Health & Living
Episodes
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...
Should We Use ChatGPT in Orthopaedics?
08 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Everybody’s using ChatGPT, or at least talking about using it - whether it’s for academic writing, creative use, daily planning, coding, legal dec...
Ask a Psychologist: How To Be With Yourself
07 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When was the last time you were completely alone with your thoughts, with no one to talk to and nothing to do? You may think you did that just this mo...
The Heart of Medicine: Controversial and Misunderstood Therapies
06 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In medicine, healthcare professionals are always battling misinformation, especially when it comes to purported therapies and cures that circulate on ...
Attempted Suicide Is Decriminalised. Now We Need Better Mental Health Services.
02 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Last week, the Dewan Rakyat unanimously agreed to abolish Section 309 of the Penal Code, which effectively means that attempted suicide is now decrimi...
Why Millennials and Gen Z-ers Should Be Aware Of Colorectal Cancer
01 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In 2020, approximately 49,000 people in Malaysia were estimated to be newly diagnosed with cancer. This number is expected to rise to 66,000 new cases...
How Far Have We Come In Treating Coronary Artery Disease?
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Coronary heart disease is unfortunately a disease that many Malaysians are all too familiar with. Most of us likely know of a family member, a friend ...
Generational Endgame Bill: Will It Be All Smoke And No Fire?
30 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On 26 May, Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni confirmed that the Cabinet had approved the tabling of the Control of Smoking Product for Pub...
NCD Chronicles #9: “The Pain Is Like A Parasite” (Living With Fibromyalgia)
29 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“I’m tired, and in pain all the time.” Words that cannot possibly sum up the debilitating and disabling effects of fibromyalgia, a chronic ...
Healthy Ageing: Getting Too Hot To Handle?
26 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hot, hot, and hot. While we’re all struggling with the heat and humidity during this prolonged heatwave, how are people who are more vulnerable, lik...
Working For Children With Special Needs in Sarawak
25 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For the past 23 years, the Association for Children with Special Needs Sibu (ACSNS) has been quietly working at the community level in Sarawak to prov...
Brain Waves: The Twist in Rosalind Franklin’s Role in DNA Discovery
24 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s been 70 years since the discovery of the double helix structure of the DNA back in 1953, by James Watson and Francis Crick. These two and Mauri...
Because Feelings Matter #19: Leadership Starts With Your Own Mental Health
23 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
During the pandemic, the MCO was the hardest on women, especially working mothers. The lockdown saw the lines of their lives collapsing, as they took ...
Occupational Therapy To Regain Independence
22 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Occupational therapists have an important role in working with clients to help them achieve independent function, when they have a physical, neurocogn...
Doctor in the House: Is COVID-19 Well And Truly Over?
19 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In early May, the World Health Organization announced that COVID-19 is no longer considered a public health emergency of international concern, or PHE...
Health White Paper: It Is Time To Revive Malaysia’s Health Reforms
18 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Malaysia’s health system is in dire need of meaningful and systemic reforms. Despite years of attempts, however, efforts and calls to transform the ...
What Is A Giant Congenital Melanocytic Nevus?
17 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The birth of a child is often one of the most exciting moments for new parents. To find out at that moment that your child has a rare condition can be...
Mind Matters: Depression and the Chemical Imbalance Theory
16 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in the world, and today, it’s something that we’ve grown more comfortable talking abo...
A Blow To The Chest…And The Heart
15 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In January, an NFL football player for the (American football team) Buffalo Bills, Damar Hamlin, collapsed suddenly on the field after suffering sudde...
Doctor in the House: A New Treatment for Neurofibromatosis in Malaysia
12 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In April, the Ministry of Health announced that it has given the “orphan medicine” status to Koselugo, a prescription drug used in treating childr...
Humans of Healthcare: The Physiotherapist
11 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Movement is everything in our daily lives. Movement is not just limited to mobility, in terms of getting around, but is a fundamental principle underl...
Public Health: When People Move, It Saves Lives…And Money
10 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
7.30am, stuck in traffic. 1pm, no parking available. 6.30pm, bumper-to-bumper traffic. 8pm, still not home yet. That’s the daily commute for most Kl...
Be Fit Malaysians: Swimming, Cycling, And Running… Can You Do A Triathlon?
09 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Running, cycling, and swimming are probably some of the most common workouts that people enjoy. But how many of us have done or thought about doing al...
Managing Pain In Cancer Patients
08 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Pain is one of the most common symptoms experienced by cancer patients. It is often debilitating and disruptive to patients’ quality of life. Yet, m...
Doctor in the House: Reaching Communities Deprived of Surgical Care
05 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Prof Dr Ina Ismiarti Shariffudin, President of the Malaysian Society of Anaesthesiologists, and Dr Gunalan Palari Arumugam, Consultant Anaesthesiologi...
