Health & Living
Episodes
Could Embedded Insurance Improve Health Coverage?
02 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
According to the 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey, only 22% of Malaysians have personal health insurance, with 43% saying that they cannot af...
Mind Matters: When Children Are Depressed, What Can We Do?
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
1 in 8 adolescents in Malaysia have had suicidal thoughts while 1 in 10 adolescents have attempted suicide. Those are some of the concerning statistic...
Desperation for Cord Blood Bank Customers?
31 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Following news several months ago about cord blood banking company Cellsafe International seeking liquidation, we speak to Assoc Prof Chua Kien Hui, C...
NCD Chronicles #13: A Diagnosis of Advanced Breast Cancer is Not The End
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How would you react if you were diagnosed with breast cancer? For Grace Tam, a visit to the doctor for neck pain saw her coming out with a diagnosis o...
Living and Dying Well: When The Community Comes Together
27 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In conjunction with World Hospice & Palliative Care Day on 14 October, Health & Living has been featuring various perspectives of living and d...
Parents Struggle With Mental Health Problems Too
26 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In conjunction with World Mental Health Day in October, we’re looking at the mental health struggles that parents and children are facing, especiall...
Occupational Therapy in Mental Health Conditions
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In conjunction with World Mental Health Day in October, we look at the role that occupational therapy plays in the treatment and support of people wit...
Because Feelings Matter #24: Being In The Present, When The World Is Crumbling Around You
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Depression and psychosis turned Amornthep Sachamuneewongse from an outgoing extrovert, into a reclusive person who no longer found joy in his life. On...
Straightening Out Scoliosis: Busting Myths and Embracing Facts
23 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The spine has a normal curve, which helps to distribute your weight evenly and allows your body to withstand all kinds of stresses due to daily moveme...
Caring For Breast Cancer Patients Begins With Knowing Their Needs
20 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What do women with breast cancer really want, after they have been diagnosed? Is a long survival time most important to them, or is it good quality of...
Healthy Ageing: How Technology Can Help Older Adults At Home
19 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For many older adults, ageing in place at home is the ideal as it provides a sense of familiarity and helps them to maintain their independence for as...
Pitchside Medicine for Rugby
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The 2023 Rugby World Cup is in full swing across France with quarter-final matches having happened over the weekend. We check in with Asst Prof Dr Waz...
Budget 2024: Allocations for Health
17 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On the Health & Living segment, we look at the allocations in Budget 2024 for health, and what tone the budget is setting for the health reform ag...
Mind Matters: Trauma Comes From Childhood and Traverses Generations
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When we think about the causes of violence, abuse, and dysfunctional behaviour, we have to look deeper at the trauma that might have occurred generati...
Public Health: Putting Pustular Psoriasis In The Spotlight
12 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Awareness of psoriasis as a debilitating and chronic autoimmune disease, rather than just a skin disorder, has been slow in building up. People with p...
The Heart of Medicine: Empathy in Healthcare
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Heart of Medicine, we sit down with consultant cardiologist Dr Kannan Pasamanickam, to discuss the role of empathy in healthcar...
Humans of Healthcare: The Psychiatrist
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do psychiatrists equip themselves with the skills and training to help people cope with the increase in mental health problems and diagnoses? In c...
How Nicotine Replacement Therapy Helps Smokers Quit
09 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nicotine replacement therapy in the form of gums was first approved for use in smoking cessation in 1984, in the United States. Fast forward almost 40...
Doctor in the House: Is Ultra Processed Food Ultra Bad For You?
06 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr George Lee, Consultant Urologist; Assoc Prof Dr Wong Jyh Eiin, Head of Nutrition Science Programme, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsa...
From Mastectomies to Breast Reconstruction
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For some women with breast cancer, a mastectomy is a lifesaving procedure. Yet, it can also have a big impact on the woman’s self-esteem and body im...
Be Fit Malaysians: Building Strength = Building Muscle?
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When we think of a strong person, many of us automatically think of someone who’s visibly muscular. But is that what strength really means? Why does...
Budget 2024: A Wishlist For Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to women's sexual and reproductive health issues, there are pressing needs that have not received enough resources or attention. Funding...
Ask A Psychologist: Laughter And Humour
02 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Consultant clinical psychologist Paul Jambunathan joins us to shed light on the question of what makes us laugh, and what are the effects of laughter ...
Doctor in the House: Malaysia’s Blueprint for The Aged Population
29 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Malaysia’s Midterm Review of the 12th Malaysia Plan has a specific focus on improving the wellbeing of the aged population as one of the key strateg...
Occupational Therapy’s Role in Returning To Work
27 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
An injury or health condition that causes temporary or permanent disability can have a significant impact on a person’s ability to work. However, th...
