Health & Living

Episod

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  Should the MMR Vaccine Be Split? (& Other Questions About Childhood Vaccines) 25.09.2026 31min

  Last month, American president Donald Trump signed an order to limit childhood vaccines and to split the mumps, measles and rubella shots for children in America. While this is just a guidance, and not a mandate, having such recommendations coming from the U.S. president can have a significant influence, not just in the U.S. itself but the rest of the world as well as many countries have traditionally looked to the U.S. for guidance. On top of that, Trump has also called for childhood vaccinations to be reduced across the board. Consultant urologist Dr George Lee is joined by paediatric infectious diseases consultant Dr Sangeetha Siniah to discuss if childhood vaccinations have been a victim of their own success and how parents can navigate misinformation about childhood vaccines. Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Supporting Social Workers To Help Vulnerable Children 24.09.2026 39min

  The newly-passed Social Work Profession Bill aims to introduce stricter standards for the field of social work, and regulate the activities of social workers in Malaysia. What does this mean for the thousands of children who depend on social workers, especially those living in vulnerable situations? We speak to Dr Rajini Sarvananthan, Consultant Developmental Paediatrician, and Amy Bala from the Malaysian Association of Social Workers, to discuss this long-awaited bill and what it means for children nationwide. Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Why Secondhand Smoke Still Harms Billions of People 23.09.2026 27min

  A recent study published in The Lancet Public Health found that in 2023 alone an estimated 2.7 billion people globally were exposed to secondhand smoke, including 767 million children under 15. After decades of anti-smoking campaigns and awareness-building about the dangers of secondhand smoke, why are billions of people still breathing in contaminated air? In conjunction with World Lung Day on the 25th of September, we’re joined by Prof Dr Anna Marie Nathan, consultant paediatric pulmonologist from Universiti Malaya Medical Centre to clear the air about the short- and long-term health consequences of secondhand smoke, why children are especially vulnerable to secondhand smoke in the home, as well as what we can do to help smokers quit to create a smoke-free environment for all. Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Because Feelings Matter #54 22.09.2026 31min

  Maya (not her real name) lost her loved one to suicide more than a year ago. She still grapples with the grief, anger and guilt today, but she’s come a long way in processing and learning to speak about her loss. In conjunction with World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September, we speak to Maya about the support that suicide loss survivors need. This discussion will touch on topics of suicide and self-harm. If you, or someone you know, needs emotional support, reach out for help within your community or contact the Befrienders KL (03-76272929 or [email protected]), Talian HEAL (15 555), MIASA (1-800-1800-66) or AWAS Malaysia (Whatsapp 010-234 4808)Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Healthy Ageing: Living Well With Osteoarthritis 21.09.2026 38min

  Most of the people living with osteoarthritis are older but that doesn’t mean that osteoarthritis is an “older person’s disease” and something that just happens as you age. So can you prevent your cartilage from breaking down? And if you have osteoarthritis, how can you still lead a full life? We ask these and more with Assoc Prof Dr Fariz Yahya, consultant rheumatologist at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre. Dr Fariz is also the president of the Arthritis Foundation Malaysia.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Urinary Problems 18.09.2026 40min

  Health & Living - Sep 18, 2026See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  When Are We Getting Our Electronic Medical Records? 17.09.2026 38min

  The Ministry of Health now has an allocation of RM1bil to digitalise our health system. We speak to Dr Mahesh Appannan, Director of the Digital Health Division from the Ministry Of Health about the Ministry’s digitalisation efforts and when can every citizen expect to have their own medical record, from birth to death. Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Ask An Ophthalmologist: How We See 15.09.2026 39min

  How often do we think about how complicated it can be for us to see what is in front of us? On this month’s open clinic show, we’ll be uncovering what happens within our eyes - and the brain - to help us see the world, how to keep our eyes functioning at their best, and how to pick up problems when your eyes start declining. Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Support for Motor Neurone Disease Patients 14.09.2026 36min

  It is estimated that over 2,000 Malaysians live with motor neurone disease (MND), a chronic condition that is progressive and life-limiting. As the disease increasingly affects the muscles that are needed for movement, speech, swallowing and breathing, patients and families need a lot of support. But are they accessing the care they need? We find out more from the Chairman of MND Malaysia Ahmad Nurzahid bin Mohd Yusoff, and consultant neurologist Prof Dr Nortina Shahrizaila. Image Credit: MND Malaysia Facebook See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  What To Do About A Fatty Liver 11.09.2026 43min

  Fatty liver is a little-known consequence of the high rates of diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol in Malaysia. Without intervention and management, fatty liver can eventually lead to liver cancer. We speak to Prof Dr Ida Normiha Hilmi, President of the Malaysian Society of Gastroenterology & Hepatology and Dr Lau Su Yin, Consultant Gastroenterologist & Hepatologist, about why fatty liver is a major public health problem in our population.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  How Frontliners Respond To A Suicide Crisis - Part 2 10.09.2026 33min

