The pandemic has robbed people of any sense of control over their lives. Even children are struggling to cope with the uncertainties when it comes to their schooling and other normal routines of childhood. In the UK, thousands of children chose ‘anxiety’ as their word of the year in 2021, which is an indication of how helpless they feel. Consultant developmental paediatrician Dr Rajini Sarvananthan joins us to discuss how helping children to set goals and resolutions could help them feel more prepared for the year ahead.

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New year, new me, new fitness goals. It is that time of the year when many people are resetting their fitness goals and pledging to eat healthier or workout more. But what does it really mean to be “fit” or “in shape”? And at a time when we’re finally going back to the office, does that mean we have less time to exercise or play sports? Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dr Harjeet Singh and personal trainer Noel Chelliah weigh in on how to set realistic fitness goals without pushing our bodies to the point of injury.

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Every mental health struggle has a story behind it. ‘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. In this episode, Meriza talks about how she manages her bipolar disorder, and how she’s learned to live life on her own terms.

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According to Oxford University Press, children in the UK chose ‘anxiety’ as their word of the year for 2021. How will 2022 play out for parents and children in Malaysia, as they face a completely different schedule for the new school year, and numerous challenges related to physical and mental wellbeing? We check in with Aniza Nawawi, a mother, to discuss what parents have been struggling with when it comes to their children’s mood and behaviour throughout the pandemic. We also speak to Teoh Rhu Yie, clinical psychologist from Thrive Well, to look at what support families need to cope with 2022, especially those from lower-income communities.

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Parents can now register their kids aged 5-11 on MySejahtera for the COVID-19 vaccination, which will be rolled out in February. But many parents are worried about the safety of administering the Pfizer mRNA vaccine among children so young, and whether it’s necessary to subject them to any potential risks and side effects. Consultant paediatrician Dr Rakhee Yadav joins Dr George Lee to answer questions about vaccinating young children against COVID-19.

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Any death is devastating - more so an unexpected death that robs people of their loved ones without any warning. Sudden cardiac death accounts for a large proportion of sudden natural deaths, and does not spare even active and productive adults. Consultant cardiologist and electrophysiologist, Dr Gary Lee, from Thomson Hospital Kota Damansara, joins us to spell out the basics of sudden cardiac death, and what we can do to prevent it.

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For a long time, couples who carried the thalassaemia gene - either in one or both parents - had few options when it came to starting a family, and these options often came with difficult decisions. Preimplantation genetic testing, along with in-vitro fertilisation, has given couples the chance to reduce the risk of having a baby with thalassaemia. We explore how preimplantation genetic testing is done, and address the most common concerns regarding this procedure, with Dr Eeson Sinthamoney, Director & Fertility Specialist; and Michelle Lim, Senior Pre-Implantation Genetic Testing Specialist, from Sunfert International Fertility Centre.

This show is brought to you by EP Plus Group Sdn Bhd. For more information visit https://www.sunfert.com

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For an expecting mother, the 40 weeks of pregnancy, impending childbirth, and motherhood is a journey full of unknowns. Pregnancy and childbirth can be fraught with anxiety, especially with the additional stress caused by the pandemic. We speak to Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist Dr Premitha Damodaran, and Consultant Psychiatrist Dr Bharathi Vengadasalam, to find out what women struggle with, what kind of emotional and psychological support they need, and how to manage depression among mothers.

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The National COVID-19 Testing Strategy was launched late last year to help the country transition  to living with COVID-19 as an endemic disease. The testing strategy is meant to enable safe reopening of the economy and social sectors, empower us to live safely, and reduce transmission of COVID-19. As we ease into the new year with the reopening of schools and workplaces, Dr George Lee joins us to speak to Prof Dr Victor Hoe, Professor of Occupational and Environmental Health, from University of Malaya, about how we can utilise the testing strategy effectively and whether it fully addresses our transition to endemicity.

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Pancreatic cancer is rare, but it is an aggressive cancer that usually leads to poor outcomes. One of the biggest challenges is diagnosing the cancer early, as it tends to develop silently with few remarkable symptoms. We speak to Dr Rajesh Kumar Paramasivam, Consultant Gastroenterologist & Hepatologist, from Thomson Hospital Kota Damansara, to find out whether pancreatic cancer can be detected early, and how endoscopic ultrasound can be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

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