Bfm :: Health & Living

Adolescence is already a challenging stage in life - for both parents and teens alike - but what happens when you throw in a rare disorder? We speak to Azhar Talib, whose daughter has Prader-Willi syndrome, and Prof Dr Muhammad yazid Jalaludin, a consultant paediatric endocrinologist, to discuss what it’s like managing a rare disorder and the child’s health during that transition phase from childhood into adolescence and later into adulthood.Image Credit: Shutterstock

For five long years, Farah Syahidah Shamsuddin was on the waiting list for a liver transplant. Her liver, damaged due to a congenital condition, was losing its ability to support the body in fundamental processes like metabolism, detoxification, and digestion. When she finally underwent the transplant, it was like being reborn. Farah shares her experience of awaiting a donated liver, while consultant hepatologist & gastroenterologist Dr Haniza Omar talks about the transplant procedure. You can pledge your organs on your MySejahtera app, or visit dermaorgan.gov.my for more information. You can also support the Malaysian Society of Transplantation’s fundraising event. 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

Since the gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights, Selangor, on 1 April 2025, dozens of residents are still displaced, while hundreds of others are trying to settle back into a normal routine after the terrifying incident and chaos that ensued. Amid the injuries, burns and destruction of property, how have the survivors of the disaster been coping psychologically? We speak to Haji Hakim Bin Hamzah, Director of Finance, Administration and HR from Mercy Malaysia - who was also present to provide on-ground support at the disaster - about the mental health impact of the disaster and the importance of support for the victims. Image Credit: Shutterstock

Last week, news headlines exploded when the US Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr said that the significant and recent rise in autism diagnoses was evidence of an “epidemic” caused by an “environmental toxin”. We’re exploring the facts and fallacies behind this claim, with Dr Rajini Sarvanathan and Dr Norazlin Kamal, Consultant Developmental Paediatricians.Image Credit: Lance Cpl. Andrea Ovalle, Defense Visual Information Distribution Service

We’ve often heard that vaccines save lives, but have we ever thought about what the world would look like without vaccines? While many have had a newfound appreciation for vaccines after the COVID-19 pandemic, others developed a large dose of skepticism and hesitancy towards vaccines. So what does this mean for the future of vaccines? In conjunction with World Immunisation Week (observed annually in the last week of April), we’ll be discussing those questions with Dr Jerome Kim, director-general of the International Vaccine Institute. Image Credit: Shutterstock

When you’re a mother of two girls with autism, you’ll do anything to support their development and ensure access to all the necessary interventions. This was what Nik Didi called her “fighting, fixing and closing the gap” mode. But eventually, she learned to look at her daughters through a neuroaffirming lens, and accept that not everything could be “fixed”. She shares her journey as a parent and advocate on this episode of Because Feelings Matter, in conjunction with Autism Awareness Day in April. Follow Nik Didi’s experiences on the Kita Family podcast.

Cancer is a tumour in the body, a coalescence of mutated, malignant cells. But cancer is not the person. Someone diagnosed with cancer is more than just a sum of their symptoms or treatments, but an individual with unique concerns, needs and challenges. How does this change the way cancer care is provided? We find out from Dr Matin Mellor Abdullah, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, Dr Ben Yap Beng Khiong, Consultant Clinical Oncologist, and Dr Aaron Hiew, Consultant in Palliative Medicine.Image Credit: Shutterstock

Do you sometimes feel dizzy or off-balance? Does the room suddenly start spinning and you feel like throwing up? You shouldn’t brush off symptoms of a vestibular balance disorder. Audiologist Darleena Abdul Aziz joins us to explain more about these disorders, the tests available to diagnose them, and how to manage them.Image Credit: Shutterstock

The idea of biohacking has grown in popularity over the recent years, helped along by influencers and the wellness industry, who argue that this is the method towards improving health and overall well-being. Some like American millionaire and entrepreneur Bryan Johnson even believe that this is the path towards immortality. So is biohacking all it’s cracked up to be or is it just a hack? Image Credit: Shutterstock

On this month’s Ask A Doctor, we are addressing questions about children’s digestive issues, from colic to constipation, diarrhoea and dietary habits. Consultant paediatrician Dr Sanjay Woodhull joins us to answer parents’ most common concerns.Image Credit: Shutterstock

