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Showing posts with label knowledge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label knowledge. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Shrinking homes, rising prices

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PETALING JAYA: More young property buyers, especially those about to start their own families, may be forced to purchase their first homes in the outskirts of the Klang Valley, such as Rawang and Dengkil, as residential properties in prime city locations suffer from “shrinkflation”.

Shrinkflation refers to the sustained increase in property prices even though new units are smaller than they used to be.

While analysts and industry observers generally welcome Budget 2025’s homeownership measures, the consensus is that more needs to be done because many younger generation workers still find it difficult to buy their first property.

Licensed financial planner Stephen Yong said the supply of affordable housing, particularly in urban areas with manageable commutes, is limited.

ALSO READ: Homes beyond the reach of most M’sians

“Buyers would usually need to save up to 25% of the property’s price to pay for costs like down payment, legal fees, renovations and furnishing – all of which pose a considerable financial burden.

“Young Malaysians also encounter hurdles in securing housing loans due to lower income levels, rising expenses and strict debt service ratio requirements.

“This difficulty is even more pronounced for freelancers and gig economy workers, as banks often impose stricter conditions on applicants without stable, predictable incomes,” said Yong, who is also the executive director of Wealth Vantage Advisory.

The National House Buyers Association (HBA) opined that there is a need to define “affordable housing” to ensure the term is “not abused” by property developers who deem prices of RM500,000 as “affordable”.

ALSO READ: ‘Lock in perks for higher-priced homes’

Its honorary secretary-general Datuk Chang Kim Loong said the government has previously reiterated that affordable housing must meet three criteria: for it to be priced between RM150,000 and RM300,000; must have a minimum built-up of 800sq ft (excluding balcony space) and have at least two bedrooms; and must be located in areas with good public transportation links and amenities.

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“Whatever schemes are introduced will not make houses affordable if prices are not checked and costs (of doing business) are not addressed.

“Let’s face it, owning a house is beyond the reach of most Malaysians. We need to address the root cause and not pander to parties that caused the hike.

“HBA hopes that the current Housing Minister will always put the interest of the rakyat and country first before the interest of housing developers,” said Chang.

Rahim & Co International Sdn Bhd estate agency chief executive officer Siva Shanker said he welcomes Budget 2025 measures to promote homeownership, especially first-time buyers.

“However, the measures announced are not substantial enough,” he said.

ALSO READ: Tax relief timing for first-time home buyers is crucial

Among the measures announced in Budget 2025 was a RM5bil step-up financing scheme introduced under the Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme (SJKP), which offers a lower repayment rate in the first five years of the mortgage term.

SJKP will also guarantee loans for first-time home buyers of up to RM500,000 for homes developed on wakaf land. To support individuals purchasing their first home, Budget 2025 also proposed an individual tax relief on mortgage interest payments.

There is also a tax relief of up to RM7,000 for residential properties valued up to RM500,000, while a relief of up to RM5,000 will be given for residential properties priced between RM500,000 and RM750,000.

This relief can be claimed for three consecutive years of assessment on sale and purchase agreements completed between Jan 1, 2025, and Dec 31, 2027.

Siva said the real problem affecting first-time homebuyers, especially the bottom 40% income earners (B40), is the difficulty in securing a down payment for the housing loan.

“When you apply for a 90% housing loan but the bank only approves 80%, it means you need a down payment of 20% from the house value. Many people don’t have the cash in hand.

“Perhaps the government can consider a policy where banks will provide 100% loans for first-time B40 homebuyers,” he added.

Malaysian Youth Council executive committee member Eow Shiang Yen said Budget 2025’s step-up financing scheme indicates the government’s commitment to easing the financial burden of the youth.

“However, the success of this scheme requires interactions of other relevant components such as improved financial literacy, building passive and secondary incomes, relevant competence development and competitive salaries,” said Eow.“The youth still need to cope with increasing living costs and other expenses. A strict supervision and ongoing enforcement are also required to ensure that initiatives such as People’s Residency Programmes, People’s Housing Projects, and Rumah Mesra Rakyat are not misused.”

Yong concurred with Eow on the need for financial literacy to make homeownership a reality for young Malaysians.

“In addition, incentives like stamp duty reductions, first-time homebuyer grants, and flexible loan structures with extended tenures would make homeownership more accessible,” he said.

Commenting on the proposed tax relief on mortgage interest payments, Chang said it should be given to all existing homeowners with outstanding housing loans, not just first-time buyers.

The three-year tax relief should start from the date of property handover instead of the date of sale and purchase agreement, he said.

“The tax relief on interests should be applied strictly for first-time buyers irrespective of purchasers from housing developers or from the secondary market or sub-sale,” he added.

