Health & Living

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 ...

#IAmHadiza

20 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

When a patient dies under a doctor’s care, the doctor has to be held accountable. But what if that doctor was overworked, her department was und...

Health Effects of Lead Exposure

16 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Being exposed to lead in the environment has serious health effects. A study published in the journal Lancet found that lead could be responsible for ...

Doctor in the House: World Delirium Awareness Day

16 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. If you suddenly observe changes like pa...

Colorectal Health #4: Breaking The Silence on Colorectal Cancer

15 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Although colorectal cancer is amongst the top three most common cancers in the country, most Malaysians are diagnosed late because of poor awareness a...

Colorectal Health #3: Gut Health

14 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In Part 3 of 4, dietitian Lau Wai Hong of Sunway Medical Centre explains how proper diet can contribute to a healthy digestive system.   Thi...

Public Health #3: Surviving Cancer

14 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

If you or your loved one has cancer, the biggest hurdle is getting past the shock of the diagnosis. However, one part of the conversation that is ofte...

Colorectal Health #2: Examination

13 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In Part 2 of 4, gastroenterologist and hepatologist Datin Dr Wendy Lim Wan Dee of Sunway Medical Centre walks us through a typical colorectal examinat...

Psychiatry Series: Antidepressants 1: Naysayers 0

13 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

You may have seen some Internet memes about depression, such as the one claiming that nature is the true antidepressant, not a pill. These are very da...

Psychiatry Series: Antidepressants 1: Naysayers 0

13 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

You may have seen some Internet memes about depression, such as the one claiming that nature is the true antidepressant, not a pill. These are very da...

Colorectal Health #1: Anatomy

12 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In Part 1 of 4, colorectal surgeon and general surgeon, Dr Chong Hoong Yin of Sunway Medical Centre introduces the anatomy and functions of the lower ...

Watch That Irregular Heartbeat

12 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Does your heart sometimes skip a beat or race rapidly for no reason? These could be signs of a heart condition called atrial fibrillation (AF). Consul...

One-Off PSA Test Does Not Save Lives

09 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Taking a one-off PSA test will not save your life from prostate cancer, a large UK trial has found. The CAP Trial, funded by Cancer Research UK, follo...

Doctor in the House: Medical Emergencies

09 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. Whether you are a fan or not, you would...

Brain Waves #13: Brain Awareness Week

08 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Brain Awareness Week is typically observed on the third week of March. As part of this global campaign, neurogeneticist Dr Azlina Ahmad Annuar discuss...

International Women’s Day: Women Can

07 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Where do we get the idea that women cannot do certain things? Women juggle more roles compared to men, as they have to work, manage their household, a...

The iPad Syndrome: Are Children’s Hands Getting Weaker?

06 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A recent article in South China Morning Post reported on the phenomenon of poor hand motor and dexterity skills among children who overuse touchscreen...

Angioplasty: From Simple to Complex

05 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In 1977, the first coronary angioplasty was carried out, marking a breakthrough in interventional cardiology. More than 40 years on, what progress hav...

Sipping Fruit Tea Erodes Teeth

02 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

If you enjoy drinking fruit teas and lemon-infused water, here’s some bad news. A study just published in the British Dental Journal found that ...

Doctor in the House: 20th Anniversary of the Blue Pill

02 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. Today is Chap Goh Meh, which is also kn...

Sharing Responsibility for Family Planning

01 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to family planning, women bear a disproportionate amount of the responsibility. There are very few male methods for family planning that...

Diabetes and Heart Disease

28 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know that if you have diabetes, you are more likely to develop coronary heart disease than someone without diabetes? Learn how to control your...

Rare Disease Day 2018

28 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Rare diseases are conditions that affect fewer than 1 in 4,000 people. As there are over 6,000 known rare diseases, you may have encountered someone w...

Living with Tourette’s

27 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Tourette’s is a neurological condition that causes involuntary movements and vocal sounds, called tics. People with Tourette’s are often t...

Health News Digest: What Lurks in the Dark

26 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. On the back of the Larry Nassar scandal, we revisit how to talk to kids about who can touch whom, where and when, ...

