Health & Living
Episodes
Autism Awareness Month, Part One
28 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
The eighth annual World Autism Awareness Day is April 2nd, 2016 but some countries also observe autism awareness for the whole month. Find out what it...
Training for Warriors
27 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Training for Warriors is a US-based physical strength and mental development programme developed from the strength and conditioning programmes used by...
The Tongue
26 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Your tongue helps with tasting, swallowing, chewing and talking. Many of us have probably been told that the tongue is the strongest muscle in the bod...
Hockey and Safety
25 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
The Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament just ended on April 16th with Australia beating India to lift the title. Malaysia narrowly lost the third ...
Doctor in the House: Asthma, Over-diagnosed and Under-treated?
22 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. Joining him this week are Dr Sundari Am...
Brain Tumour
21 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Tumours of all kinds can be dreadful, but brain tumour in particular sounds terrifying. The thought of the direct effects of the tumour on the delicat...
The Latest in Dental Health
20 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Khoo Suan Phaik discusses the latest research and news in dentistry since her last visit to BFM almost a year ago. See omnystudio.com/listener...
The Rise of the Pseudo Pro Athletes
19 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
They train like pros but actually have full time jobs. They are not amateurs either because they invest time, energy and money into their favour...
Johns Hopkins-Lancet Commission on Global Drug Policy
18 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Recently local actor Tony Eusoff was charged for drug possession in Singapore and faces 10 years of jail time, a fine of over RM 50,000, or both. Also...
Doctor in the House: Sperm Donor With More Than 800 Children
15 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Expect deep insights delivered with generous humour. This week, Fertility Specialist Dato Dr...
Haemophilia, A Rare Disease
14 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Haemophilia has featured prominently in European royalty in the 19th and 20th centuries, sometimes known as 'the royal disease'. World Haemophilia Day...
Sleep Issues: Impact on Couple and Family Relationships
13 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Sleep problems range from and are not limited to insomnia, snoring, and loss of libido. They can affect the quality of life of an individual, the bed ...
Psychiatric Series: Social Anxiety Disorder
12 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Public speaking. Networking events. Social gatherings. We’ve all been there and for many of us, the first few times might have been nerve wracki...
Seeking Claims For Childbirth Death
08 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
More than six years after his wife died while giving birth to their son, a Singaporean man obtained new medical records that suggested her death could...
It’s An Emergency!
07 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Not everyone can handle the sight of a bloodied person or a badly severed limb. But having a first aid kit available can at least give an able bystand...
RM1.3bil in Medical Tourism?
06 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
The Health Ministry is targeting RM1.3 bil in medical tourism spending this year and wants the private sector to achieve it. And to facilitate the dev...
Food Poisoning
04 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Cashier who ate 'kuih' has died; weed killer found in the Batu Gajah food poisoning case. Education Ministry suspends food supplier in glass shard noo...
Doctor in the House: A Cure For Terminal Blood Cancers?
01 Apr 2016
Contributed by Lukas
A therapy that retrains the body's immune system to fight cancer has created much excitement after more than 90% of terminally ill patients went into ...
Massage Therapy
31 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Massage therapy is the hands-on manipulation of the soft tissues of the body – for recreation, relaxation or therapy. Massage Therapist and Phys...
No Pain, No Gain – The Story of Alex Delilkan
30 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
He’s had an illustrious career as an anaesthesiologist. Today, we meet the man behind the surgical mask to learn more about his clinical milesto...
The Medical Model of Managing Addictions
29 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Prof Whelan is in Malaysia for the 8th Malaysian Healthy Ageing Society Conference to speak on ‘The Medical Model of Managing Addictions –...
The Vagina – What’s Normal and What’s Not
28 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
A Missouri jury recently ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay USD72 million to the family of Jacqueline Fox, whose death by ovarian cancer was linked ...
Play, Music and Art Therapy for Paediatric Palliative Care
25 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Ria Thomas, Chair of ANGSANAcare joins Meera and Dr George Lee today. Our guests explore play, music and art as supportive services to complement...
Social Media and Healthcare
24 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
We are all aware of the power of social media in disseminating information, humanising stories and effecting change. But in the healthcare industry, i...
Tackling HIV with The Toughest Footrace On Earth
23 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
The Discovery Channel ranked the Marathon des Sables as the toughest footrace on earth. With less than a month away from the marathon, Jeff Lau is on ...
