugs. Today, sexual transmission of HIV is on the rise and we are looking for new ways to curb th...

Colorectal Cancer and Sirtuins

11 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer among Malaysians, and is diagnosed at a relatively late stage compared to other developed Asian cou...

Health News Digest: Pharmacists Want More Transparency

10 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. Contract pharmacists have received letters to confirm their permanent posts, but have not been told where they wil...

Health News Digest: Corruption in Healthcare

10 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. In conjunction with International Anti-Corruption Day on December 9th, we look at the complex issue of corruption ...

Doctor in the House: Spinal Muscular Atrophy

07 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. In conjunction with International Day o...

Flood Tips – Medicine Preparation

06 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The year-end monsoon is a regular occurrence in Malaysia, bringing with it not just flood but a host of problems such as water-borne diseases and prop...

Are You a Procrastinator or a Perfectionist?

05 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The year-end is a good time to reflect on some traits that may have held you back or presented challenges to you over the course of the year. Consulta...

Road Accidents: The Holiday Killers

04 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

As you prepare for the year-end holidays, you’ll probably be hitting the road for some outstation travel. Unfortunately, the holiday period is a...

And The Healthiest Workplace Is…

03 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

AIA Vitality released the results of its Healthiest Workplace Survey 2018, which looked at the well-being of employees in Malaysia and the efficacy of...

Doctor in the House: Compliance in HIV Treatment

30 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. On the eve of World AIDS Day he is join...

Monkey Malaria Menace

29 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Earlier this month, Science published a feature article titled "Malaysia is ground zero for the next malaria menace." This is the second time in recen...

Be Fit Malaysians #8: Ringside Medicine

28 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Combat sports such as boxing, karate and taekwondo are the only types of sports that require athletes to strike their opponents to win the match. With...

The State of Men’s Health

27 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Men’s health is largely under-recognised in mainstream healthcare. Yet we are finally starting to catch up to the idea that the male population ...

Health News Digest: Water Safety Curriculum

26 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik says any trivialisation of his suggestion over the use of hotel swimming pools...

Health News Digest: Is eSport a Sport?

26 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. In the Budget 2019 announcement, RM10mil was allocated to Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) to develop e...

Universal Children’s Day Special: Raising Children As Individuals

22 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Children are not mini-adults. They are individuals, and their rights and voices should be respected. In conjunction with Universal Children’s Da...

Rectal Bleeding: Is It Cancer?

21 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Blood during a bowel movement could be due to many reasons, ranging from haemorrhoids and polyps to colorectal cancer. Dr Law Chee Wei, Consultant Col...