Health & Living

A urinary tract infection is one of the most common infections to affect humans; in fact, if you’re a woman, you’re even more likely to have a UTI at some point in your life. But despite how common and treatable it is, it can also be very uncomfortable and painful to deal with. On this episode of Doctor in the House, we put consultant urologist Dr George Lee in the hot seat to answer all our questions about UTIs and whether something can be done to prevent UTIs from happening at all. Image Credit: Shutterstock

Our planet is sick - and we don’t just mean melting glaciers and rising ocean levels too distant from our daily realities. In Malaysia, we see the effect of climate changes and the inexorable destruction of Earth every day, and more startlingly, we are experiencing the health effects of our planet’s problems. Tan Sri Prof Dr Jemilah Mahmood, Executive Director of the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health, Sunway University, and Hazami Habib, CEO of Akademi Sains Malaysia, join us to draw the parallels between the planet’s, and the people’s, ill health. Image credit: 123rf

Children with special needs are often left behind in education, due to societal stigma, as well as lack of resources and capacity in our community. How is the Kiwanis Malaysia Academy hoping to close this gap? Dato’ Fatimah Saad, Chairman, Kiwanis Malaysia Academy, joins us to share more about their initiatives in ensuring that inclusive education is accessible to all children, to enable them to thrive. In the second part of the show, Dato’ Fatimah is joined by Hanizan bt Hussin, one of the award recipients of Anugerah Ibu Kiwanis 2024, and a mother to an adult child with Down Syndrome. Hanizan is also the president of Persatuan Sindrom Down Malaysia.

Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dr Rajesh Singh checks in for his regular show to discuss tendons - their structure, functions and dysfunctions. We explore a variety of tendon injuries, ranging from trigger finger to plantar fasciitis, and try to understand the basis for treating these problems. Image Credit: 123rf

According to news reports, for the first time in a court document, AstraZeneca has allegedly confirmed that its Covid-19 vaccine can lead to a rare side effect called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS). We speak to public health physician Dr Farhan Rusli about the impact that this news would have on immunisation programmes moving forward, and what we can learn about risk communication of vaccine side effects in the future. Image credit: Shutterstock

Recently, AstraZeneca allegedly confirmed, for the first time in a court document, that its COVID-19 vaccine can lead to a rare side effect called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS). What is TTS, and did many people develop this side effect after receiving the AZ vaccine during the pandemic? Consultant haematologist Dr Alan Teh provides an explainer on the issue. Watch a short explainer video produced by Dr Alan Teh here. Image credit: Shutterstock

Tapeworms and flatworms, lice and bedbugs, giardia and malaria - these are just some of the common parasites that cause disease among humans, and symptoms that range from mildly irritating to life-threatening. Parasitologist Dr Vinoth Kumarasamy joins Dr George Lee to dive into the world of parasites, how they make their way into the human body, and what we can do to protect ourselves. Image Credit: olgaru79, Shutterstock

Everybody’s buying their mother flowers and chocolates to celebrate Mother’s Day this month, but are we stopping to ask Mum, “How are you doing?” Licensed counsellor Heeran Kaur steps into Counsellor’s Corner to answer questions on everything related to maternal mental health, including parenting stress, postpartum depression, and the burden of care work. Image credit: 123rf

To commemorate World Malaria Day, which was observed on 25 April, Prof Dr Balbir Singh and Dr Timothy William discuss how zoonotic malaria has become an emerging threat in Malaysia, how to think outside the box to eliminate this form of transmission, and the significance of Malaysia hosting the International Congress for Tropical Medicine & Malaria (ICTMM 2024) from 16-23 September 2024.

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer in Malaysia among men and women, and is predominantly diagnosed in the late stages. On this episode of NCD Chronicles, we hear two very different stories of being diagnosed with colorectal cancer: Choo Mei Sze, who celebrates her 10th-year cancer-versary this year, and Norazri, who is still undergoing treatment. Contact National Cancer Society of Malaysia or Colorectal Cancer Survivorship Society Malaysia (CORUM) for information on patient support. NCD Chronicles is a series about people living with NCDs, going beyond the diagnosis to explore their personal experiences, their challenges, as well as the impact of their health condition on their loved ones. These stories reveal the importance of understanding the unique struggles and needs of the individuals behind the disease, in our response to the NCD epidemic.

