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Tag: #SunwayMedicalCentreVelocity

  • The Fall You Don’t See Coming: Strengthening Emergency and Trauma Preparedness

    The Fall You Don’t See Coming: Strengthening Emergency and Trauma Preparedness

    Have you ever heard of someone being hospitalised after a fall? It may seem like a small incident, but for many, a single fall can change everything. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths worldwide, claiming an estimated 684,000 lives each year. Despite how common they are, falls are often underestimated, with many individuals only seeking medical attention when their symptoms worsen.

    Dr. Cyrus Lai Sin Nan, Consultant Emergency Physician at Sunway Medical Centre Velocity (SMCV), shared that it is not uncommon for patients to walk into the Accident & Emergency department after a fall appearing fine, only for scans to reveal serious internal injuries such as bleeding in the brain or abdomen. “Just because there is no broken bone doesn’t mean there is no problem. Some injuries, particularly in the head or abdomen, may not show symptoms immediately, and that timely response can make all the difference,” he explained.

    SMCV Dr Cyrus Lai Sin Nan

    While falls are often associated with the elderly, they remain one of the leading causes of emergency department visits across all age groups including children, working adults, and athletes. According to Dr. Cyrus, falls rarely occur due to a single cause but are usually the result of a combination of environmental, lifestyle, and medical factors. Many incidents happen at home, especially in bathrooms and on staircases where wet or uneven surfaces make slipping more likely. A sedentary lifestyle weakens muscles and balance, while limited physical activity leaves individuals more vulnerable. Additionally, underlying health conditions such as poor vision, osteoporosis, or low blood pressure, combined with medications that cause dizziness, can further increase the risk of falls.

    Because falls can cause anything from minor bruises to life-threatening trauma, having access to a trauma-ready emergency department is essential. At SMCV, trauma cases are managed through a multidisciplinary approach involving physicians and surgeons from various specialties to provide comprehensive care for different types of injuries. This ensures that even injuries not immediately visible are detected and treated swiftly, preventing complications and improving recovery outcomes. For instance, a minor bump on the head can lead to internal bleeding in the brain, which may result in unconsciousness, cognitive impairment, or even long-term neurological complications such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) if left untreated.

    At SMCV, trauma cases are managed through a multidisciplinary approach, uniting specialists across various specialties to detect and treat injuries swiftly for better recovery outcomes

    Among the elderly, the consequences of falls are often more severe. A single fall can cause hip fractures that require surgical procedures such as total hip replacement to restore mobility and quality of life. This is increasingly concerning, as hip fracture cases in Malaysia are projected to rise 3.5-fold by 2050 from about 6,000 to more than 21,000 cases. “When an elderly person sustains a hip fracture from a fall, total hip replacement is often the best treatment. It not only repairs the trauma but also helps them return to daily activities with less pain and better function,” added Dr. Cyrus.

    Given these risks, Dr. Cyrus emphasised that seeking immediate medical attention after a fall can make a crucial difference in recovery. He cautioned against relying on home remedies, as they may worsen the situation. “Drinking something sweet might make a person feel better temporarily, but it doesn’t treat any injury,” he said. Applying ointments or massaging bruised areas right after a fall can also worsen swelling or bleeding. Instead, he advises resting, applying ice, and seeking medical evaluation if pain or swelling persists. “Early assessment allows us to identify hidden injuries and stabilise patients before complications set in. The longer patients wait, the harder recovery becomes,” he added.

    SMCV Dr Wee Tong Ming

    Recognising the importance of timely care, SMCV has expanded and upgraded its Accident & Emergency Department and inpatient capacity to enhance accessibility, improve patient flow, and strengthen readiness for critical cases. The expansion includes a redesigned layout with improved triage areas, additional treatment and observation bays, more inpatient beds, and faster on-site testing to ensure prompt and coordinated care. “Accident & Emergency care is often the first line of defence in saving lives. Our expansion reflects SMCV’s commitment to providing swift, efficient, and compassionate care for every patient who walks through our doors, because when it comes to emergencies, every second counts,” said Dr. Wee Tong Ming, Medical Director and Consultant Emergency Physician at SMCV.

    As Malaysia’s population continues to age and lifestyles become increasingly sedentary, the risk of falls will remain a pressing public health concern. Early recognition, timely emergency care, and continued awareness are key to preventing such incidents from leading to long-term complications. Through its expanded facilities, multidisciplinary expertise, and commitment to excellence, Sunway Medical Centre Velocity continues to play a crucial role in keeping the community safe by ensuring that every patient receives swift, comprehensive, and compassionate care when it matters most.

    Sunway Medical Centre Velocity is located at Lingkaran SV, Sunway Velocity. For enquiries, please contact +603 9772 9191 or email smcv-enquiry@sunway.com.my. For more information, visit www.sunmedvelocity.com.my or follow Sunway Medical Velocity on Facebook.