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Related stories:

Homes beyond the reach of most M’sians

‘Lock in perks for higher-priced homes’

Tax relief timing for first-time home buyers is crucial

Nga: Country on the right track of house ownership 

Housing Market ‘Shrinkflation’: Why Homes Are Getting Smaller—but You’ll Pay About the Same Price

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Regional alliance drives semiconductor growth

 

(From left) EY Shanghai partner Derick Yap, InvestPenang chief executive officer Datuk Loo Lee Lian, Wang, Zairil, Wong, IBM Malaysia general manager Dickson Woo and Shanghai Fengmi Cloud Media Technology Co Ltd chairman Steven Huang launching 2024 Asia-Pacific Semiconductor Summit and Expo in Penang.

STRONG regional partnerships can drive growth, innovation and advancements in the semiconductor sector.

By leveraging each other’s expertise and ecosystems, stakeholders will be better positioned to stay at the forefront of this rapidly evolving industry.

Penang infrastructure, transport and digital committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said this while launching 2024 Asia-Pacific Semiconductor Summit and Expo (APSSE) in Penang.

The recent two-day event held at Setia SPICE Convention Centre in Bayan Lepas, Penang, brought together over 30 exhibitors and 600 delegates from nine countries.

It was organised by Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association (MSIA) and Penang government, in partnership with Shanghai Fengmi Cloud Media Technology Co Ltd.

Zairil said the semiconductor industry was the backbone of the modern economy, powering everything from smartphones to electric vehicles and machinery.

“There is almost nothing today that doesn’t have a chip in it.

“And with changes brought on by the 4th Industrial Revolution, potential applications would only continue to expand.”

He said the global semiconductor industry was valued at US$544bil (RM2.36tril) in 2023, and this was projected to exceed US$1tril (RM4.34tril) by 2030.

“There are opportunities for everyone, which makes events like APSSE 2024 a good platform for industry players and government to exchange ideas and explore collaborations,” Zairil said in his opening address.

He highlighted the long-standing and successful collaborations between Malaysian and Chinese firms as proof that such regional partnerships could be mutually beneficial.

“Indeed, 2024 marked the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Zairil (front, centre), Wong (second from right) and other delegates observing a virtual reality application by one of the exhibitors.Zairil (front, centre), Wong (second from right) and other delegates observing a virtual reality application by one of the exhibitors.

“Around half of APSSE 2024’s exhibitors are from China.

“Together, we can drive innovation, enhance global supply chain resilience and shape the future of the semiconductor landscape.

“Malaysia is committed to deepening economic ties with China, especially in advancing technologies such as semiconductors, electric vehicles and green energy,” he added.

Zairil also praised various stakeholders for keeping the industry resilient in spite of various challenges in recent years, such as the pandemic and global geopolitical tensions.

“We have long been a key player in the semiconductor value chain, contributing approximately 13% of global assembly, testing and packaging. Of that number, almost half comes from Penang,” he said.

From 2019 to 2023, Zairil revealed that Penang attracted RM170bil of foreign direct investments, which was more than double the preceding decade.

“This showed how much growth was achieved in the last five years.

“We have become a trusted partner of many leading global firms,” he added before touring exhibitor booths in the arena.

MSIA president Datuk Seri Wong Siew Hai said the semiconductor industry was a cornerstone of the local economy, contributing over 40% of total exports in the electronics sector.

“With over 50 years of experience in the industry, a strategic location, strong ecosystem, cost-competitiveness, skilled talent and business-friendly government, we have been able to attract billions of ringgit in investments from tech giants across the world.

“But competition is intense and we must keep pace.

“Government initiatives like the National Semiconductor Strategy (NSS) and New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030 will allow us to move the industry into higher value areas.

“MSIA recently launched the Advanced Technology Equipment Cluster (ATEC) to consolidate expertise to meet ever changing demands and keep us as a market leader,” said Wong.

He noted that APSSE 2024 was the first time many of the participating Chinese firms had exhibited outside their country.

He said most people took it for granted, but everything they use had semiconductor components of varying complexities inside.

“Mobile phones and smart TVs are the most obvious examples. Other things like your air-conditioner remote, ceiling fans, water heater and even the thermal flask you use to make a cup of coffee, need such components to operate.

“An electric vehicle has over 3,000 semiconductors.

“It’s a key component of green energy. If you live in a rural area without running power, the solar panels that allow you to power things also need semiconductors.

“Go to any hospital and all the medical devices used to test you have lots of semiconductors inside.

“Global e-commerce would not be possible either without these tiny chips.

