MalaysianUpdates

Category: Medical Advice & Awareness

  • Laying the Foundation for a Healthy Pregnancy and Baby

    Laying the Foundation for a Healthy Pregnancy and Baby

    From conception through the first days of life, early care plays a crucial role in shaping a child’s lifelong health. According to Dr Sharmina Kamal Binti Shamsul Kamal, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City (SMC), preparation for a healthy pregnancy should ideally begin even before a positive pregnancy test.

    She explained that women are encouraged to undergo pre-pregnancy medical check-ups to detect conditions such as diabetes, hypertension or other underlying health issues that may affect pregnancy outcomes if left unmanaged. With the rising prevalence of these conditions among young Malaysians, early screening has become increasingly important. She also emphasised the need to review medications beforehand to ensure they are safe for use during pregnancy.

    Dr Sharmina further highlighted the importance of folic acid supplementation, noting that it should be started even before conception. This is because the baby’s neural tube develops very early in pregnancy, and early supplementation offers the best protection against serious neural tube defects.

    During pregnancy, each trimester represents important stages of development. The first trimester is the most delicate as the baby’s organs begin forming, while the second and third trimesters focus on growth, maturation and bonding as the baby becomes more responsive to sound and movement. She noted that nutrition plays a vital role throughout pregnancy, as deficiencies in the mother can directly affect the baby’s development.

    She advised expectant mothers to avoid smoking and alcohol, limit caffeine intake and maintain a balanced diet. In Malaysia, iron, calcium and vitamin D deficiencies are commonly seen among pregnant women. Iron deficiency may lead to anaemia, causing fatigue and increasing the risk of poor foetal growth, while calcium and vitamin D deficiencies can affect bone health during and after pregnancy. However, supplements should only be taken under medical supervision, alongside a nutritious diet rich in protein, leafy greens, whole grains and dairy or fortified alternatives.

    Antenatal visits, she stressed, are far more than routine check-ups. These appointments are essential for monitoring pregnancy progress, detecting complications early and ensuring the baby’s healthy development. Early scans help confirm pregnancy viability and establish accurate dating, while regular follow-ups allow doctors to closely monitor the baby, placenta and amniotic fluid. Conditions such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes can often be identified before symptoms become severe.

    During festive periods, Dr Sharmina encouraged mothers to practise moderation rather than restriction. She advised enjoying celebrations while maintaining balanced meals, avoiding alcohol, ensuring food is properly cooked and getting sufficient rest. Adequate sleep, hydration and proper pacing of activities are important for maternal wellbeing.

    After delivery, the first hours are especially important for both mother and baby. She recommended immediate skin-to-skin contact, which helps stabilise the baby’s blood sugar, supports breastfeeding and strengthens early bonding.

    Emotionally, many mothers may experience temporary postpartum blues, affecting around 60 to 80 per cent of women in the first two weeks after birth. However, persistent sadness, withdrawal or worsening symptoms may indicate postpartum depression and should be assessed by a medical professional. Physical recovery also requires attention, particularly if there is increasing pain, fever, poor wound healing or abnormal discharge.

    During confinement, proper nutrition remains essential for recovery and breastfeeding. Adequate intake of protein, iron and fluids supports healing, while restricting water may lead to dehydration, reduced milk supply and increased risk of blood clots. Gentle movement is encouraged to improve circulation, while prolonged immobility should be avoided. Family support is equally important, especially in helping reduce household responsibilities so parents can focus on recovery and bonding with their newborn.

    Breastfeeding provides significant benefits, although many mothers face challenges due to limited support or misinformation. Early milk production is naturally small, requiring frequent feeding to establish supply. Education, workplace support and family encouragement play a key role in helping mothers succeed.

    As families come together to welcome a newborn, simple measures such as proper hand hygiene and limiting close contact when the baby is very young can help reduce infection risks while maintaining meaningful family bonding.

    Dr Sharmina concluded that with informed decisions, appropriate medical care and strong family support, mothers can experience a healthier pregnancy journey and give their children the best possible start in life.

  • IJN Achieves Historic Milestone as Asia’s First EAPC-Accredited Sports Cardiology Centre

    Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) has successfully obtained accreditation from the European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC) for Sports Cardiology, becoming the first centre in Asia to receive this recognition under the EAPC Preventive Cardiology Centre Accreditation programme. This achievement underscores IJN’s commitment to delivering high-quality cardiovascular care in line with international standards. The accreditation signifies that IJN meets stringent criteria in cardiovascular preventive care, particularly in Sports Cardiology, including adherence to the latest clinical guidelines, well-established infrastructure, and a highly trained multidisciplinary team.