Doctor in the House: Cleaning Products Affect Lungs Like Cigarettes

23 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. Your lungs are the pathway through whic...

Be Fit Malaysians #1: Bike Sharing

21 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

With the rise in bike-sharing services and the opening of more bike lanes in Klang Valley, more people can cycle to nearby locations without much hass...

Raising a Child with Cerebral Palsy

20 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

For the longest time, children with cerebral palsy were referred to as “spastic”. While this term has medical origins, it has also taken o...

Health News Digest: Read the Fine Print

19 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. This week, Tee Shiao Eek and Juliet Jacobs join Tina Carmillia to discuss home births and doulas, following the de...

Hikers’ Safety

15 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In 2016, an Australian, who was on a solo hike in the Mulu National Park, went missing and was found six days later, injured and disoriented. Last yea...

Hand & Microsurgery

14 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Common conditions that affect the hand include carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis and tendinitis, which can make simple tasks like buttoning a shirt or...

Public Health #2: Palliative Care – How Can We Do Better?

14 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

As a society, we don’t like to talk about death. As a result, we dismiss palliative care as “only for the dying”. But with the right...

Psychiatry Series: Loneliness

13 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

You may say “I feel lonely” at times, but did you realise that loneliness is more than just a feeling? Research shows that loneliness is a...

Health News Digest: Back to School

12 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. This week, Tee Shiao Eek and Law Yao Hua join Tina Carmillia to speak to consultant psychiatrist Dr Philip George ...

Health and Education

09 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The field of public health recognises education as a social determinant of health and an indicator of well-being. A recent report, by Princeton Univer...

Doctor in the House: Inequalities in Cancer Care

09 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

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

Brain Waves #12: DNA 101

08 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

What are genes? What really is DNA? Genetics is not as straightforward as some people think. Neurogeneticist Dr Azlina Ahmad Annuar brings us back to ...

Transnasal Gastro Endoscopy

07 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

An endoscopy is normally carried out to view inside the body. And many of us have heard of horror stories about undergoing endoscopy: the gag reflex, ...

Atrial Fibrillation

07 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Atrial fibrillation is an abnormal heart rhythm that is very common. It becomes more common in the elderly population. On top of that over 25% patient...

The AI Frontier in Orthopaedics

06 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wondered how sprinting affects your muscles or what those weekend golfing sessions do to your knees? Artificial intelligence has great promise in...

Health News Digest: To Eat or Not?

05 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We bring the latest in health news. This week, Lee Jun Yi and Tina Carmillia hear from Nutritionist Dr Tee E Siong, Consultant Allergist and Immunolog...

More Time to Save Stroke Patients

02 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Recently, a study by Stanford University researchers, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, looked at the effect of a thrombectomy –...

Our Self-Medicating Habit

01 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Paracetamol, antihistamines, cough syrup, sleeping pills – do you often self-medicate with these drugs? Perhaps you even tell yourself that it&r...

Patient Safety

30 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

According to Patients for Patient Safety Malaysia, the country has an efficient healthcare system that reaches 95% of the population within a 5km radi...

Killers in Obstetrics

29 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

It’s the 21st century and women shouldn’t be dying in childbirth. Unfortunately, maternal deaths are still a reality, and the risk is incr...

The Age of Adolescence, Redefined

26 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Adolescence now lasts from the ages of 10 to 24 instead of ending at 19, according to a new paper published by The Lancet. We speak to the lead author...

Doctor in the House: Informed Consent

26 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. This week, Dr Richard Veerapen joins hi...

Me and My Imaginary Friend

25 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Does your child often talk about someone who doesn’t exist? Don’t be alarmed, it’s probably just an imaginary friend. Take a peek in...

Girl’s Health

24 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A girl's first period marks the start of her fertility. But to many girls who have no idea what periods are or that they should expect one, periods ca...

Traditional & Complementary Medicine – Does it Belong in Malaysian Healthcare?