  • Screen Time vs. Playtime: How Digital Habits Are Affecting Kids’ Eyesight in Malaysia

    Screen Time vs. Playtime: How Digital Habits Are Affecting Kids’ Eyesight in Malaysia

    Vision problems among Malaysian children are becoming more common, yet many go undetected until they begin to affect learning, behaviour, and overall development. A study has shown that 22.3% of children are affected by some form of visual impairment, with more than half of the cases linked to treatable causes. Dr Fiona Chew Lee Min, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Paediatric Ophthalmologist, and Strabismus Surgeon at Sunway Medical Centre Velocity (SMCV), explains that most of these cases are due to refractive errors, a condition where light is not properly focused on the retina because of the shape of the eyeball. This leads to blurry vision, with myopia, or nearsightedness, and astigmatism being the most common conditions among Malaysian children. Both are showing an increasing trend, and she stresses the importance of routine vision checks even if no symptoms are visible, especially as August marks Children’s Eye Health and Safety Awareness Month.

    Dr Fiona Chew Lee Min, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Paediatric Ophthalmologist, and Strabismus Surgeon at Sunway Medical Centre Velocity (SMCV)

    Almost half of Malaysian children are reported to have refractive errors, with a prevalence of 47.8%. Myopia affects about 30.2%, causing distant objects to appear blurry, while astigmatism, which affects 16.3%, results from an uneven corneal curvature that causes blurred vision at all distances. Hyperopia, or long-sightedness, though less common at 1.2%, makes near vision more difficult. Dr Fiona notes that these conditions often go unnoticed, as children seldom complain. Instead, they adjust to their limitations, leading parents to assume nothing is wrong. Signs such as squinting, frequent blinking, rubbing of the eyes, or holding books and devices too close may be overlooked and misinterpreted as habits when they could indicate actual vision issues.

    If not treated early, refractive errors can progress into more serious conditions, including lazy eye, eye alignment problems, headaches, depth perception difficulties, and poor concentration. Modern lifestyles that involve heavy use of digital devices further worsen these risks. The shift to online learning during the pandemic has increased children’s daily screen time considerably, and studies reveal that more than half of Malaysian students now experience headaches related to prolonged device use. Excessive screen exposure is also linked to increased eyeball length, which is a key factor in worsening refractive errors. To reduce risks, Dr Fiona advises that children older than three should limit their screen time to one hour daily, while children under three should avoid screens altogether. Ideally, screens should be introduced later, preferably after the age of seven.

    Spending more time outdoors can help safeguard children’s vision by allowing their eyes to rest, focus on different distances, and benefit from natural light. Exposure to outdoor activity has been shown to lower the risk of myopia. Dr Fiona also promotes the 20-20-20 rule, which involves taking a 20-second break to focus on something 20 feet away after every 20 minutes of near work.

    In terms of treatment, glasses remain the most effective corrective option for refractive errors in children. Wearing glasses does not weaken eyesight, as often believed, but instead helps the eyes focus properly and reduces strain. For children aged 10 to 12, contact lenses can be considered, but proper hygiene is critical to avoid infection. Routine eye screenings are also essential, beginning from birth and followed by a formal eye assessment at the age of three, or earlier if warning signs appear. Dr Fiona emphasises that early detection allows effective treatment, improving both long-term outcomes and quality of life.

    Nutrition is another crucial factor in supporting eye health. Chow Yu Fei, Registered Dietitian at SMCV, explains that key nutrients such as vitamin A, lutein, zeaxanthin, and omega-3 fatty acids are important for visual development, coordination, and retinal protection. Deficiencies can lead to night blindness, higher sensitivity to blue light, and reduced visual processing efficiency. Nutrient-rich foods like carrots, sweet potatoes, eggs, leafy greens, broccoli, corn, salmon, mackerel, ikan tenggiri, ikan kembung, ikan patin, walnuts, and chia seeds should be included in children’s meals to strengthen their eyesight and promote healthy development.

    Chow Yu Fei, Registered Dietitian at SMCV

    By combining early detection, healthy daily habits, outdoor play, and proper nutrition, parents can play an active role in preventing and managing vision problems in children. Timely intervention and the right care can help treat most childhood eye conditions and give children the best chance for a lifetime of strong and healthy vision. Sunway Medical Centre Velocity is located at Lingkaran SV, Sunway Velocity. For enquiries, call +603 9772 9191 or email smcv.enquiry@sunway.com.my. For more information, visit www.sunmedvelocity.com.my or follow Facebook: Sunway Medical Velocity.