Because Feelings Matter #23: Caring From Inside Out
26 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Throughout her childhood, university studies and early working years, Teng Yan seemed to live the perfect life. From high-performing student to model ...
NCD Chronicles #12: “I Prefer Not To Die Suddenly” (Blocked Arteries, And A Close Call)
25 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Trim, fit and active, Farid Emran does not look like your average heart patient. And yet, at the age of 49, he discovered that he had five blockages i...
12MP Mid-Term Review: What Healthcare Access For the B40 Looks Like
22 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Over the past week, the government has tabled, debated, and passed the 12th Malaysia Plan Mid-Term Review in a special parliament sitting. With two mo...
Healthy Ageing: Screening for Frailty in the Community
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As our population continues to become an ageing population, frailty among older adults is emerging as a serious public health problem. Frailty leads t...
Brain Waves: The Gut-Brain Axis
20 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that there is a two-way connection between your gut and your brain? A troubled gut can send signals to the brain, just as a troubled brai...
Ask A Doctor: The Haze And Respiratory Health
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this month’s episode of Ask A Doctor, we speak to consultant respiratory physician Dr Azza Omar on all things related to your respiratory health ...
Public Health: How Will Malaysia’s Vape Trends Lead To Nicotine Addiction Among Youths?
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Malaysian Vape Chamber of Commerce released their study recently on the country's vape industry trends, showing that the number of adult vape or e...
Doctor in the House: 101 on Braces and Aligners
15 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There are 16 billion views for the hashtag #braces on TikTok, signalling the Internet’s massive interest in getting that perfect smile. However, bra...
Humans of Healthcare: The Palliative Care Physician
14 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Leading up to World Hospice & Palliative Care Day on 14 October, we are featuring various perspectives of living and dying well, challenging the n...
Mind Matters: Accepting A Cancer Diagnosis Is The Hardest Part
13 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Finding out you have a serious or life-threatening illness can turn your life upside-down. Coming to terms with the diagnosis and learning what it tak...
Malaysia Day 2023: Serving On The Flying Doctor Service
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Loh Yunn Hua is a physician who is currently based in Miri and has spent much of her career serving the people across Sarawak. She spent the early ...
Malaysia in 100 Years: What Will Healthcare Look Like?
11 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Artificial intelligence can have vast benefits in healthcare, including enabling remote analysis and diagnosis, processing complex information for rap...
Doctor in the House: How You Can Support Suicide Prevention
08 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Attempted suicide has been decriminalised in Malaysia but the work does not end there. In conjunction with World Suicide Prevention Day (10 September)...
Workplace Aches And Pains
07 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We spend at least a third of our day at the workplace, and this means that the way we sit, stand and move at work is a major contributor to our overal...
Working For Patient Safety
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When there is an error in medical judgement or a flaw in the healthcare system, someone gets harmed. And this is no trivial matter, because what happe...
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: Uncovering Sports Concussions Among Athletes
05 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When Australian Rules footballer Heather Anderson died by suicide last year (in 2022), her family donated her brain to the Australian Sports Brain Ban...
From Fitbits to COVID: 15 Years of Health
04 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
BFM turns 15 on the 4th of September 2023, and to commemorate, we’re bringing you a special episode of Health & Living where we look back on the...
The Pressure Is On: Let’s Talk About Vascular Health
01 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We’re familiar with non-communicable diseases like heart disease, cancer and diabetes, but how much do we know about vascular diseases? As this Sept...
Merdeka Day 2023: 45 Years in Cardiology
30 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In conjunction with Merdeka Day, we speak to Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin bin Abdul Hamid, one of the country’s pioneering cardiologists who has witnessed...
Is Dyslexia Underrecognized in Chinese Schools?
29 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We typically think of dyslexia in relation to alphabetic languages, such as English and Bahasa Melayu. However, dyslexia also exists among speakers of...
Keyhole Surgery for Kidney Cancer
28 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our kidneys are vital organs that help to filter waste from our blood while maintaining the right balance of fluids in our body. But that function cou...
Doctor in the House: Waste Not, Want Not - Japan Releases Fukushima Wastewater
25 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In 2011, a major earthquake off the coast of Japan triggered a tsunami which flooded the reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, causin...
NCD Chronicles #11: Finding Hope in Motor Neuron Disease
24 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The world’s most famous face of motor neuron disease - also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - is Prof Stephen Hawking. The world-famous astro...
Occupational Therapy for Hand Injuries
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our hands are so central to our daily functions and activities that we can’t imagine life if we lose the use of these limbs. Is it possible to regai...
Because Feelings Matter #22: The Many Colours of Grief
22 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Grief affects us all. We go through bereavement for many types of losses in our lives. But we’re often told that grief - and the emotions that come ...