Severe Asthma: When Control Is Difficult
02 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have asthma, and you’re struggling to control the flare-up of symptoms despite using the inhalers and medications as prescribed by your docto...
Healthy Ageing: Skincare Starts When You’re Young
28 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
From serums to chemical peels to 10-step routines, skincare has never been more popular (or difficult to figure out). But what does it really take to ...
Autism Community’s Wishlist for the National Autism Council
27 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Ministry of Health has proposed the formation of a National Autism Council, which will serve as a multidisciplinary platform to coordinate and pro...
NCD Chronicles #8: Endometriosis Is Not Life Threatening, But It Is Life-Altering
26 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s estimated that 1 in 10 women have endometriosis, but this is a condition that is all too often underdiagnosed, often because the most common sy...
Because Feelings Matter #18: The Bumpy Journey in Education For Children with Autism
25 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Children who are neurodivergent face more challenges in education, with many learning environments unable to fully support children who learn and beha...
Taking Care Of Your Mental Health During Hari Raya
20 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Do you look forward to the festive season, where you get together with loved ones and friends for traditions and celebrations that only come once a ye...
Ask A Doctor: About Caring for Babies & Toddlers
19 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We are back with our monthly Ask A Doctor episode, and this month we’re joined by Dr Sanjay Woodhull, consultant paediatrician, to answer any and al...
Mind Matters: SPM Is Over - Now To Stress About The Rest Of Your Life
18 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With SPM done and dusted for the 2022-2023 graduating year, another batch of 18-year-olds stands on the cusp of adulthood, making decisions about stud...
Dengue in ASEAN: Challenges and Lessons Learned
17 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For decades, countries in Southeast Asia have learned to live with a deadly killer: dengue. Dengue is endemic to all countries in this region, and it ...
Doctor in the House: Forever Chemicals Are Everywhere - What Do We Do?
14 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A recent study by researchers in the University of Florida found that 21 major toilet paper brands sold worldwide contain PFAS, dubbed “forever chem...
The Heart of Medicine: Being An Ethical Doctor
13 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Recently, a proposed strike by a group of contract doctors in Malaysia highlighted the question of ethics among healthcare professionals and how these...
Public Health: Nicotine, Vaping and Taxes
12 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nicotine liquids and gel, used in e-cigarettes and vape devices, have been exempted from poison control, following a gazetted order signed by the Mini...
Humans of Healthcare: The Speech-Language Therapist
11 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered what happens if you need to relearn how to speak or even how to swallow? Speech-language therapists may not be the most glamoro...
Clinical Hypnosis: Sifting Through The Pseudoscience
10 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is hypnotherapy just a bunch of mumbo-jumbo, or is it a legitimate form of therapy provided by mental healthcare professionals? Why does it matter whe...
Doctor in the House: What Would You Change About Your Healthcare Experience?
07 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This World Health Day, we are asking listeners to tell us what’s the one thing they would change about their healthcare experience, and what they wo...
The Forgotten Leaky Heart Valve
06 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The valves in our heart enable blood to flow in the right direction. When there are problems with any of the valves, this can lead to serious complica...
How To Talk About Self-Harm on Social Media
05 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Social media has been a great platform to raise awareness on mental health issues, but it can also be a trigger for those who are still struggling, es...
Put Your Best Foot Forward (But Shod Or Bare?)
04 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our feet get us places. But if they’re not well taken care of with the right footwear, every step becomes a pain-filled one. What role do shoes play...
How Occupational Therapy Helps In Physical, Neurocognitive and Mental Health Issues
03 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There are many medical conditions, illnesses or injuries that can affect a person’s ability to live and work independently. Between the point of rec...
Doctor in the House: PrEP Prevents HIV & Must Be Accessible To All
31 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
PrEP - or pre-exposure prophylaxis - can be life-saving, as it’s highly effective in preventing HIV when taken as prescribed. Recently, Deputy Healt...
NCD Chronicles #7: No One Chooses To Be Obese
30 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
About half of the Malaysian population are either overweight or obese, and it’s not surprising when Malaysia is the fattest nation in Southeast Asia...
Back Up: Let’s Talk About Degenerative Spine Diseases
29 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Back pain is one of the most common problems in the modern world, and most of us have probably experienced it at one point or another. But how do you ...
Because Feelings Matter #17: Balancing Courage and Vulnerability
28 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
From a young age, Sumitra Visvanathan, Executive Director of the Women’s Aid Organisation, was imbued with a strong sense of service towards others ...
World TB Day 2023: Make Life-Saving TB Drugs Affordable & Accessible
27 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that before COVID-19, tuberculosis was the leading infectious killer, even higher than HIV/AIDS? While it has now been overtaken by COVID...
