Category: Health EN

A simple exercise like walking increases the size of your brain. Having a sedentary lifestyle is basically a slow death sentence. The groundbreaking study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Researchers found that adults who walked for 40 minutes, 3 times a week, for a year experienced growth in the hippocampus – a region of the brain crucial for spatial...

A recent policy circular issued by a third-party administrator (TPA) responsible for handling private health insurance claims instructed doctors to prescribe medicine by indicating the active ingredients of medicines only, commonly known as the generic name. This has triggered discussion, particularly within the private healthcare sector. The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) is concerned...

DRINK MORE WATER, NOT SUGARY DRINKS In 2023, doctors remove 300 kidney stones from a Taiwanese woman who had a fondness for bubble tea. The discovery was made when the 20-year-old woman was admitted to hospital with a fever and severe back pain. Doctors discovered she had swollen kidneys with stones which resembled “small steamed buns”. The Chi Mei Medical Centre in the city of Tainan said...

E-cigarettes look like real cigarettes, but do not burn and combust tobacco leaves. An e-cigarette, or vape, is a battery-operated device that heats a liquid to create an aerosol, or "vapour", that the user inhales. Also referred to as electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), e-cigarettes come in many shapes and sizes, bright colours, and different flavours (fruit, candy, menthol, mint,...

A 60-year-old man with no psychiatric history substituted table salt with sodium bromide for 3 months, following ChatGPT’s advice. He developed hallucinations, paranoia, and confusion – leading to a 3-week involuntary psychiatric hold. Physicians diagnosed him with bromism, a rare form of bromide poisoning. After antipsychotic treatment and electrolyte therapy, he recovered and was...

Your calves are more than muscles they’re your body’s “second heart.” Discover how this hidden pump protects circulation, energy, and long-term health, and how a simple habit can keep it active every day. We all know the heart is working nonstop to keep us alive. But hidden in your lower legs is another vital pump that plays a huge role in how energised, clear-headed, and healthy you...

Approvals for the import into Malaysia of genetically modified (GM) crops for food and feed have increased markedly in recent years. Most of these crops are of the herbicide-tolerant and/or insect-resistant varieties, giving rise to health concerns of exposure to herbicide residues and insecticidal toxins via food consumption. The food safety risks are compounded by the proliferation of...

Drinking water upon waking up is a simple practice that is good for health. Doing this rehydrates your body, which is mildly dehydrated after several hours without water while you sleep. Water makes up around 60% of your body, and is important for maintaining bodily functions, including digestion, circulation, temperature regulation, and cellular activities. Drinking water in the morning helps...

Obesity and overweight can affect health in many ways. But do you know: Excess body weight can also wreak havoc on your knees. Osteoarthritis, also called wear-and-tear arthritis – is a condition in which the cartilage or natural cushioning between joints wears away. This causes the joints to rub more closely against one another since there are fewer shock-absorbing benefits of cartilage....

Countless teens and adults are exposed to blue light at night from various devices. These devices aren’t dangerous in and of themselves. But researchers have discovered that they interrupt sleep and prevent the deep, restful sleep we need to be healthy. Blue light suppresses the body's release of melatonin, a hormone that makes you feel drowsy. While this promotes wakefulness during the day,...