Malaysia’s healthcare system, skilled workforce, and diverse population presents an attractive proposition for global pharmaceutical companies looking to conduct multicentre clinical trials. In 2023, Malaysia ranked second in the Southeast Asian region in terms of the number of global industry-sponsored studies. How do we maintain our potential as a regional hub for clinical trials, especially moving up the value chain to focus more on Phase 1, or first-in-human, clinical trials? Dr Akhmal Yusof, Chief Executive Officer of Clinical Research Malaysia, and Dr Mohamed Elwakil, Country President of Novartis Malaysia, join Dr George Lee to discuss. Image credit: Clinical Research Malaysia Facebook

Consultant developmental paediatrician Dr Rajini Sarvananthan joins us on her monthly show to commemorate World Autism Awareness Day, in a conversation with Nik Didi, a parent to two autistic girls. We explore the joys and challenges of parenting neurodivergent children, and find out more about the support that parents need. Image credit: Nik Didi

For a long time, dengue fever is often diagnosed among populations living in tropical and subtropical climates because that is the environment where the Aedes mosquitoes - the vector of the virus - thrives in. But as climate change causes temperatures the rise, the mosquitoes are now able to live and thrive in more temperate countries, exposing more people to the virus. Will this be the wake-up call that the world needs to better address dengue fever - which has yet to have an effective treatment? Joining me to share her insights and what it would mean for dengue to be seen as a global health threat, is Dr Dinu Guruge, an epidemiologist and consultant for the Global Dengue Program under the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative. Image credit: Shutterstock

If you have diabetes, don’t take your vision lightly. Diabetes can cause damage to the eyes, if you don’t control your blood glucose levels well. In fact, one of the major diabetic eye diseases, diabetic retinopathy, is a leading cause of blindness in Malaysia. But is loss of vision inevitable if you have diabetes? Dr V. Gayatri Devi, Ophthalmologist and Eye Surgeon (and Medical Retina sub-specialist), joins us to shine a light on preventing diabetic eye diseases, and managing the progression of vision loss. Image credit: 123rf

When you hear about Kiwanis Malaysia, the first (or only) thing you may think about is their work to help children with Down Syndrome. The Kiwanis Down Syndrome Foundation has been running for 34 years, and is one of the most well-known initiatives by the service club. District Governor Michael Chiew and District Secretary Dato’ Stewart LaBrooy join us to tell us more about how Kiwanis Malaysia supports children with Down Syndrome, as well as children with other special needs, through their various centers and special projects around the country.

Each year we celebrate a number of disability days, such as World Autism Awareness Day in April, International Day of Persons with Disabilities in December, and many more. These are commemorative days that are aimed at increasing the visibility of people with disabilities and their rights, and are often celebrated along with statements and promises to improve support and services for people with disabilities. Consultant paediatrician Dato’ Dr Amar Singh joins us to delve into whether real progress has been made for the community, and why we need more transparency and accountability from government ministries when it comes to policies, plans and services for people with disabilities. Image Credit: Shutterstock

Diabetes, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, stroke - get three or more, for the price of one. People with diabetes have a higher risk of other cardiorenal metabolic diseases, and this is cause for alarm, considering the high prevalence of diabetes in Malaysia. What is the link among these diseases, and how do we disrupt this deadly cluster? Dr Feisul Mustapha, Director of the Perak State Health Department, and Prof Dr Rohana Abdul Ghani, President of the Malaysian Obesity Society, joins Azrul Mohd Khalib on the Public Health series. Image Credit: 123RF

More than 55 million people live with dementia globally, and dementia is one of the major causes of disability and dependency among older people. Yet, there remains a stigma towards dementia, affecting their ability to still lead dignified lives. How can we break past that stigma to ensure that care partners are able to support both the person living with dementia and their care partner? Do we need a different approach to dementia care? We find out from dementia care expert Teepa Snow, who is in Malaysia for a visit from the U.S. You can view a full transcript of the podcast here.

When was the last time you slept so well that you felt entirely refreshed and ready for the day ahead? How often do you find yourself waking up on the wrong side of the bed? Sleep and mental health are closely interlinked: poor sleep can negatively impact your mental health while mental health disorders can also affect your sleep. On this episode of Mind Matters, consultant psychiatrist Dr Ravivarma Rao Panirselvam joins us to dive into the relationship between sleep and our mental health, and how we can - hopefully - stop sleep procrastination. Image credit: Shutterstock

In our open clinic segment, consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr Somasundaram Sathappan joins us to answer all your questions on face lifts, Botox injections, liposuctions and more. Dr Somasundaram also addresses important questions, like how do you know if you need these procedures, and who is the right expert to see? Image credit: 123rf