Doctor in the House: No Fun In Fungal Infections
24 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Will Ellie find out the truth about what Joel did? This is the cliffhanger question in the season finale of ‘The Last Of Us’, a TV series about a ...
Advances in Glaucoma Treatment To Prevent Blindness
23 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Worldwide, 78 million people have glaucoma, which is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness around the world. However, it is also a preve...
Brain Waves: Zombie (Cells) In Your Brain and Body
22 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What if you were told that you had “zombie cells” in your brain? And that they have an impact on age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s or even c...
Be Fit Malaysians: How To Exercise Safely If You’re Overweight
21 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to obesity, one of the main solutions prescribed to people is to exercise to lose some of their weight. How do you do it right so that y...
Ask A Doctor: The Mouth
20 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In our open clinic segment on World Oral Health Day, Associate Professor Dr Mas Suryalis Ahmad, President-Elect of the Malaysian Dental Association, j...
To Live Well, We Need To Talk About Dying
17 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Death and dying is still a taboo subject in Malaysian society. But to live well until your last days also means planning your care for times when you ...
How Far We’ve Come in Treating Stomach Cancers
16 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We often hear that you are what you eat. But does your diet affect your risk of stomach cancer? Who is at higher risk of stomach cancer - also known a...
Mind Matters: Surprise, Surprise, Living in Cities is Bad For Your Mental Health
15 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Last week, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa brought up in the Dewan Rakyat that people living in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya have the highest rates of...
Humans of Healthcare: The Cancer Researcher
14 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In an age where superheroes like Thor, Black Panther, and Wonder Woman occupy our imaginations, a cancer researcher may not appear to belong in that g...
Recovering From A Head Injury
13 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When you hear the word “head injury”, many of us often think of the worst case scenario. But with head injuries ranging from mild to the more seve...
Doctor in the House…No More? What ChatGPT Means For Medicine and Research
10 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Healthcare providers rely on studies published in scientific journals to keep up-to-date with the latest developments in medical research. But what ha...
World Kidney Day: Keeping Your Kidneys Healthy
09 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How often do you think about how your kidneys are doing? While we can lead a healthy and good quality of life with just one kidney, it doesn’t mean ...
IWD 2023: Prof Dr Woo Yin Ling on Making Cervical Cancer A Thing of the Past
08 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers - both through HPV vaccinations and screening tests - and could one day be history for Malaysia...
Preparing For Pregnancy (And Beyond)
07 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Pregnancy is the beginning of a thrilling, roller coaster ride for any couple, but the journey actually begins even before the baby is conceived. Join...
Am I Easily Distracted or Do I Have ADHD?
06 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re on social media, you’ve probably come across posts or videos by people describing how they’ve had oddly specific habits their entire l...
Another Step In Understanding COVID-19 Immunity
06 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A recent study by a team of Australian scientists found a protein in the lungs that sticks to the COVID-19 virus like velcro, thus immobilising it. It...
Doctor in the House: Fatty Liver On The Rise
03 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You can’t escape the consequences of an unhealthy lifestyle, especially one centred around a high-fat, calorie-laden diet. One of the organs that ca...
My Mind and Me #4: Finding Your Support System (And How To Support Others)
02 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Part of learning how to manage your mental health is finding a support system that works for you. But telling friends and family that you’re struggl...
Ozaki Procedure For Aortic Stenosis in Children
01 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Childhood - a time of fun and play - can be disrupted when a child is born with a faulty valve in the heart. Aortic stenosis is a congenital heart con...
Because Feelings Matter #16: Caregiving Is A Journey Of Love
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As a psychologist, Dr Hariyati Sharima Abdul Majid was the one that people turned to when they were struggling with mental health issues. But when Dr ...
Budget 2023: Are We Investing Enough in Health?
27 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Budget 2023 has been retabled - once again - with health receiving the second largest share out of the entire budget at RM36.3 billion. But is this en...
Raising An Inclusive Child
23 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“Why does she look like that?” or “He talks funny” are some things children may say when they encounter someone who is differently-abled, or h...
NCD Chronicles #6 (Part 2): Living With Cancer, And Living On A Knife Edge
22 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This is the second part of an NCD Chronicles cancer special in conjunction with World Cancer Day on 4 February. In the previous episode, Hiba Abdul Ra...
Mind Matters: Incorporating Mental Health Into Children’s Education
21 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Where do children and teenagers spend most of their time, with the most significant amount of influence? Without a doubt, it is the school - and this ...
Ask A Doctor: Eating Healthy on a Budget
20 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Eating healthy is expensive. That’s what a lot of us think, but is it necessarily true? With the recent introduction of RM5 meals through Menu Rahma...
Doctor in the House: Malaysians Like It Salty (But We Shouldn’t)
17 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s no secret that Malaysians love food, and maybe we also love the salt in our food, a little too much. But just how much salt are we consuming, a...