    Chief Executive Officer of IJN, Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Mohamed Ezani Md Taib, said the accreditation reflects the institution’s continuous efforts to enhance patient care and outcomes. He described the recognition as a significant milestone that demonstrates IJN’s commitment to delivering high-quality, evidence-based cardiovascular care. He added that the accreditation validates the strength of IJN’s Sports Cardiology service, which is built on sound clinical governance, up-to-date guidelines, a capable multidisciplinary team, and the appropriate infrastructure to support improved patient outcomes. As the first centre in Asia to receive this recognition under the programme, he emphasised that IJN remains committed to advancing its capabilities in line with international standards while reinforcing its position as a leading cardiac centre in the region.

    Dato’ Sri Dr. Azmee Mohd Ghazi, Director of Sports Cardiology at IJN, said the accreditation highlights the importance of specialised cardiovascular care in supporting active individuals and athletes. He noted that the recognition reflects the strength of IJN’s Sports Cardiology programme in delivering comprehensive, evidence-based care for athletes and physically active individuals. It also reinforces IJN’s role in ensuring safe sports participation through proper cardiovascular assessment, risk management, and continuous monitoring aligned with international best practices.

    The EAPC accreditation programme aims to establish benchmarks in preventive cardiology practice, ultimately improving the quality of care and cardiovascular health outcomes globally. With this recognition, IJN joins a global network of accredited centres committed to advancing preventive cardiology, fostering collaboration, and promoting best practices in the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

    Director of Sports Cardiology at IJN, Dato’ Sri Dr. Azmee Mohd Ghazi, noted that the accreditation highlights the importance of specialised cardiovascular care in supporting athletes and physically active individuals. He explained that the recognition reflects the strength of IJN’s Sports Cardiology programme in delivering comprehensive, evidence-based care, while reinforcing its role in ensuring safe sports participation through proper cardiovascular assessment, risk management, and continuous monitoring aligned with international best practices.

    The EAPC accreditation programme aims to establish benchmarks in preventive cardiology practice, ultimately improving the quality of care and cardiovascular health outcomes globally. With this recognition, IJN joins a global network of accredited centres dedicated to advancing preventive cardiology, fostering collaboration, and promoting best practices in the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

  • Kerjasama KPJ Healthcare–Novo Nordisk Tingkatkan Penjagaan Metabolik dan Pengurusan Berat Badan

    Kerjasama KPJ Healthcare–Novo Nordisk Tingkatkan Penjagaan Metabolik dan Pengurusan Berat Badan

    KPJ Healthcare Berhad dan Novo Nordisk Malaysia hari ini memeterai kerjasama strategik melalui Memorandum Persefahaman (MoU) bagi memperkukuh penjagaan berstruktur berasaskan hospital di Malaysia. Inisiatif ini dilaksanakan selaras dengan peningkatan permintaan terhadap sokongan yang lebih selamat, terselaras dan dipantau secara perubatan untuk individu yang mengalami obesiti serta keadaan metabolik berkaitan. Kerjasama ini akan menyokong pembangunan Program Pengurusan Metabolik dan Berat Badan KPJ, iaitu model penjagaan berasaskan hospital yang menyediakan rawatan berstruktur, dipimpin oleh pakar serta mengaplikasikan pendekatan multidisiplin dalam persekitaran penjagaan kesihatan yang terkawal.

    Kerjasama ini dilaksanakan ketika Malaysia terus berdepan beban kesihatan obesiti dan metabolik yang ketara. Data saringan terkini Kementerian Kesihatan menunjukkan seorang daripada dua orang dewasa di Malaysia mempunyai berat badan berlebihan daripada 1.2 juta individu yang disaring, sekali gus mencerminkan skala dan keperluan mendesak untuk menangani isu ini. Selain itu, sebanyak 15.6 peratus orang dewasa, iaitu kira-kira satu daripada enam, hidup dengan diabetes, dengan ramai yang masih tidak menyedari keadaan tersebut. Obesiti juga dianggarkan menelan kos melebihi RM64 bilion setahun melalui perbelanjaan kesihatan, kehilangan produktiviti dan kematian pramatang.

    [Dari Kiri ke Kanan] Puan Patricia Tan, Pengarah Pemasaran Bersekutu Novo Nordisk
    Pharma (M) Sdn Bhd (“Novo Nordisk), Encik Ahmad Rizal Che Wan, Pengarah Kewangan &
    Operasi Bersekutu Novo Nordisk, Dr Praful Chakkarwar, Pengurus Besar Novo Nordisk,
    Encik Chin Keat Chyuan, Presiden dan Pengarah Urusan KPJ Healthcare, Dato’ Mohd Farid
    Salim, Ketua Pegawai Operasi (Operasi Hospital) KPJ Healthcare dan Profesor Dato’ Dr
    Hanafiah Harunarashid, Ketua Pegawai Perubatan KPJ Healthcare mengambil gambar
    kenangan selepas majlis pelancaran Program Pengurusan Berat Badan KPJ.