23 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

As Malaysians, most of us have used some form of traditional medicine, whether it is for maintaining health or treating illnesses. But as traditional ...

Intervention after Heart Attack

22 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dr Al Fazir Omar, Consultant Cardiologist of IJN explains when and how primary percutaneous coronary intervention is used for heart attack cases and h...

Developments in Cervical Cancer Awareness

19 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. Since January is Cervical Cancer Awaren...

Stroke in the Young

18 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Stroke is the third largest cause of death in Malaysia, after heart disease and cancer. Every year, about 40,000 Malaysians suffer from stroke, and th...

Patient’s Stories: Breast Cancer Pt 2

17 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Celine Chan and Lalitha Nair share with us their breast cancer journey. In the second part of this two-part miniseries, they share their experience wi...

Let Kids Feel the Pain of Failure

17 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

For any parent with school-going children, the one thing on their mind is: exams. New evidence suggests that letting children focus on the pain of fai...

Menstruation Survival Guide

16 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Period pain, a taboo topic that needs to be talked about. 80 percent of women have experienced menstrual cramps at some stage of their journey between...

Heart Failure

15 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Heart failure is the end stage of most diseases of the heart. Clinical Director of Heart Failure and Heart Transplant at IJN, Consultant Cardiologist ...

Is Penis Whitening Necessary?

12 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Skin whitening is not a new trend in Asia but Thailand has taken it one step further with a controversial penis whitening procedure. Consultant Urolog...

Doctor in the House: Baby Born from Embryo Frozen for 25 Years

12 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. Consultant urologist Dr George Lee and ...

Brain Waves #11: Glial Cells

11 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Glial cells were once dismissed as mere structural support for neurons, but we now know that these group of cells do a lot more than that, thanks to t...

Public Health #1: What will it take to convince the anti-vaxxers?

10 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This is the first of a new monthly series on Public Health with Azrul Mohd Khalib, CEO of Galen Centre for Health & Social Policy. Malaysia’...

Psychiatry Series: Adolescent Suicide

09 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Adolescents today live in a chaotic world. They are overloaded with information, their social interactions are reduced to a screen, and their values c...

Psychiatry Series: Adolescent Suicide

09 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Adolescents today live in a chaotic world. They are overloaded with information, their social interactions are reduced to a screen, and their values c...

IJN Private Clinic

08 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

IJN recently launched its Private Clinic, which aims to deliver faster and more efficient patient care to its private customers. Does this mean that t...

Contraceptives and Breast Cancer Risk

05 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Recently, a large study of 1.8 million Danish women found that hormone contraceptives cause a small but significant increase in the risk for breast ca...

Doctor in the House: Fear of Falling

05 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. In a recently published study, Malaysia...

That’s Not My Arm

04 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

If you have had a stroke, you may develop a condition where you believe that your arm, or other limbs, are not your own. There are many other conditio...

Patient’s Stories: Breast Cancer Pt 1

03 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Celine Chan and Lalitha Nair share with us their breast cancer journey. In the first part of this two-part miniseries, they share their diagnoses and ...

What I Hate...

03 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

There’s always something that we can’t stand in other people: drivers who don’t signal when they change lanes, coworkers who talk re...

Do You Really Need Knee Replacement Surgery?

02 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Knee pain is one of the most common joint complaints. However, it is often wrongly attributed to osteoarthritis, which leads to unnecessary knee repla...

Health & Living Jr 2017 Part 4 of 4: The Sex & Reproductive Health Chat with your Child

29 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This is an edited recording of the panel discussion that was held at the BFM Health & Living Jr 2017 on October 14th. In Part 4 of 4, our panel ad...

Health & Living Jr 2017 Part 3 of 4: Our Children Are Obese

28 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This is an edited recording of the panel discussion that was held at the BFM Health & Living Jr 2017 on October 14th. In Part 3 of 4, our panel ta...

Health & Living Jr 2017 Part 2 of 4: Emotional Well-being of A Child

27 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This is an edited recording of the panel discussion that was held at the BFM Health & Living Jr 2017 on October 14th. In Part 2 of 4, our panel sh...