The question that changed my health journey
Reading Time: 4 minutesThis ultrasound image reminds me that every health journey begins with our daily habits, choices, and self-care that write the next chapter July 2016. I felt an intense pain on the right side of my neck for more than a week. There was no improvement even after applying some analgesic creams, so I decided to […]
From Biodiversity to Biomedicine: Sarawak’s Regenerative Medicine Drive Gets RM50 Million Boost
Reading Time: 3 minutesA flower of the Bintangor tree (Calophyllum species), native to the rainforests of Borneo. The tree has shown promising potential in scientific research, with compounds derived from it being investigated for their potential in developing therapies for cancer and HIV, as well as applications in regenerative medicine. Sarawak is proposing a RM50 million investment to […]
Are Malaysians Missing the Real Risk Behind Heart Disease?
Reading Time: 3 minutesFrom Left: Ms Celeste Lau, Assistant Director, Dietetics; Dr Lim Bee Chian, Consultant Cardiologist; and Ms Nathalie Goh, Physiotherapist, during the Sunway Medical Centre in partnership with Novartis Malaysia media roundtable Malaysians who exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet may still face a significant risk of heart attack and stroke if elevated “bad” cholesterol […]
Double Jeopardy: Chronic illness may raise risk of severe dengue
Reading Time: 5 minutesThe Aedes aegypti mosquito, the primary vector responsible for transmitting dengue, is seen in this file photo. World Mosquito Day, observed on Aug. 20, highlights the continuing global threat posed by mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue. Dengue may be a familiar illness in Malaysia, but for people living with chronic conditions, the infection can carry […]
Strengthening your body’s first line of defence: Nutrition and lifestyle for immune resilience
Reading Time: 3 minutesOur bodies encounter thousands of bacteria, viruses and other microbes every day, most of them invisible to the naked eye. Every day, our bodies come into contact with thousands of bacteria, viruses, and other microbes. Most of the time, we don’t even notice – thanks to our immune system, the body’s sophisticated defence network. The […]
A Tiny Sensor Could Transform How We Monitor Gut Health
Reading Time: 3 minutesFor years, measuring a key indicator of gut health has required expensive laboratory equipment, specialist expertise and days of waiting for results. That may soon change. Researchers in Singapore have developed a fluorescent nanosensor capable of detecting indole-3-propionic acid (IPA), a molecule produced by beneficial gut bacteria that is increasingly recognised as an important indicator […]
Malaysia’s Commitment to Strengthening Rare Disease Care and Policy
Reading Time: 4 minutesIn August 2025, Malaysia reached a critical milestone in healthcare reform with the launch of its first-ever National Policy on Rare Diseases. This groundbreaking initiative marks a shift toward health equity by formally recognising individuals with rare diseases as a vulnerable group entitled to timely diagnosis, access to treatment, and long-term care. For many years, […]
Decoding Venoms: From Deadly Bites and Stings to Life-Saving Insights
Reading Time: 3 minutesSnakebite envenoming is one of the most neglected tropical diseases, yet it claims over 100,000 lives globally every year. Hundreds of thousands more are left with long-term disabilities. In Malaysia, venomous snakes are part of our natural biodiversity, but for rural communities, plantation workers, and indigenous peoples, they remain a constant danger. Snakes are not […]
Malaysian Microbiome: How Ethnicity and Diet Shape Our Health
Reading Time: 2 minutesIn Malaysia’s rich cultural tapestry woven from Malay, Chinese, Indian, and indigenous (Orang Asli) threads our food is more than just sustenance. It is heritage, identity, and, as science now shows, a shaper of the tiny microbial worlds living in our guts. Researchers have long known that ethnicity can act as a proxy for lifestyle […]
Beyond the Body: A Science-Informed Look at the 10 Pillars of Wholistic Wellness
Reading Time: 2 minutesBeyond the Body: A Science-Informed Look at the 10 Pillars of Wholistic Wellness I’ve just returned from the Sustainable Wholistic Wellness International Conference and Expo (SWWICE) in Sabah — and in one word, the experience was transformational. Over the course of three days, I gained new perspectives and re-evaluated much of what I thought I understood […]