Rugby and Injuries
22 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
The 2016 Six Nations Championship, which started on 6th February just concluded last week, with England lifting the trophy in this edition. Rugby has ...
Asthmatic Children
21 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Breathing is a natural process. Yet, it doesn't always come easy for some, including young kids. What is it like for them to live with asthma? How can...
Doctor in the House: Smoking Cessation – Cold Turkey vs Gradually
18 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Most smokers who want to quit said they'd rather cut down gradually before quitting. In fact, professionally assisted tobacco cessation programmes usu...
Cysts in the Ovaries
17 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Most ovarian cysts don't cause any symptoms and will go away on their own with time. But when they do, it's time for medical intervention. Find out wh...
Functional Medicine
16 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Identify and address the root causes of chronic illness with an integrated system. Sounds simple enough, but what exactly does it mean? Dr Sumithra Na...
Fit, Pregnant Women
15 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Karen Siah returns with the goods on what's safe and what's not for pregnant women and postpartum mothers keeping fit or getting back in shape. Joinin...
Geriatric Dentistry
14 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
In an ageing society, dental health problems become an increasingly particular issue since they can arise from other medical conditions. Older people ...
Pancreatic Cancer or Four Diseases?
11 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Patrick Swayze, Luciano Pavarotti, Steve Jobs. What do they all have in common? They all lost their lives to the same disease: Pancreas cancer. After...
Undertreatment of Pain in Children and Babies
10 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
When a baby or young child cries, we often dismiss it as 'kids being kids'. But paediatric pain management is a real concern and could greatly reduce ...
Relationship Rejection
09 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve probably all been there before – at the end of a long-term, usually romantic, relationship. Most people are able to eventually ...
Psychiatric Series: Dementia
08 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Have you entered a room and forgot why you went there? Do you sometimes misplace or lose things? Do you think you’re losing your mind? Learn the...
Leprosy
07 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
The World Health Organisation announced in 1994 that leprosy has been eliminated in Malaysia. But that does not mean that the country has no leprosy c...
My Tears Don't Dry On Their Own
04 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Watery eyes, also known as epiphora, is a condition where excessive tears flow from one or both eyes. Dr. Ong sheds some light on this less-discussed ...
Managing Stress in Children
03 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Think stress only affects adults? Think again. Research has shown that stress can alter young people's brains. Find out how kids and teens express str...
Assistance and Therapy Animals
02 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
The scientific study of the human-animal bond is still in its infancy but according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pets can dec...
Getting On Your Nerves
01 Mar 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Nerves are part of the 'wiring' system that carries messages between the brain and the rest of the body. These messages include telling the body to mo...
Sildenafil, A Journey From the Heart to Penis and More
29 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Before 1998, erectile dysfunction was an absolute downer. Treatments were tough and the subject taboo. All that changed in 1998 when the drug sildenaf...
Conceiving Your Dead Daughter's Baby?
26 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
In a first-of-its-kind occurrence, a British mother has launched a legal battle to access her dead daughter's frozen eggs so she can give birth to her...
Through the Big C
25 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
The year-long bout of diarrhoea turned out to be colon cancer. At only 27 years old and with no family history of cancer, the diagnosis came as a surp...
Rare Disease Day 2016
24 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
February 29th marks Rare Disease Day. Fittingly, the date was chosen because February 29 is a rare day. It became annually observed worldwide on the l...
Keeping Fit on a Shoestring Budget
23 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Do you feel a little bit troubled about all that Chinese New Year bingeing? Not sure how to keep up with your exercise routine after cancelling that e...
The Dark Side of Mental Health
22 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Mention ‘Hospital Bahagia’ or ‘Tanjung Rambutan’ and everyone knows what you are referring to. But what really happens behind ...
Doctor in the House: Dr Yahya Awang
19 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
He is known for performing the coronary artery bypass surgery on former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad in 1989. He went on to play an instrum...
Mindfulness For Stress Reduction & Wellness
18 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Mindfulness has long been practised, and is said to have complementary benefits that include stress reduction, relaxation and improved quality of life...
The Gallbladder Story
17 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Is the gallbladder really just a useless organ that might occasionally produce some offending stones? Hepatobiliary Surgeon, Dr Haritharan Thamutaram,...