Gone are the days where mental health is spoken about in hushed tones - or are they? We talk about mental health much more openly today but that doesn’t mean the stigma is no longer there. On this episode of Mind Matters, we’ll be exploring what mental health stigma looks like today and how it continues to harm, with Hasbeemasputra Abu Bakar, Community Engagement & Lived Experience Advocate, from SIUMAN and Shaleen Chrisanne, a clinical psychologist.Image Credit: Shutterstock

If you are a parent looking for answers about your child’s neurodivergent condition, the road can be a long and winding one. Whether you’re trying to schedule an assessment to get a diagnosis, or find therapists to provide intervention, you may hit stumbling blocks and delays. Dr Norazlin Kamal Nor, Consultant Developmental Paediatrician, talks about how information and resources can help parents navigate this journey, while Dr Ng Sui Yin shares why she started the Malaysian Autism Resource Foundation.Image Credit: Malaysian Autism Resource Foundation

Epidemiologists play an important role in helping us understand how a disease occurs or spreads within a population. We speak to cancer epidemiologist Prof Dr Nirmala Bhoo Pathy to understand what cancer epidemiology involves and how it helps us in the battle against the Big C.Image Credit: Prof Dr Nirmala Bhoo Pathy

If you’re a patient at a government hospital or clinic, you probably don’t think twice about the medications you’re prescribed, though you’re probably grateful for the free treatment. But how does the Ministry of Health decide what therapies to include in the national medicines formulary? And as more innovative and expensive therapies are developed, how do we balance cost with public need? We uncover the decision-making process with Prof Dr Asrul Akmal Shafie, Professor of Pharmacoeconomics from Universiti Sains Malaysia.Image Credit: Shutterstock

Can a single blood test detect Alzheimer’s disease and how far it has progressed? Scientists have been working to develop a blood test for Alzheimer’s and while some research has yielded promising results, how close are we to a singular, definitive test? On this episode of Healthy Ageing, we speak to consultant geriatrician Prof Dr Tan Maw Pin to find out why this matters and what are the challenges with diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease here in Malaysia.Image Credit: Shutterstock

 It’s all about forgiveness during the month of Syawal, but is kosong-kosong easier said than done? How do you learn to forgive others (and even yourself)? On this episode of Counsellor’s Corner, licensed counsellor Rozy Khalid shares why forgiveness can be good for the soul. Image Credit: Shutterstock

Every 2 minutes, one woman dies in pregnancy or childbirth. Every 7 seconds, a newborn baby dies. In essence, a life is cut short before it can even begin. And the very foundation of a family is shaken with the loss of a mother. This World Health Day is aimed at changing this narrative, with a focus on ‘Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures’. We speak to Dr Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO Representative to Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore, on global and Malaysian efforts to help mothers and babies survive and thrive.Image Credit: Shutterstock

On 24th March in 1882, Dr Robert Koch announced that he had discovered the bacterium that causes TB. 143 years later, we’ve learned that we can prevent and cure this disease. Yet, more than 10 million people worldwide still get TB every year, and more than 1 million die from the disease. In conjunction with World TB Day on 24th March, we speak to Dr Helmy Haja Mydin, Consultant Respiratory Physician, about why TB is still a threat in Malaysia and whether we’re in danger of seeing it return as a widespread disease. Image Credit: Shutterstock

Is butter an artery-clogging food? Or is it actually a superfood? Butter has been both demonised and celebrated in the health space over the years. A recent large, long-term study came to the conclusion that butter is associated with increased risk of death from all causes and from cancer. We break down the findings of this study, and try to put our love-hate relationship with butter into perspective. Joining us to do this is Mary Easaw, consultant dietitian.Image Credit: Shutterstock

The way we seek healthcare today is reactive, and fragmented by disease and specialisation. We go to a doctor only when we have a serious health problem, and rarely when we are well. We get treated for specific symptoms, without a view of our overall health. Could this picture change, if primary care is integrated with secondary and tertiary care? We find out from Dr Rajesh Singh, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, and Prof Dr Leelavathi Muthupalaniappan, Family Medicine Specialist.Image Credit: Shutterstock