Health & Living

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease: What’s Causing the Outbreak?

25 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In recent weeks, hand, foot and mouth disease cases have risen sharply nationwide, exceeding warning levels in almost all states. Over 35,000 cases of...

Brain Waves #16: The Dishonest Brain

25 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Why do people lie? And what makes a good liar? A recent study says that there may be a biological reason to that. The paper, published in Nature Neuro...

How Deadly are Head and Neck Cancers?

24 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Nosebleeds, chronic pain in the neck or throat, unusual bleeding in the mouth – these are some of the many symptoms of head and neck cancers. Ho...

Health & Living Live 2018 Part 4 of 5: Growing Old is a Gift

23 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Living longer does not always equate to better quality of life. Malaysia will be an ageing nation by 2035, and psychological and physical barriers may...

Doctor in the House: Beyond the Penis and Prostate

20 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. The only time we talk about men’s...

Neuro Rehab #4: Today’s Technology for Neuro Rehab

19 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In Part 4 of 4, Dr Foong Chee Choong and Yapp Nyim Tze of Sunway Medical Centre discuss how technology has improved rehabilitation for stroke and neur...

Neuro Rehab #3: Rehab Evolution

18 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In Part 3 of 4, Dr Foong Chee Choong and Yapp Nyim Tze of Sunway Medical Centre share how rehab for stroke and neuro patients has evolved over the yea...

Doctors to the Rescue

18 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The whole world has been watching the rescue of the 12 Thai boys and their coach, who had been trapped in the Tham Luang cave network in northern Thai...

Neuro Rehab #2: Rehab Medicine

17 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In Part 2 of 4, Dr Foong Chee Choong and Yapp Nyim Tze of Sunway Medical Centre explain rehab medicine for stroke and neuro patients.See omnystudio.co...

Damaged Nerves – A Forgotten Diabetic Complication

17 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A painful nerve damage can be caused by chronically high blood sugar and diabetes. Diabetic neuropathy actually accounts for hospitalisation more freq...

Neuro Rehab #1: Stroke and Neurological Disorders

16 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In Part 1 of 4, Dr Foong Chee Choong and Yapp Nyim Tze of Sunway Medical Centre introduce stroke and other neurological disorders that they encounter ...

Public Health #7: Mental Health

11 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Mental health is inseparable from overall health and quality of life. However, the statistics on mental health problems are alarming: the World Health...

Sniffly and Sneezy

10 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

When you have a stuffy or runny nose, it affects your entire well-being. Sinus problems and nasal allergies are among the most common conditions that ...

Health & Living Live 2018 Part 2 of 5: Quality End-of-Life Cancer Care

09 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Four out of 10 Malaysians will require end-of-life care, and it’s estimated that 40 per cent of that figure will be made up of patients sufferin...

Trapped in the Caves

05 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

On Monday, 2nd July, international rescue divers found the Thai football team that had been trapped in the Tham Luang cave network since 23rd June. Th...

Psychiatry Series: The Caregiver’s Journey

05 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

If you are providing care or support for someone with a mental health condition, you are probably struggling with a lot of challenges yourself. It can...

Psychiatry Series: The Caregiver’s Journey

05 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

If you are providing care or support for someone with a mental health condition, you are probably struggling with a lot of challenges yourself. It can...

Gender and Sex: Are They The Same?

04 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Gender, sex, sexuality and intimacy – these words seem to mean the same thing, but actually define very different aspects of our gender and sexu...

Najib: Trial by Social Media

04 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Former Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Razak was arrested by the MACC yesterday. As we follow the ongoing news, we’re also looking at how s...

Posture: The Root of all Problems

03 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We all have jobs that take a toll on our posture – whether it’s sitting hunched over a computer or on our feet all day. Consultant orthopa...

Health & Living Live 2018 Part 1 of 5: The Cost of Low-Cost Healthcare

02 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Malaysian healthcare system has a public sector that is heavily subsidised, alongside a user-charged private sector. New drugs and new methods in ...

Appointment of Deputy Health Minister

29 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad has confirmed that Dr Lee Boon Chye (PKR-Gopeng) has agreed to take up the post of Deputy Health Minister. We speak...

Are Our Food Handlers Spreading Diseases?

