Health & Living BFM Media

Tobacco companies have had decades of experience marketing their products to appeal to a wider consumer base, including the youths, and these strategies have seemed to only grow more aggressive as companies pivot to selling vapes and e-cigarettes. In conjunction with World No Tobacco Day (commemorated yearly on 31st May) and this year’s theme, we discuss how we can protect our youths from tobacco industry interference and ultimately where the responsibility to do so lies.

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Pneumococcal disease remains a pressing public health issue in Malaysia, especially among very young children and older adults. What progress have we seen in reducing the burden of pneumococcal disease with the introduction of the vaccine in the National Immunisation Programme in 2020, and what are the emerging threats that could arise to increase the burden? Consultant paediatrician Prof Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail joins us to share more.

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Motherhood has been a series of curveballs for Desiree Kaur, and raising an autistic child is just one of many challenges she juggles daily. On this episode of Because Feelings Matter, Desiree opens up about the emotions that come with the journey of raising a neurodivergent child, and how she’s learned to acknowledge the “not OK” days, even as she tries to plan everything else to a ‘T’. Desiree is the Founder of Project Haans, a website that provides resources and support for parents, caregivers, self-advocates and allies of neurodiversity.

‘Because Feelings Matter’ is a series that brings you the stories of people and their mental health issues. These stories aim to normalise conversations about mental health, and to show that it’s okay to struggle emotionally and psychologically, but more importantly, to reach out for help. This series is produced in collaboration with Thrive Well.
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When you search for “heart scans” on Google, you’re spoilt for choice with numerous private health centres advertising the availability of their heart screening packages. But options aside, what do you need to know about preventive heart scans before you sign up for one? Dr Yee Kok Meng, Consultant Cardiologist from Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, joins us to ensure that you’re armed with all the information you need so that you make the right choice for yourself and your family members.
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When we hear the word “dementia”, what many of us picture is often the last stages of the condition where the individual has lost much of their cognitive ability and memory. But that’s only a small picture of what dementia really is. What are the lived realities of people living with milder forms of dementia and how can we support their ability to still be independent? On this episode of NCD Chronicles, we feature Vanetha Ramiah’s journey of living with vascular dementia and the stigma she’s had to battle along the way. We also hear from consultant geriatrician Dr Khor Hui Min. 
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.
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Breast cancer can be screened through a mammogram while cervical cancer has HPV tests, but what about ovarian cancer? While ovarian cancer is rare, it is often diagnosed in the late stages because of the challenges with picking it up early. We speak to specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology Dr Yogeeta Gunasagran to find out whether screening and treatment for ovarian cancer has improved, and we also hear from Joselyn Pang about her journey with ovarian cancer.
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