  • Waspada Tanda-Tanda Awal: Ketahui Bahaya Tumor Otak yang Sering Diabaikan

    Waspada Tanda-Tanda Awal: Ketahui Bahaya Tumor Otak yang Sering Diabaikan

    Tumor otak merupakan penyakit yang jarang berlaku namun berisiko tinggi, dan sering kali tidak disedari sehingga mencapai tahap yang kritikal. Di Malaysia, tumor otak menyumbang kepada 1.6% kes kanser baru yang melibatkan otak dan sistem saraf pada tahun 2020. Secara global, lebih 300,000 kes dilaporkan pada tahun 2022, menjadikan tumor otak antara 20 jenis kanser paling lazim di dunia.

    Dr Mah Jon Kooi, Pakar Bedah Saraf dari Pusat Perubatan Sunway Velocity (SMCV) menyatakan, “Kebanyakan pesakit hanya datang mendapatkan rawatan apabila tumor sudah berada pada tahap akhir. Ini kerana simptom awal sering disalah tafsir sebagai kesan penuaan atau tekanan kerja – seperti sakit kepala berulang, gangguan memori, atau perubahan emosi.” Tambah beliau, simptom tumor otak amat bergantung kepada lokasi dan saiznya dalam otak, menyebabkan diagnosis awal menjadi satu cabaran besar.

    Dr Mah Jon Kooi, Pakar Bedah Saraf dari Pusat Perubatan Sunway Velocity (SMCV)

    Tumor otak adalah pertumbuhan sel tidak normal yang boleh bersifat benigna (tidak berkanser) atau malignan (berkanser). Ia boleh muncul secara primer di dalam otak atau sebagai tumor sekunder akibat metastasis dari kanser di bahagian badan lain seperti paru-paru, payudara, kolon atau melanoma. Menurut Dr Gerard Arvind Martin dari SMCV, tumor sekunder adalah lima hingga sepuluh kali lebih biasa berbanding tumor primer.

    Simptom yang sering berlaku termasuk sakit kepala teruk, loya, penglihatan kabur, gangguan pertuturan, masalah ingatan, kehilangan keseimbangan, serta perubahan dalam personaliti. Tumor yang menyerang lobus depan boleh menjejaskan fungsi seperti emosi dan pertuturan, manakala tumor di lobus temporal boleh menjejaskan bahasa dan ingatan. Hampir separuh pesakit tumor otak didapati mengalami gangguan memori dalam pelbagai bentuk.

    Dr Gerard Arvind Martin dari SMCV

    Bagi mengesahkan kewujudan tumor otak, ujian pengimejan seperti CT dan MRI sangat penting. “MRI lebih tepat kerana ia memberikan gambaran terperinci dan membezakan tisu normal dan tidak normal dengan lebih jelas,” ujar Dr Mah. Ketepatan diagnosis membantu doktor merancang rawatan termasuk pembedahan, terapi radiasi atau rawatan lain yang bersesuaian.

    Rawatan tumor otak sangat bergantung kepada jenis dan lokasi tumor. Pembedahan kekal sebagai pilihan utama, terutama bagi tumor yang boleh diakses. Craniotomy, di mana sebahagian tengkorak dibuka untuk membuang tumor, boleh dilakukan dalam keadaan pesakit sedar (awake craniotomy) bagi memantau fungsi kritikal otak secara langsung. Selain itu, prosedur radiosurgeri menggunakan radiasi dos tinggi tanpa pembedahan juga merupakan pilihan untuk tumor kecil atau sukar dicapai.

    Kaedah pembedahan terkini menggunakan endoskopi melalui saluran hidung kini menjadi alternatif kepada tumor pituitari. Ini membolehkan pembedahan lebih tepat, kurang gangguan pada tisu otak dan masa pemulihan yang lebih singkat. Salah satu kejayaan SMCV ialah penggunaan teknik ventrikulostomi endoskopik bagi kes tumor sekunder akibat kanser paru-paru yang menyekat aliran cecair serebrospinal. Pembedahan ini berjaya mengurangkan tekanan dalam otak dan membolehkan pesakit meneruskan rawatan lanjutan.

    Meskipun tumor otak boleh membawa maut, ia bukanlah penamat kepada kehidupan. Diagnosis awal boleh membuka jalan kepada rawatan yang lebih efektif dan peluang pemulihan yang lebih baik. Kemajuan dalam teknologi perubatan hari ini menawarkan lebih banyak pilihan rawatan yang tidak invasif dan memberikan harapan baru kepada pesakit dan keluarga mereka.

    Untuk maklumat lanjut tentang penjagaan dan rawatan tumor otak, sila hubungi Pusat Perubatan Sunway Velocity di talian +603 9772 9191 atau emel ke smcv-enquiry@sunway.com.my. Layari www.sunmedvelocity.com.my atau ikuti Facebook rasmi Sunway Medical Centre Velocity untuk info lanjut dan kemas kini terkini.