29 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Earlier this month, the Human Resource Ministry announced its plans to ban foreign cooks in food establishments by January 2019. In one reaction, a na...

Rotten, Rude Children

28 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Is modern life, including our incessant use of technology, raising a generation of rude children? Consultant developmental paediatrician Dr Rajini Sar...

Support. Don’t Punish.

27 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The war on drugs has failed us. We need drug policies that prioritise health and human rights, instead of criminalising drug users. In conjunction wit...

Autoimmune Diseases

26 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Your immune system is supposed to protect your body from disease-causing organisms. However, when something goes wrong, your immune system can turn on...

Health News Digest: Gaming Addiction a Disease?

25 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. For the first time, WHO has included gaming addiction as a disease in its latest International Classification of D...

Health News Digest: Children in Cages

25 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. At least 2,000 children have been separated from their parents under US President Donald Trump’s “zero...

Health News Digest: Post-Partum Problems

25 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. Sinar Harian reported that mother in Maran, Pahang, slashed the throat of her two-year-old son, allegedly while ha...

Doctor in the House: (Belated) World Blood Donor Day

22 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. In conjunction with World Blood Donor D...

Treatment For All: Addressing the Cancer Equity Gap

21 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We have come to accept cancer as part of our daily vocabulary. But we shouldn’t be complacent about the fact that cancer kills 4.3 million peopl...

Cardiovascular Wellness of Athletes

20 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Athletes are often perceived as fit, healthy and well. But is that really true? What underlying medical conditions could harm the careers of athletes,...

Healthcare Under Siege

19 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In March, between 15,000 and 30,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip took part in the Great March of Return, a protest against the blockade of the Gaza ...

Health News Digest: Cracker test

18 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. Eating a cracker can tell you how well your body digests carbs, according to BBC.See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

Health News Digest: The Rice Dilemma

18 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. Can rice and other similar carbs make children hyperactive? We investigate the effects of sugar on the behavior or...

Brain Waves #15: Super-Ager

14 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

All humans experience some cognitive decline as they age but how is it that some people in their 80s and beyond still have memory capacity of those 30...

Public Health #6: KPIs for the Health Minister

13 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The new Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad assumed office three weeks ago and he already has his plate full. In the sixth episode of our Public Health...

Have You Thought About Killing Yourself?

12 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The deaths of celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain and handbag designer Kate Spade have resurfaced the difficult topic of suicide. One of the questions we ...

Health News Digest: Judged by Doctors

11 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. A woman’s lung cancer was missed because doctors kept telling her to lose weight. We look at discriminatory ...

Health News Digest: Psychology’s Replication Crisis

11 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. Researchers in the field of psychology have discovered that their findings can’t be replicated. We ask: is i...

Health News Digest: How Crowdfunding Works

11 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. Tabung Harapan collected RM31.4mil within five days of being launched. What is the psychology behind the act of gi...

Doctor in the House: Personalising Breast Cancer Treatment

08 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. Recent news that about 70% of women wit...

Psychiatry Series: Is Burnout a Form of Depression?

07 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

If you feel completely exhausted, hopeless and lonely at work, you may be experiencing burnout. Consultant psychiatrist Dr Rabin Gonzaga addresses thi...

Psychiatry Series: Is Burnout a Form of Depression?

07 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

If you feel completely exhausted, hopeless and lonely at work, you may be experiencing burnout. Consultant psychiatrist Dr Rabin Gonzaga addresses thi...

Questioning The Dogma of Evidence

05 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

When you are ill, what do you want your medical advice to be based on: scientific evidence or someone’s personal belief? Current scientific dogm...

Health News Digest: How the Deaf Enjoy Concerts

04 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. This week, the theme is ‘Against The Odds’. Deaf or hearing-impaired people can also enjoy live music,...

Health News Digest: Can We Beat Ebola?

04 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. This week, the theme is ‘Against The Odds’. The deadly Ebola epidemic is back, but this time a new exp...

Health News Digest: Double-Leg-Amputee Climbs Mt Everest

04 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. This week, the theme is ‘Against The Odds’. We speak to the Malaysian paraplegic athlete who climbed t...

Doctor in the House: Tobacco Breaks Hearts

01 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. In conjunction with World No Tobacco Da...