Kidneys Under Pressure #1: Battling The Burden of Chronic Kidney Disease
21 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Almost 50,000 people in Malaysia live with end-stage renal disease, which means they are in and out of a healthcare facility almost every day, undergo...
Doctor in the House: Why Have ACL Injuries Kept Female Footballers Out Of The World Cup?
18 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup has been making headlines - with record attendances and viewership, teams overturning predictions, and most importan...
Healthy Ageing: Is Also About Active Ageing
17 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
At a time where people are living longer, most of us want to lead healthier lives as well. Part of that means making physical activity part and parcel...
Ask A Doctor: Neck Pain
16 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In our monthly open clinic segment, we are highlighting the ubiquitous problem of neck pain. A multidisciplinary panel consisting of neurosurgeon Prof...
Mind Matters: What To Ask Your Kid Instead Of ‘How Was School?’
15 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There’s never been a more complex time to be a parent. While parents have more resources than ever at their disposal, they are also plagued by great...
Preserving Fertility Among Cancer Patients
14 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When someone receives a diagnosis of cancer, the question of having children may not be top of mind, even if they are of reproductive age. However, as...
Doctor in the House: What Happens When Cosmetic Surgery Goes Wrong
11 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It was recently reported that a 29-year-old woman had died following a breast enhancement surgery that had gone wrong. What was especially worrying wa...
Public Health: Stroke Recovery Is Harder For Women
10 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Stroke is the 4th leading cause of death among women in Malaysia, even higher than breast cancer. On today’s Public Health, we continue the discussi...
The Heart of Medicine: Can Technology Replace Touch?
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Technology is synonymous with medicine. The use of knives and saws made from flint in surgery and amputation is probably one of the earliest examples ...
Humans of Healthcare: The Intensivist
08 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Doctors working in the intensive care unit manage the most critically ill patients in a hospital, with a team often led by an intensive care specialis...
Relocation of Medical Officers Must Be Data Driven
07 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The recent relocation exercise at the end of July, which involved contract doctors being given permanent positions, has been generating headlines beca...
Doctor in the House: Life Expectancy vs Age - Which One Matters More?
04 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Age is not just a number when it comes to health choices. Your age is one of the main factors that determines the types of health screenings that you ...
What Do Intragastric Balloons Offer In Obesity Management?
03 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For people who are obese, managing their weight can be extremely challenging, especially when they’ve tried to incorporate lifestyle changes but are...
A Jab To Solve Obesity?
02 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Semaglutide has been making headlines recently as the answer to obesity management, as the diabetes drug has also been shown to have led to significan...
Muscle Growth: Use It, Or Lose It
01 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How often do you see professional athletes competing when they’re past the age of 40? A look at some headlining athletes who pushed past the typical...
Living And Dying Well: Death is Everyone’s Responsibility
31 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Every day, we talk about staying healthy and preventing disease. But death itself is rarely part of that conversation, due to cultural taboos about dy...
Doctor in the House: Aspartame A “Possible Carcinogen” - What Does This Mean?
28 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Aspartame, the world’s most popular artificial sweetener, has just been declared by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a “p...
Does Your Child’s School Use Commercial Programmes?
27 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
According to an article in The Conversation, Australian primary schools are becoming increasingly reliant on commercial programs for teaching students...
Occupational Therapy in Stroke & Dementia
26 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Conditions like stroke and dementia affect the mental processes of cognition and perception. However, occupational therapy can help these individuals ...
Because Feelings Matter #21: “Not Letting The Waves Pull Me Under”: A Business Leader’s Account Of Living With Bipolar Disorder
25 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You would not expect a senior manager of a second-generation family business to be successful amid the depressive lows and manic highs of bipolar diso...
Brain Waves: Scientists Make Breakthrough in Creation of Synthetic Human Embryos
24 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
An embryo is formed as a result of the fertilisation of an egg by a sperm, and that’s what goes on to develop into a foetus. But what if an embryo c...
Be Fit Malaysians: And Be Flexible Malaysians!
21 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Yoga can be intimidating for newbies, especially if you think that you’re inflexible and out-of-shape, and the various poses involved seem almost im...
All You Need To Know About Radiotherapy
20 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Radiotherapy is one of the main tools in our arsenal of cancer treatment, and advancements in technology have led to improvements in how radiotherapy ...
Mind Matters: Can Mental Health Apps And AI Chatbots Help Me?
18 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There’s an app for everything these days, and that includes mental health. From making mood tracking easier to using artificial intelligence to offe...
Ask A Doctor: Root Canal and Dental Pulp Problems
17 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In our monthly open clinic segment, we speak to endodontist Dr Mark Low about problems related to the interior of the tooth, and answer listeners’ q...
Unpacking the Health White Paper #3: The Future of MOH
14 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This is another episode of our mini series Unpacking the Health White Paper, in which we break down some of the reforms that have been suggested in th...
