WORDS LIM TECK CHOON 5 FACTS ABOUT ENDOMETRIOSIS Click on the image for a larger, clearer version. It is a condition that sees tissue similar to that of the uterine lining growing outside the uterus, such as at the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and the tissue lining the pelvis. It can also be found in other areas of the body, but this is very rare. Endometriosis can cause debilitating pain, severe bloating, and fatigue, especially during one’s period. It can affect one’s ability to have children, as 30% to 50% of women with infertility also have endometriosis. Approximately 350,000 women in Mala ..read more

WORDS DR SAPNA SHRIDHAR PATIL, DR AMEYA ASHOK HASAMNIS & PROFESSOR DR WEE LEI HUM FEATURED EXPERTS DR SAPNA SHRIDHAR PATIL Senior Lecturer School of Medicine Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences Taylor’s University DR AMEYA ASHOK HASAMNIS Senior Lecturer School of Medicine Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences Taylor’s University PROFESSOR DR WEE LEI HUM School of Medicine Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences Taylor’s University Tuberculosis remains a significant global health challenge, with an estimated 10.6 million people falling ill and 1.3 million people d ..read more

WORDS MICHELLE TEH FEATURED EXPERT MICHELLE TEH Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Earth & Me Website Malaysia’s landfills are filling to capacity, putting the country in danger of running out of space for the disposal of solid waste by 2050. In fact, about 38,000 metric tonnes of solid waste on average are sent to more than 100 landfills in Malaysia daily. In Kuala Lumpur alone, there are about 2,500 metric tonnes of solid waste produced daily, which could pile up to the height of the Petronas Twin Towers in only one week! This amount of waste is set to continue increasing in ta ..read more

WORDS ANAS ALMASWARY FEATURED EXPERT ANAS ALMASWARY Master’s Student in Clinical Nutrition Faculty of Health Sciences Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) The role of nutrition in the first phase of a child’s life, especially in the first thousand days, is huge and influences the immune response system and later health. THE IMPACT OF EARLY NUTRITION Nutrition during the first 1000 days, including the intrauterine period, is crucial for a child’s development, affecting the gut microbiota composition and immune system. The immune system receives benefits from dietary omega-3 long-chain fat ..read more

WORDS LIM TECK CHOON Food insufficiency, also known as food scarcity and food insecurity, describes a lack of adequate food and nutrition to meet dietary needs. It’s a global crisis affecting millions, with adverse impacts on health, productivity, and human potential. According to a paper published in 2021, the prevalence of household food insecurity in Malaysia was “unexpectedly high”. Chief affected demographics are the Orang Asli, low-income household or welfare-recipient households, university students, and the elderly. UTAR STUDENTS PLAY THEIR PART IN HELPING OUT PEOPLE EXPERIENCING ..read more

WORDS DR YOGESVARAN KANAPATY FEATURED EXPERT DR YOGESVARAN KANAPATY Consultant Rhinologist and ENT – Head & Neck Surgeon Columbia Asia Hospital–Bukit Jalil Breathing should be effortless. Yet, for many, nasal polyps disrupt this simple act. Imagine a persistent feeling of congestion, an unrelenting blockage that complicates every breath. Nasal polyps, often unnoticed but profoundly impactful, can turn the breathing routine into a struggle. WHAT ARE NASAL POLYPS? Nasal polyps are usually non-cancerous outgrowths of the nasal mucosa. The nasal mucosa refers to inner lining the nasal ca ..read more

WORDS LIM TECK CHOON FEATURED EXPERT DR SYED ABDULLAH AL-HADDAD Consultant Neurosurgeon Sunway Medical Centre Trigeminal neuralgia, also known as the ‘suicide disease’ or tic douloureux, is a rare and agonizing condition. While it is considered a rare disease due to its low occurrence among us, it has gained notoriety due to celebrities such as George Clooney and Salma Hayek revealing that they suffer from it. It is more prevalent among women as well as people over the age of 50. FACTS ABOUT TRIGERMINAL NEURALGIA Causes a sudden, intense, stabbing, or electric shock-lain pain in the jaw ..read more

WORDS LIM TECK CHOON FEATURED EXPERT LEE YEE SENG President Malaysian Lysosomal Diseases Association (MLDA) The Malaysia Lysosomal Diseases Association (MLDA) unveiled its latest fund-raising effort in February—a collaboration with Fusion Wayang Kulit to shine the spotlight on the difficult circumstances faced by people living with lysosomal storage diseases or LSDs. WHAT IS LYSOSOMAL STORAGE DISEASE? First, let’s look at the lysosome, a structure within our cell. It is usually spherical in shape and contains enzymes that helps to break down carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, as well ..read more

WORDS DR MUHAMMAD IQBAL ABDUL HAFIDZ FEATURED EXPERT DR MUHAMMAD IQBAL ABDUL HAFIDZ Head of the Nephrology Unit and Kidney Transplant Programme Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) QUESTION 1 Considering the advances made in dialysis technology, why is kidney transplant still considered a necessity for people with end stage kidney disease? Kidney transplantation is generally regarded as the optimal treatment endpoint for individuals with end stage kidney disease. This is because it offers superior long-term outcomes, improved quality of life, and reduced health risks. Patients can lead a lif ..read more

WORDS ALFRED C CHEUNG FEATURED EXPERT ALFRED C CHEUNG Certified Food Scientist Co-Founder of Ultimeat SUSTAINABLE, ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS FOR PROTEIN ARE SOARING IN POPULARITY In fact, according to the strategic consulting firm EY-Parthenon, the alternative protein market is projected to reach US$17.4 billion in 2027! Locally, leading data and analytics company GlobalData reports that the Malaysian meat substitutes market is set to expand at a value compound annual growth rate or CAGR of 7.4% throughout 2023 to 2027. BUT WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS FOR ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN IN THE MALAYSIAN MARKET ..read more