Cancer Care: It Takes a Community

31 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Is cancer merely a disease to be managed by a doctor? Or does cancer care involve the patient’s community, from family members to service provid...

Is Your Child’s Stomach Ache Caused by Stress?

30 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Does your child constantly complain of a stomach ache because he/she doesn’t want to go to school? Consultant paediatric gastroenterologist Prof...

Nipah Virus

28 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Twenty years ago, a mysterious disease caused young, healthy farm workers in Malaysia to fall seriously ill. A team of medical experts from Universiti...

Doctor in the House: Healthcare and Research in the New Government

25 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. Prof Dato' Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, Dean...

Pneumococcal Vaccine: Will the New Government Keep Its Promise?

23 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto for GE14 promised to provide compulsory pneumococcal vaccination to all children below two years old under the Natio...

Social Media-Free Parenting

22 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

How many times have you seen families in restaurants, where the parents and children are all glued to their mobile phones? Are we so addicted to socia...

Health News Digest: Is Indelible Ink Inedible?

21 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. After the roller-coaster ride otherwise known as the 14th General Election, we look at the chemical composition of...

Health News Digest: Post-Election Fever

21 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. After the roller-coaster ride otherwise known as the 14th General Election, we discuss how old is “too old&r...

Health News Digest: Welcome, Minister

21 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. After the roller-coaster ride otherwise known as the 14th General Election, we welcome the newest Minister of Heal...

Doctor in the House: Impotent But Not Incompetent

18 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. Dr George is joined by consultant obste...

Lung Health #4: Lung Cancer and Smoking Cessation – It’s Never Too Late

17 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In Part 4 of 4, clinical oncologist Dr Christina Lai joins cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Anand Sachithanandan and occupational health specialist Dr Anza E...

Monitoring Your Child’s Growth

16 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

How do you monitor your child’s growth? Do you regularly bring your child to the clinic to be measured, or just make some markings on the wall e...

Lung Health #3: Nipping It In The Bud

16 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In Part 3 of 4, occupational health specialist Dr Anza Elias of Sunway Medical Centre introduces us to smoking cessation.This show is part 4 of a seri...

Lung Health #2: The Smoke Signals

15 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In Part 2 of 4, cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Anand Sachithanandan of Sunway Medical Centre elaborates on the early signs of lung cancer. This show is par...

Lung Health #1: The Smoker’s Lungs

14 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In Part 1 of 4, cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Anand Sachithanandan of Sunway Medical Centre explains how smoking affects the lungs. This show is part 4 of...

Brain Waves #14: Jumping Genes

14 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Nature versus nurture: The perennial debate on whether the genes or the environment matter more in a person’s characteristics. But a new study b...

Mental Health and Authority

08 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Should people with mental health conditions hold positions of authority, such as public office or leadership posts? Does depression, anxiety, bipolar ...

Health News Digest: Boy Undergoes Five-Organ Transplant

07 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. With the theme ‘Transplant Tales’, we discuss recent news reports about the first child in the UK to u...

Health News Digest: Frenchman Gets ‘Third Face’ in New Transplant

07 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. With the theme ‘Transplant Tales’, we discuss recent news reports about a Frenchman with neurofibromat...

Health News Digest: Keeping Livers ‘Alive’ Increases the Chances of Success

07 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. With the theme ‘Transplant Tales’, we discuss recent news reports about how keeping livers ‘warm...

Doctor in the House: Access to Hepatitis C Treatment

04 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. Jean-Michel Piedagnel, Head of South-Ea...

Health News Digest: Medical Marijuana Not For Sleep Apnoea

30 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. This week's theme is 'Nocturnes' and we’re dissecting the position statement by the American Academy of Slee...

Health News Digest: Billion-Dollar Sleep Industry

30 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. This week's theme is 'Nocturnes' and we speak to Matt Armitage for an insight into the billion-dollar business of ...

Health News Digest: Night Owls Die Early

30 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. This week's theme is 'Nocturnes' and we’re looking at a study showing that night owls (late sleepers) die ea...

Autism: The Teenage Years

26 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Children with autism spectrum disorder grow up to become adults like any other children. Along the way, they face challenges that the adolescent years...

World Malaria Day: Ready to Beat Malaria

25 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

You may think of malaria as a disease from our colonial past, but it is still well in our midst today. In 2016, there were 216 million cases of malari...