Healthy Ageing: Is It Inevitable That You Lose Muscle As You Age?
16 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The human body changes physiologically as you age, and that includes your muscles. But why do some older adults tend to lose muscle strength, while ot...
Ladies, Pain During Sex Is Not Normal
15 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is pain during sex common, especially for women? In a society where sexual health is still a taboo topic, questions like these aren’t always asked a...
Humans of Healthcare: The Clinical Psychologist
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With increasing attention on mental health issues, the role of a psychologist as a healthcare provider has become central in supporting the mental wel...
My Mind and Me #3: I’m Diagnosed with a Mental Health Disorder. What Happens Next?
13 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve just been diagnosed with a mental health condition, it can be overwhelming to process. What happens next? How will it change how you manag...
Beware Beauty Procedures By Unqualified Practitioners
10 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you have chest pains, difficulty breathing, or stomach problems, you see a doctor. And yet, when you have skin issues like acne, pigmentation or it...
The Heart of Medicine: Putting Patients First
09 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“First, do no harm” is the oft-repeated mantra from the Hippocratic Oath that medical professionals ascribe to. Underlying that concept is the phi...
Public Health: Why Are More Mothers Dying in Childbirth?
08 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After Malaysia was born as a nation, we took good care of our mothers and infants, by building up a vast network of rural healthcare. This resulted in...
Public Health: Why Are More Mothers Dying in Childbirth?
08 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After Malaysia was born as a nation, we took good care of our mothers and infants, by building up a vast network of rural healthcare. This resulted in...
Our Hunched Up, Scrunched Up Children
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are children’s aches and pains just part of growing up, or are there more concerning issues related to the development of their musculoskeletal syst...
Doctor in the House: Sarawak Needs Its Own Cancer Centre
03 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
While we have improved in leaps and bounds when it comes to treating cancer, these advances don’t matter if patients aren’t able to access treatme...
Targeting Liver Cancer Directly
02 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Liver cancer is the eighth most common cancer in Malaysia, and can be deadly when it has spread to an advanced stage. But what can be done for liver c...
My Mind and Me #2: What Happens During Therapy?
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you’ve considered seeing a mental health professional, you’ve probably wondered what exactly happens during mental health therapy. Would you ha...
NCD Chronicles #6 (Part 1): Living With Cancer, And Living On A Knife Edge
30 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When you have cancer, there’s no telling whether your treatment will result in remission, and for how long. It can be like living on a knife edge, e...
In-Womb Surgery for Babies with Spina Bifida
27 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Spina bifida is a birth defect affecting the spine and spinal cord, which can lead to severe physical disabilities that the child has to live with. Bu...
Talking To Your Kids About Mental Health
26 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is mental health? You may think you know the answer, but how would you explain it to a pre-schooler, a primary schoolgoing child, or a teenager? ...
Revamping School Canteens
20 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Two weeks into the start of the new school term, it was reported that school canteen operators are struggling to cope with the rising cost of raw ingr...
Brain Waves: Why Are Scientists Transplanting Human Neurons into Rat Brains?
19 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A team of scientists at Stanford University recently transplanted human neurons into rat brains, hoping to open new pathways of research into neuropsy...
Ask A Doctor: Age And Your Memory
18 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In our open clinic segment, consultant geriatrician Dr Khor Hui Min joins us to answer questions about memory-related issues among older adults, as we...
Mind Matters: When Environmental Threats Threaten Your Mental Health
17 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The impact of climate change is far-reaching, from its impact on the environment to the economy and even our mental health. On this episode of Mind Ma...
My Mind and Me #1: How Do I Find a Trusted Mental Health Professional?
16 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re struggling with your mental health, you’ve probably considered the idea of seeing a mental health professional - whether it’s a counse...
Doctor in the House: Medical Brain Drain - What’s The Solution? (Part 2)
13 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Malaysia is losing our doctors. It’s a fact that we’ve known for years, as we’ve seen and heard stories of doctors leaving the public healthcare...
Healthy Ageing: World Guidelines for Falls Prevention in Older Adults
12 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For many of us, a fall might be nothing more than some scrapes and bruises, but for people aged 65 and above, falls can be detrimental as a main contr...
Public Health: China’s COVID-19 Outbreak - Will 2023 Be 2020 All Over Again?
11 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In December 2022, China abruptly dropped its zero COVID policy - a policy that they’ve held fast to amidst several COVID-19 waves and the impact tha...
Humans of Healthcare: The Public Health Specialist
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
During the COVID-19 pandemic, a group of specialists were thrust into the limelight for the important role that they played in the global health crisi...
Everyone Can Start Strength Training This Year
09 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Strength training consists of exercises that increase muscular strength. However, contrary to popular belief, strength or resistance training is not o...