  When someone is facing suicidal ideation or crisis, how frontliners respond can make all the difference. In conjunction with World Suicide Prevention Day, we’ll be unpacking the role that frontliners play, who exactly they are, and why how they respond during and after a suicide crisis matters not just for the individual in crisis but for other vulnerable individuals as well. This is the second of a two-part conversation. Listen to part 1 here. Trigger warning: This discussion will touch on topics of suicide and self-harm. If you, or someone you know, needs emotional support, call the Befrienders KL at 03-76272929 or email [email protected], or reach out for help within your community. You can also contact Talian HEAL at 15 555 or MIASA at 1-800-1800-66.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  How Frontliners Respond To A Suicide Crisis - Part 1 09.09.2026 25min

  When someone is facing suicidal ideation or crisis, how frontliners respond can make all the difference. In conjunction with World Suicide Prevention Day, we’ll be unpacking the role that frontliners play, who exactly they are, and why how they respond during and after a suicide crisis matters not just for the individual in crisis but for other vulnerable individuals as well. Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Hospice Klang’s 30 Years Of Community Care 08.09.2026 29min

  Since 1996, Hospice Klang has been providing free palliative care to patients, caregivers and families in the community in Klang. We speak to its chairperson, Dr Sheriza Izwa Binti Zainuddin, who’s a senior consultant for palliative care in Universiti Malaya Medical Centre, to find out more about how Hospice Klang started and how its changed the lives of patients and families in need of palliative and hospice care. To support Hospice Klang’s 30th anniversary charity fundraising dinner, visit the website, Facebook or Instagram pages.Image Credit: Hospice Klang See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Humans of Healthcare: The Paediatrician & Clinical Geneticist 07.09.2026 48min

  From figuring out what’s causing a rare condition in a child to helping that child thrive into adulthood, the profession of a paediatrician and clinical geneticist can be pretty challenging. We speak to Prof Dr Thong Meow Keong, who was Malaysia’s first board-certified clinical geneticist back in the 1990s, about his career as a clinical geneticist, why it shouldn’t be a paediatric subspecialty, and how the profession has evolved over the years. Image Credit: Prof Dr Thong Meow KeongSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Is The Haze Making Your Asthma Worse? 04.09.2026 39min

  The worsening haze has caused a 250% surge in asthma cases in recent weeks. The link between poor air quality and respiratory diseases is clear, but people with asthma and COPD should not wait for the haze to trigger a serious episode before taking preventive action. Consultant respiratory physician Dr Helmy Haja Mydin is here with reminders about how to keep asthma under control, especially during the prolonged El Niño season.Image Credit: EPA ImagesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Why Cancer Care Needs To Look At The Heart Too 03.09.2026 33min

  Once, a cancer diagnosis was thought to be the entire book on its own. But as cancer patients live longer today, there’s more to the story than just (that phase of) completing cancer treatment. Heart health is also an increasingly important focus in cancer survivorship, including addressing certain risks associated with cancer and preventing the same cardiovascular diseases that the rest of the population faces (with or without cancer). In this conversation with an oncologist and a cardiologist, we look at how their care for a cancer patient intersects, to ensure that the cancer survivor of today does not become the heart patient of tomorrow.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Repurposing Drugs for Cancer Saves Cost & Improves Access To Treatment 02.09.2026 43min

  For low and middle income countries, the high cost of novel treatments can be a significant barrier for the people who need these medicines the most - especially when it comes to cancers and rare diseases. This is where drug repurposing can offer a more affordable yet still innovative option that could lead to better access to treatment. So why aren’t we investing more into this? And is it safe to repurpose drugs for other types of diseases? To help us unpack this, we speak to Dr Yolanda Augustin, clinical oncologist at City St George's University of London, and Prof Dr Ivy Chung, pharmacologist at the Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya. They are both part of the International Affordable Diagnostics and Therapeutics Alliance also known as IA-DATA, where Dr Yolanda is the lead coordinator while Prof Ivy is the lead principle investigator for the Universiti Malaya Affordable Diagnostics and Therapeutics programme, a project under IA-DATA.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Most IVF ‘Add-On’ Treatments Actually Don’t Add Much 01.09.2026 35min

  Today, many IVF packages offer optional ‘add-on’ treatments that claim to boost a couple’s chances at a successful pregnancy. But a recent study found that it’s not obvious if most of these ‘add-ons’ actually help, even if it doesn’t have clear negative effects. So what should couples seeking IVF know before making that decision? We speak to Dr Sarah Lensen, the lead author of that study as well as a senior research fellow in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health at the University of Melbourne. For more information about optional IVF extras, visit ‘Evidence-based IVF’.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Merdeka 2026: Leading The Way in Breast Cancer Support 28.08.2026 28min

  In 1986, the mission for setting up the Breast Cancer Welfare Association (BCWA) was clear: a volunteer or a trained breast cancer survivor uses her experience to help another woman recovering from breast cancer. 40 years later, BCWA has become the country’s leading breast cancer support organisation, while holding on to its core mission of being there for the next woman diagnosed with breast cancer. We speak to two former presidents and the current president of BCWA for this Merdeka special.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Mind Matters: Independence Or Isolation For Uni Students? 27.08.2026 29min

  For a young adult entering university, the idea of independence is thrilling and liberating. But the excitement can also mask the anxiety and struggle to balance responsibility and expectations. We discuss what mental health and peer support should look like for students in tertiary education, and hear this month’s impact story about how a corporate leadership programme is supporting students’ mental well-being.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.