The Future of Medical Tourism
16 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Sherene Azli, CEO of the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) spoke to us about Frost & Sullivan's Transformational Health 360° Research ...
Social Networks and Health
10 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Social networks is as important as exercise and diet in reducing health risks in each stage of life. Dr Johnben Loy, US Licensed Marriage and Family T...
Wound Management
04 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
When a skin is torn, cut or punctured due to an injury or surgery, wound management is an integral part of its care to promote healing and to restore ...
To Deworm or Not To Deworm?
03 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
A controversial Cochrane review in October 2015 opened a can of worms and sparked debate about the benefits of mass deworming. Although currently reco...
World Cancer Day 2016
02 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
2015 was a challenging year for everyone and that includes those involved in the fight against cancer. Last year we learned that about half of Malaysi...
Dengue Roundtable
01 Feb 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Only a month into 2016 and we have seen more than 10,000 dengue cases that resulted in at least 23 deaths. Is there a new dengue strain? Will the El N...
Doctor in the House: Zika, Chikungunya and Dengue
29 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Dr George Lee returns to discuss the latest medical news. Focusing on Aedes mosquito-borne diseases, he is joined by the Head of Vector-Borne Disease ...
Identity Development in Children
28 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
“Who am I?” “Where do I belong?” These are a couple of questions children may ask as they begin to have a sense of personal id...
70 and Still Running
27 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Elite senior marathoners may be giving their younger counterparts a run for their money. A new study published in American Journal of Physiology exami...
Conversion Disorder – Mind versus Body?
26 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Last year, a British Paralympian hopeful who had been in a wheelchair for four years was told that she could no longer compete because her disability ...
The Cost of Medicine under the Trans-Pacific Partnership
22 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
A controversial negotiation has come this far. Since we last checked in with Policy Manager at the Malaysian AIDS Council, Fifa Rahman, on the TPP, a ...
Transforming Primary Care Services
21 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Healthcare is one of the most basic services that must be afforded to everyone. In fact, the right to health is specified as one our basic human right...
Obese Cops and Obesity Management
20 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
On January 8th, the police force launched the Trim N Fit programme for cops with a BMI above 25. Bukit Aman's Director of Management (Communications),...
Cancer – New Research, Better Outcome
18 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Precision medicine is touted to be the future of healthcare, including in cancer treatments. Producing a personalised treatment for every cancer patie...
Snoring
15 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Is snoring a sign of a good night's sleep or is there something more to it? Consultant ENT Specialist, Dr Lim Wye Keat shares his views.See omnystudio...
The Next Generation of Vision Correction Technology
14 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
By the time we leave school, up to 90% of Asians need to wear glasses. But are contact lens and spectacles a constant hassle to you? For years, correc...
Inauthentic Behaviour
13 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever forced a smile or outwardly agreed with a point while inwardly disagreeing? If yes, then you’ve had to engage in inauthentic behav...
Borderline Personality Disorder
12 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
As part of our Psychiatry Series, we will be discussing the very serious mental illness that is Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). People sufferin...
Living With Pain, Not In Pain
11 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
A girl who chronically skipped school and a man who rejected travel or heavy work. Both complained of unbearable pain. Pain that nobody could see and ...
Doctor in the House: Cervical Cancer
08 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, and we start off this year’s Doctor in the House series with discussion on this devastating disease....
Eradicating Malaria Everywhere
07 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
At the forefront of a promising first in malaria vaccine research is Malaysian-born and US-based Dr Betty Sim Kim Lee. We talk to her today about the ...
Virotherapy - Curing Cancer with Viruses
06 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
In July, we discussed news of a modified virus with the potential for curing cancer, and the mechanics of using virus vectors in this sort of treatmen...
Scavenging for Body Parts
05 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Traumatic injuries can happen at any time, and in some instances body parts need to be reconstructed with tissue from other sources. Spare-part surger...
Rheumatoid Arthritis
04 Jan 2016
Contributed by Lukas
Simply put, rheumatoid arthritis is a lifelong autoimmune disease that causes joint inflammation, but the reality is much more complicated than that. ...
Year-End Round-Up Part 5: Cost of Medicine
31 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
On the last part of our year-end round-up series, we feature all stories about the rising cost of healthcare, GST and TPPA amid the economic turmoil t...
Year-End Round-Up Part 4: Vaping
30 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
It may not be too excessive to say that 2015 is the year of vaping. With so many questions clouding the hottest issue in the country this year, we spo...