Be Fit Malaysians #3: Tennis Elbow

24 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Roger Federer is 36 years old and still dominates the world rankings in tennis, but he’s an anomaly in the tennis world. Novak Djokovic, Andy Mu...

Health News Digest: Flesh Eating Ulcers in Victoria

23 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. This week's theme is 'The Bugs in Our Bodies' and we find out why flesh-eating ulcers are terrorising Victoria. We...

Health News Digest: Monkey Malaria Found in Humans

23 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. This week's theme is 'The Bugs in Our Bodies' and Law Yao Hua expands on his recent report published in Nature abo...

Health News Digest: Ear Infections Cause Brain Abscess and Paralysis

23 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. This week's theme is 'The Bugs in Our Bodies' and we wonder whether ear infections are an occupational hazard that...

Gut Microbiome

20 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Consultant gastroenterologist Dato’ Dr Mahendra Raj takes us into the microscopic world of our gut microbiota and introduces us to the complex c...

Don’t Be Blinded by Dubious Treatments

19 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Would you risk your vision for something that is touted as cheap and attractive? Many eye treatments and procedures promise quick and painless cures, ...

Diabetes: Are We Failing?

18 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Almost one in five Malaysian adults suffers from diabetes. You could be one of them. There is clearly an urgent need for diabetes to be part of the na...

World Haemophilia Day 2018

17 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Today is World Haemophilia Day and to help us understand this disease and other inherited bleeding disorders is haematologist Dr Jameela Sathar. ...

Health News Digest: The Human Body

16 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. This week, health producers Tee Shiao Eek and Tina Carmillia introduce us to the new organs in our human body: The...

Public Health #4: How Will Malaysia Cope With its Ageing Population?

11 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

As Malaysians live longer, we are faced with unprecedented social welfare and health challenges. However, while the elderly population has immense med...

Psychiatry Series: Bipolar Disorder Among the Elderly

10 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

When your elderly relatives suddenly start behaving strangely, you may suspect dementia. However, bipolar disorder in the elderly can also cause sympt...

Health News Digest: Universal Healthcare

09 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. This week, health producers, Tee Shiao Eeek and Tina Carmillia give a summary of  BFM Health & Living LIV...

Doctor in the House: World Health Day 2018 – Universal Health Coverage

06 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. ‘Everyone, Everywhere’ &nda...

Can We Eliminate Cervical Cancer?

05 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Every two minutes, a woman dies of cervical cancer. In light of this alarming statistic, we welcome the news that cervical cancer can be eliminated wi...

Brain Injuries in Children

04 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Traumatic brain injuries in children is a leading cause of death and disability. With better imaging modalities and neuropsychological assessments, we...

The Orthopaedic Genome

03 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Osteoarthritis is the most common musculoskeletal problem worldwide, causing a great deal of pain and disability for those who live with the condition...

Health News Digest: The Future of Medicine

02 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. After a short hiatus, we're back, this time to discuss the future of medicine. We scanned a few scientific journal...

How Non-Antibiotic Drugs Affect Gut Bacteria

30 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We know about the effect of antibiotics on gut bacteria, where there is an alarming trend of pathogenic bacteria developing resistance to many commonl...

Doctor in the House: Obesity is the New Trend in Cancers

30 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. It’s bad enough that the unpreced...

Managing Cancer Pain

28 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

If you have relatives or friends with late-stage or metastatic cancer, you will be familiar with the pain that they suffer from – physical pain ...

World TB Day 2018

27 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

World Tuberculosis (TB) Day is observed on March 24 of each year to raise awareness that TB is the top infectious disease killer in the world. Even mo...

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

26 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

When you undergo heart bypass surgery, you put your life in the hands of highly qualified and trained specialists like consultant cardiothoracic surge...

Doctor in the House: Motor Neuron Disease

23 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The recent death of Professor Stephen Hawking due to motor neuron disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), has cast a limelight on the rare di...

Tantrums: From Toddler to Teen

22 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

If your child is a toddler, the word ‘tantrum’ probably sends shivers down your spine. But what do you do if your child is already a teena...

Be Fit Malaysians #2: Pilates and Pregnancy

21 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A pregnant woman is often given great care and protection. She is often told she can’t do this, that or the other. But what can she actually do ...