    Di bawah kerjasama ini, kedua-dua pihak akan menyokong pembangunan laluan penjagaan yang lebih komprehensif dengan menggabungkan rundingan pakar, sokongan dietetik, panduan gaya hidup serta terapi perubatan yang bersesuaian secara klinikal. Pada fasa pertama, program ini dijangka diperkenalkan di 10 hospital KPJ, iaitu Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital, Damansara Specialist Hospital, Damansara 2 Specialist Hospital, Ipoh Specialist Hospital, Johor Specialist Hospital, KPJ Klang Specialist Hospital, KPJ Penang Specialist Hospital, KPJ Selangor Specialist Hospital, Kuching Specialist Hospital dan Tawakkal Specialist Hospital, dengan pelaksanaan diperluas secara berperingkat dalam tempoh 12 bulan. Pesakit dijangka boleh mengakses program ini melalui laluan saringan kesihatan hospital serta rujukan dalaman.

    Program ini akan mengintegrasikan saringan kesihatan bersama profesional kesihatan sekutu merangkumi bidang endokrinologi, perubatan dalaman, pembedahan bariatrik, psikologi, fisioterapi, rehabilitasi, dietetik dan farmasi di bawah satu model penjagaan yang lebih tersusun. Penjagaan pesakit dalam laluan ini melibatkan penilaian awal, saringan komposisi badan, penilaian risiko metabolik, perancangan rawatan yang diperibadikan, kaunseling tingkah laku serta susulan berkala, dengan tempoh penjagaan lazim sehingga enam bulan bergantung kepada keperluan klinikal individu.

    Encik Chin Keat Chyuan, Presiden dan Pengarah Urusan KPJ Healthcare semasa
    berucap di majlis pelancaran Program Pengurusan Berat Badan KPJ.

    Presiden dan Pengarah Urusan KPJ Healthcare Berhad, Chin Keat Chyuan, berkata obesiti merupakan penyakit kronik yang kompleks dan berkait rapat dengan pelbagai penyakit metabolik serta tidak berjangkit lain, justeru memerlukan pengurusan jangka panjang yang terselaras. Beliau menjelaskan bahawa kerjasama ini memperkukuh pendekatan penjagaan yang lebih berstruktur dan bersepadu di seluruh hospital KPJ, selaras dengan KPJ Health System yang menggabungkan kepakaran klinikal, sokongan kesihatan bersekutu serta intervensi berasaskan bukti dalam model penjagaan yang konsisten. Menurut beliau, usaha ini mencerminkan komitmen berterusan KPJ dalam menyediakan penjagaan berpusatkan pesakit yang mudah diakses, lestari dan berfokuskan hasil. Selain penjagaan pesakit, kerjasama ini turut meneroka aspek pendidikan klinikal serta komunikasi bertanggungjawab berkaitan pengurusan obesiti, termasuk penggunaan terapi berasaskan GLP-1 dalam persekitaran penjagaan kesihatan terkawal, yang dijangka merangkumi sesi Pendidikan Perubatan Berterusan dan kandungan pendidikan di media sosial. Fasa pertama dijangka melibatkan 10 hospital KPJ dan 19 pakar endokrinologi perunding.

    Pengurus Besar Novo Nordisk Malaysia, Praful Chakkarwar, berkata obesiti merupakan penyakit kronik yang memerlukan pengurusan jangka panjang berasaskan bukti. Seiring dengan peningkatan kesedaran di Malaysia, beliau menegaskan kepentingan memastikan pesakit disokong melalui laluan penjagaan yang dipantau secara perubatan dengan kepakaran klinikal yang tepat serta susulan berterusan. Beliau turut menyatakan bahawa kerjasama ini diharap dapat menyumbang kepada penjagaan menyeluruh bagi individu yang mengalami obesiti, yang lazimnya melibatkan pelbagai keadaan kesihatan yang saling bertindih, serta mengiktiraf KPJ Healthcare sebagai rakan strategik yang signifikan dalam usaha tersebut.

    Encik Praful Chakkarwar, Pengurus Besar Novo Nordisk semasa berucap
    mengenai Novo Nordisk di majlis pelancaran Program Pengurusan Berat Badan
    KPJ.

