Category: Health EN

So you’ve seen all the warnings about how smoking is so bad for you. But here’s the question: Why? What is it about smoking that is so dangerous? A video, “Why Give Up Smoking” by DocUnlock explains why (transcript below). What's inside a cigarette? A cigarette is usually made up of 3 parts: First there is the cigarette filter, this is also known as the cigarette butt. Then there is the...

My mother has always had one unbreakable rule: no outdoor shoes inside the house. It didn't matter who you were – family member, neighbour, or guest – you had to take them off before crossing the threshold. As a child, I thought it was just one of her many quirks. But as I've grown older (and wiser), I've come to understand that this wasn't about obsessive tidiness. It was about health,...

Tattoos have become more common today. Trend reporting from industry and lifestyle sources suggests designs are becoming increasingly large, colourful and complex. But less attention has been paid to what’s in the inks being injected into people’s skin. In a study published on January 19 in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, researchers analysed tattoo inks available in Australia and found...

For centuries, human beings have altered their appearance to reflect identity, culture, or creativity. From ancient henna to modern hair dyes, we’ve sought ways to express who we are. Yet science is revealing that some of these practices may come with risks we cannot ignore – such as the increased likelihood of developing breast cancer linked to certain chemical dyes. A large US study led by...

Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring minerals resistant to fire and water, and is commonly found in older buildings and homes including in Malaysia. But it is also known to cause cancer. Several groups in Malaysia, including a workers’ union and a consumer watchdog, are again pushing for a full ban on asbestos, a material used in construction known to cause cancer. But industry players...

A video from the Institute of Human Anatomy that discusses the reality of smoking from a visual perspective. Check out this interesting guided tour through the organs susceptible to smoking damage and learn how it happens. Check out the video below for the details.

Asbestos is a group of mineral fibres with widespread current and historical commercial uses. Once widely used for its heat resistance and durability, asbestos is now known to cause serious diseases, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. Asbestos’ unique properties – resistance to heat and fire, insulation capability, chemical inertness and strength – led to its widespread use for...

The government is aware of growing calls to ban asbestos and is reviewing the matter, with updates expected in the coming months, says Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup. In a recent joint statement, Building and Wood Workers’ International, the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP), Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) and the Health and...

Every time you smoke a cigarette, toxic gases pass into your lungs, then into your bloodstream where they spread to every organ in your body. A cigarette is made using the tobacco leaf, which contains nicotine and a variety of other compounds. As the tobacco and compounds burn, they release thousands of dangerous chemicals, including over 40 known to cause cancer. Cigarette smoke contains the...

Anger doesn’t just ruin your mood – it rewires your brain. Science shows that every burst of rage floods your brain with stress hormones that literally kill neurons in the prefrontal cortex – the part responsible for logic, focus, and decision-making. Scientists estimate that just 5 minutes of intense anger can cause the equivalent of 6 hours of brain aging in terms of damage and decline....