Year-End Round-Up Part 3: Vaccination
29 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
In Part 2 of our year-end round-up, we learned that multi-drug resistant periodically populated the news. This episode we uncover your only shot at su...
Year-End Round-Up Part 2: Antibiotics
28 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
With input from Dr Sasheela Ponnampalavanar (Associate Professor of Medicine), Dr Latiffah Hassan (Associate Professor of Veterinary Public Health), D...
Year-End Round-Up Part 1: Health Headlines 2015
23 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
We are looking back to 2015 to follow up on health news that made the headlines. We kick off the line-up with the major outbreaks that plagued our nat...
Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine Review
22 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
We take a look at some of the most interesting stories that Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr Harjeet Singh shared with us this year.See omnystudio.co...
Caring For The Heart
21 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Heart Disease still remains the Number 1 killer in both government and private hospitals in Malaysia. Find out the evolution of heart treatments and p...
Doctor In The House - Look Back at 2015
18 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
2015 is coming to an end, and in his last show for the year, Dr. George Lee looks back on the biggest health stories that were covered on his weekly s...
Osteoarthritis and Rehabilitation Process
17 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
The cartilage is a natural cushion inside your joints. But what happens if they slowly breakdown? About 10% of Malaysians above 60 years old and a sma...
Food Allergies: Are We Overreacting?
16 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
The number of people with food allergies is relatively small, but some of these conditions can be life-threatening. We are becoming more aware of food...
Bigorexia
15 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Eating disorders and body image issues are often associated with women but men too are affected by it. Bigorexia is sometimes thought of as reverse an...
Edward Jenner and the Eradication of Smallpox Documentary
14 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Smallpox is a horrible disease, but we have eradicated it. Many ridiculed the endeavour, but eradication was heralded almost two centuries ago by Edwa...
Doctor in the House: AIDS Development
11 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
It was World AIDS Day on December 1st. Find out why this day is important and how much does the public really know about HIV/AIDS as we speak to Dr Ra...
Children and Technology
10 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
With Christmas and exam result seasons around the corner, this is the time people are rewarding the kids with gifts. Gadgets are popular gift options,...
Staying With Your Parents
09 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
More young adults are living with their parents now. Delaying adulthood, being thrifty or valuing family togetherness - could these be some of the rea...
Psychiatry Series: Pathological Gambling
08 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Pathological gamblers could have predisposition to developing a gambling problem due to genetics or family history. What are the odds of developing su...
Psychiatry Series: Pathological Gambling
08 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Pathological gamblers could have predisposition to developing a gambling problem due to genetics or family history. What are the odds of developing su...
Doctor in the House: Doctors On Strike
04 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
The Department of Health in the UK is attempting to push through a new contract for junior doctors that would force them to work longer hours without ...
Complications During Childbirth
03 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Modern technology has helped improve the quality of childbirth and the care of the newborn child. However, we find out from Obstetrician and Gynaecolo...
Achilles tendon disorders
01 Dec 2015
Contributed by Lukas
With about 25 percent of Achilles tendon ruptures missed during initial examination, they are not just common but they are also often misdiagnosed. Co...
Vaccine Design (Documentary)
30 Nov 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Vaccines are proof that prevention is better than cure. Every year, vaccines save 6 million lives from diseases like tetanus, whooping cough, measles,...
Y Chromosome linked to Cancer Death Risk
27 Nov 2015
Contributed by Lukas
A study from a Swedish team found a correlation between loss of the Y chromosome and early death, in addition to an increased risk of cancer. Could th...
Living in a Wheelchair
26 Nov 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Malaysia is not a model of inclusiveness when it comes to issues related to persons with disabilities; attitudinal and environmental barriers are stil...
Contact and Collision Injuries
25 Nov 2015
Contributed by Lukas
There are many ways sports and physical injuries can happen – including overuse and poor technique – but perhaps none is more graphic that...
Revisiting Rhinosinusitis
24 Nov 2015
Contributed by Lukas
If you are not afflicted with it yourself, you know at least someone who does. Rhinosinusitis is not just bothersome, it can also result in severe com...
Pneumonia Vaccination
23 Nov 2015
Contributed by Lukas
The World Health Organisation estimates that one in three newborn infant deaths is due to pneumonia. Vaccination can prevent most of these pneumonia-r...