    Kerjasama ini juga bertujuan meningkatkan kesedaran mengenai obesiti sebagai penyakit kronik yang boleh dirawat dalam kalangan pesakit, majikan dan masyarakat umum. Dalam beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini, pakar klinikal dan kesihatan di Malaysia semakin menekankan bahawa obesiti perlu diuruskan melalui pendekatan penjagaan jangka panjang yang menyeluruh, bukannya sekadar intervensi jangka pendek atau sementara. Dengan menggabungkan kepakaran klinikal, sokongan berstruktur serta pendidikan yang bertanggungjawab, KPJ Healthcare Berhad dan Novo Nordisk Malaysia berharap dapat memajukan penjagaan obesiti secara mampan, berasaskan bukti dan memberi impak yang signifikan kepada rakyat Malaysia.

  • Understanding the Growing Allergy Problem Among Malaysian Children: A Guide for Parents

    Understanding the Growing Allergy Problem Among Malaysian Children: A Guide for Parents

    As Malaysia continues to grow as a bustling urban nation, a concerning trend is quietly rising alongside its development — a significant increase in allergies among children. What was once seen as a minor irritation has now become a growing public health issue, with triggers ranging from dust mites and food allergens to pollution and mould. Recent estimates suggest that one in five Malaysian children may develop some form of allergy, highlighting the urgent need for parents to better understand and manage these conditions early.

    Consultant Paediatrician and Paediatric Respiratory Specialist at Sunway Medical Centre, Sunway City, Dr. Noor Zehan Abdul Rahim, explains that allergies are often misunderstood as simple sneezes or rashes, when in reality, they can greatly impact a child’s overall quality of life. “Urban living exposes children to higher allergens like dust mites, smoke, and pollution. While parents can’t control everything, they can take steps to make their homes safer havens,” she says.

    A Young mother helping baby eating blend food on baby chair

    In Malaysia, dust mites remain the most common cause of respiratory allergies, thriving in humid environments such as bedding, carpets, and fabric furnishings. Pet dander also frequently triggers reactions, even from breeds labelled “hypoallergenic.” Although less widespread compared to Western countries, food allergies — especially to peanuts, shellfish, and milk — are becoming increasingly recognised. Additionally, pollen and mould, particularly in damp urban homes, can contribute to persistent symptoms.

    Allergies can appear as early as six months old, particularly food allergies, while respiratory-related allergies often emerge around ages five to six. Symptoms can include runny noses, sneezing, coughing, nasal congestion, wheezing, eczema, vomiting, or diarrhoea. Allergic rhinitis, the most common childhood allergy, can significantly disrupt daily life if left unmanaged. Dr. Noor Zehan encourages parents to pay close attention to recurring patterns and consider keeping a symptom diary to track possible triggers.

    Ignoring allergies can lead to long-term consequences, including chronic sinusitis or asthma. Alarmingly, asthma cases among Malaysian children have risen sharply — from 6.4% to 9.4% in those aged 6 to 7, and from 9% to 13% in teenagers. “Asthma triggered by untreated allergies can be life-altering if not properly managed,” Dr. Noor Zehan warns. “It’s heartbreaking to see children struggle with something that can often be prevented or controlled.”

    Fortunately, parents can take several practical steps to reduce allergen exposure at home. Dr. Noor Zehan recommends using dust-mite-proof bedding, vacuuming regularly with HEPA filters, avoiding smoke exposure, managing pet allergens, and introducing allergenic foods between four to six months under medical guidance. She also advises choosing air purifiers carefully to avoid irritants like fragrances.

    Asian kid in nebulizer treatment when suffering chest tightness

    Common myths remain widespread, such as the belief that children automatically outgrow allergies or that cold drinks worsen respiratory symptoms. “With proper management, children with asthma or allergic rhinitis can enjoy normal activities without unnecessary restrictions,” she explains. Concerns about inhaler dependency are also misplaced — inhalers are safe, effective tools that improve breathing and overall wellbeing.

    The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced allergy patterns as well. Reduced exposure to infections during lockdowns temporarily eased symptoms for some children but also limited natural immunity-building. As life returns to normal, Dr. Noor Zehan encourages parents to gradually reintroduce their children to varied environments while maintaining hygiene and monitoring for allergy triggers.

    Ultimately, managing childhood allergies requires a collaborative approach between parents and healthcare professionals. Regular paediatric check-ups are crucial for early detection and proper treatment. “The early years are crucial for long-term health,” says Dr. Noor Zehan. “Stay informed, take action, and don’t hesitate to seek medical advice. Every step you take now will help your child live a healthier, happier life.”