Médecins Sans Frontières: Everyone, Everywhere Deserves High Quality Care
13 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Founded in 1971 by a group of journalists and doctors, more than 50 years later Médecins Sans Frontières or Doctors Without Borders is now a familia...
Public Health: The Gender Biases in Heart Disease
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Worldwide, what disease is the number one cause of death among women? Your first thought might be breast cancer, but in fact, coronary heart disease i...
Healthy Ageing: Why Older Adults Should Get The Pneumococcal Vaccine
11 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that the pneumococcal vaccine is not only recommended for infants, but for older adults as well? Consultant geriatrician Prof Dr Tan Maw ...
Humans of Healthcare: The Ob-Gyn
10 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One of Malaysia’s proudest healthcare achievements since independence is related to the care of mothers in pregnancy and childbirth. We have dramati...
Unpacking the Health White Paper #2: How Will We Fund Healthcare?
07 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Health White Paper lays the foundation for much needed reforms to the public healthcare system over the next 15 years, with one of those proposed ...
Malaysian Children Score D- For Physical Activity
06 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The report card for Malaysian children’s physical activity levels is out, and the results are near failure. According to the Malaysia 2022 Physical ...
Ask A Psychologist: Dating & Romantic Relationships
05 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this age of dating apps and swiping left, are romantic relationships what they used to be? Consultant clinical psychologist Paul Jambunathan joins ...
Does Chinese Medicine Have A Place In Modern Healthcare?
04 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
To each of us, the idea of traditional Chinese medicine may vary depending on our cultural knowledge. But does it belong in our modern world of techno...
Dr Pimple Popper On Being A Dermatologist, Skin Health & Popping Pimples!
03 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Pimple popping videos are polarising: you either find satisfaction in watching them or you’re easily grossed out by them. And it’s clear that a lo...
Health White Paper #1: Laying The Foundation for Reforms in Healthcare
30 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The last Parliament sitting unexpectedly saw the much-discussed Health White Paper being passed by a voice vote. Said to lay the foundation for reform...
Had A Health Scare? It Could Affect Your Mental Wellbeing
28 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you had a health scare recently? Maybe you contracted a bad bout of COVID-19, and you’re still experiencing distressing symptoms of long COVID....
Benefits of Doodling, And Getting Started
27 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re someone who usually fills the margins of your notebooks with doodles, you probably made those loops and lines while your attention w...
NCD Chronicles #10: Lupus, The Disease With A Thousand Faces
26 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Many of us would’ve first heard of lupus when Selena Gomez shared in 2015 that she has been diagnosed with the disease. An autoimmune disorder with ...
Cholesterol Nation
23 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For years, cholesterol was the buzzword in health circles. This fatty substance in the body received plenty of media attention, with the focus on how ...
Because Feelings Matter #20: When Struggles In Childhood Go Unnoticed
22 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Teenagers in Malaysia are increasingly struggling with mental and emotional problems. According to the recently-published National Health & Morbid...
Surgery for Stroke Prevention
21 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In Malaysia, more than 40,000 cases of strokes are reported each year, leaving many of these individuals with significant disabilities and health comp...
Mind Matters: While Mum Takes Care Of Everyone, Who Takes Care Of Her?
20 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We’re doing a great job of protecting mothers during pregnancy and childbirth. Maternal mortality - deaths due to pregnancy and childbirth - has red...
Humans of Healthcare: The Infectious Diseases Physician
19 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
COVID-19 might be the most infamous infectious disease at this point in time, but it is by no means the only one that we need to worry about. From den...
Our Adolescents Are Sexually Active, But Do They Have Sexual Education?
16 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
According to the National Health & Morbidity Survey 2022 on Adolescent Health, 75% of teenagers in Malaysia reported having sex recently, but 88% ...
ASEAN Dengue Day 2023: On The Frontiers of Dengue R&D
15 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dengue is an infectious disease that many of us are all too familiar with in Southeast Asia. While we’ve yet to see an effective vaccine or even a c...
Public Health: Filling The Gap in Dental Care
14 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our mouth is the gateway to the rest of our body, and hence an important gatekeeper to our overall health. Yet, oral health is often treated separatel...
Healthy Ageing: Hear Me Out, This Is How You Spot Hearing Loss
13 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How often has an older adult asked you to repeat what you said or to speak louder because they can’t hear what you said? We might think that hearing...
How Occupational Therapy Helps Children With Disabilities
12 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is a child’s occupation? Is it to attend school and learn? To play with friends? And for children who have disabilities or are non-typically de...
Doctor in the House: The Bitter Truth About Artificial Sweeteners?
09 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How many of you go to a mamak and order a kopi or teh ais kurang manis? Or maybe you’ve chosen to switch to artificial sweeteners instead. Malaysian...