Health & Living
Episodes
Public Health #19: Mental Health Insurance – Whose Initiative Is It?
12 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Recently, the issue of mental health insurance – or the lack of it in Malaysia – made the headlines again. On our Public Health series, we...
When Heartburn Strikes
11 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
That burning sensation in your chest or a sour taste in the back of your mouth – it’s a familiar feeling for many. But are you in the habi...
Hari Raya 2019 Special - Part 3
04 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On the occasion of the eve of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, we catch up with some of our medical experts on how they celebrate this festival with family and f...
Hari Raya 2019 Special - Part 2
04 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On the occasion of the eve of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, we catch up with some of our medical experts on how they celebrate this festival with family and f...
Hari Raya 2019 Special - Part 1
04 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On the occasion of the eve of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, we catch up with some of our medical experts on how they celebrate this festival with family and f...
A Deficiency in G6PD
03 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
G6PD deficiency is the most common enzyme deficiency in humans, affecting 400 million people worldwide. For many who have this deficiency, it may pres...
Doctor in the House: World No Tobacco Day 2019
31 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. It’s World No Tobacco Day! Most o...
Ask A Doctor #3: Allergies
30 May 2019
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 allergies...
Are Older People Overdosing on Medications and Supplements?
29 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you live with an older person, you will be familiar with the sight of them carrying a whole plastic bag of medications and supplements. As many eld...
Irritable Bowel Syndrome – The Psychological Impact
28 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In conjunction with World Digestive Health Day, which falls on 29th May, we’re looking at a different aspect of gastrointestinal health – ...
Parkinson's Disease
27 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Malaysia is set to be an aging population by 2030, which means that age-related diseases such as Parkinson’s could become more common. But how w...
Childhood Speech-Language Disorders
23 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It’s Better Speech and Hearing Month in May, and we’re looking at some common speech-language disorders among children. Joining us are Dr ...
Disease Labels in Orthopaedics
21 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When you are given a disease label, it’s a diagnosis that stays with you. This label can have long-lasting ramifications on how you are treated ...
Doctor In The House: Communicating and Swallowing Post-Stroke
17 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. A stroke can affect parts of the brain ...
Brain Waves #25: Neurofibromatosis
16 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
May is Neurofibromatosis Awareness Month. Joining neurogeneticist Dr Azlina Ahmad Annuar on her monthly Brain Waves segment is Noraini Manan, who is a...
All Hail Nurses
15 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Nurses are always called the unsung heroes of the medical workforce. In conjunction with International Nurses Day on 12 March, we learn more about how...
Healthy Eating in the Fasting and Festive Season
14 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The fasting month is a good time to reflect on the habits in our lives and think about how to bring balance and moderation to the table. For Malaysian...
Chronic Disease and Medication for Ramadan
13 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
For those living with chronic diseases, medications help with managing the symptoms and effects of the disease. But if you’re fasting during Ram...
Doctor In The House: Redefining Sex In Sports
10 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. Olympic gold medallist Mokgadi Caster S...
9 May: What Has The Ministry Of Health Achieved?
09 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A year after GE14, we look at what the Ministry of Health has achieved under the new Pakatan Harapan government. We will be asking the Deputy Minister...
Public Health #18: Advanced Breast Cancer - I Choose To Survive
08 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Metastatic or advanced breast cancer has always been a frightening prospect, thought to be a death sentence. But with newer and better treatment, wome...
Blood Cancers
06 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Healthy blood cells are important for our body to function normally. But for people who have been diagnosed with blood cancers, the production and fun...
Psychiatry Series: Insurance Coverage for Mental Health?
02 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you have a mental health condition like depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, your treatment will not be covered under your medical insura...
Psychiatry Series: Insurance Coverage for Mental Health?
02 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you have a mental health condition like depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, your treatment will not be covered under your medical insura...
Be Fit Malaysians #11: Training like an Athlete
30 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to be an athlete? What happens inside our body when we undergo an extreme regimen? Dr Harjeet Singh is joined by sports therapist, J...
The 101 On Influenzas
29 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Two weeks ago, a number of students and teachers of Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Ipoh came down with a mysterious bug that turned out to be the H1N1...
Doctor in the House: Our Vehicles Are Causing Childhood Asthma
26 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
About 4 million children worldwide develop asthma each year from inhaling motor vehicle exhaust fumes. We speak to Assoc Prof Dr Jessie Anne de Bruyne...
Down Syndrome: Leave No One Behind (Part 2)
25 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Last month, we looked at Down syndrome from the prenatal period to the early years, where interventions are crucial to address potential health issues...
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...