“The only difference is that we’re constantly coming up with newer materials that allow each piece to perform more functions at a lower cost,” Wong added.

ACM Research (Shanghai) Inc chairman Dr David Wang Hui said such globalisation would continue to be a fundamental driving force for the industry.

“Many Chinese companies are interested in coming to Malaysia.

“This would not only bring investment and create local jobs, but also drive innovation, technology, product quality and better manufacturing systems,” he added.

The APSSE event featured a series of panel talks, with topics on “Global Semiconductor Outlook”, “Transitioning from Local to International Outbound Investments”, “Artificial Intelligence”, “Asia-Pacific Semiconductor Strategies”, “Advancing ESG Through Innovations”, “Intellectual Property”, “Advanced Packaging” and “Strategies for STEM Talent Development”.

Business matching sessions and tours of several industrial sites were also held.

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China introduces its first female spaceflight engineer as it unveils launch time, crew for Shenzhou-19 manned mission

China announced Tuesday it will launch the Shenzhou-19 manned spaceflight mission at 4:27 am on Wednesday, unveiling the crew lineup.


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Malaysian Chip industry outlook remains bright, says expert



Thursday, May 4, 2023

The new Cold War heats up


 Insightful views: Kishore giving his assessment on the US-China rivalry during his lecture in Kuala Lumpur. -

The new Cold War heats up

International relations expert Kishore Mahbubani has interesting views on US-China rivalry and the role Asean could play.

IT’S not every day that one gets to hear directly from Prof Kishore Mahbubani, one of the best thinkers on international relations.

In fact, it had taken the organiser, the Malaysian Institute of Management, over two years to invite the Singaporean diplomat, academician and best-selling author to Kuala Lumpur.

Those of us who turned up for his lecture on Tuesday evening wanted to hear his assessment of the United States-China rivalry, which is certain to get worse in the coming years.

Kishore is a Distinguished Fellow at the Asian Research Institute, National University of Singapore, and has had two notable careers – 33 years in diplomacy and 15 years in academia.

He was the founding dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and spent over 10 years as Singapore’s ambassador to the United Nations.

He has authored several books, including best-sellers such as Can Asians Think? and Has The West Lost It?.His insightful views on the US-China geopolitical rivalry have grabbed the attention of many.

Gloomy as it may be, it is certain and unavoidable – in Kishore’s own words – that the rivalry will worsen as the Chinese push to challenge the United States for dominance.

For us living in the Asean region, especially Malaysians, it is more troubling as the power play is taking place in our backyard, the South China Sea, while Taiwan is merely about four hours away by flight.

Kishore predicts the contest, if not already a feud, will accelerate in the next 10 years and he doesn’t see it quietening down.

The scenario is unprecedented as for the first time in human history, these two superpowers are colliding.

Driven by what he describes as structural forces, he sees China as the “No. 2 that is about to take over as No. 1 and the US will push down China” at all costs as the latter does not see itself losing its pole position.

“They should learn from the Malaysian monarchy (where the reigning King) steps down every five years,’’ he joked.

He said in his highly provocative titled book Has China Won? that it hasn’t helped that the many US policymakers who will drive this geopolitical contest are “possessed by a psychology that sees all competition among great powers as a zero-sum game”.

“Hence, if China steps up its naval deployments in the South China Sea, the US Navy will see it as a loss and step up its presence in the region,” he said.

There is much insecurity on the part of the United States as “it is far from certain that America will win the contest as China has as good a chance as America of emerging as the dominant influence in the world”.

“In fact, many thoughtful leaders and observers in strategically sensitive countries around the world have begun making preparations for a world where China may become number one,” said Kishore.

He said it was an error of perception for America to view the CCP as a Chinese Communist Party embedded in communist roots, when in the eyes of Asian observers, the CCP actually functions as the “Chinese Civilisation Party” with its soul rooted in Chinese civilisation.

But Kishore has some advice for China – never underestimate the United States.

It’s a giant that has woken up and it has won the narrative, with the support of a powerful international media, that it is a contest between a democracy and an authoritarian government.

“It has been a strategic mistake for American thinkers to take success for granted, it would be an equally colossal strategic mistake for China to assume the same,” he said.

Painting the Chinese as demonic has been an easy selling point to the American public, most of whom have never travelled out of their country, added Kishore, saying in his book that it will be easier “for Americans to persist in the belief that they would eventually triumph against China, no matter the odds”.

Both the Republicans and Democrats have adopted the same tone and strategy of containing China.

So, it doesn’t matter who the next US President is although it got worse under President Donald Trump. It has simply become a bipartisan policy.

The rest of the world, especially Asean, will be affected by this great power play. No one will be spared as pressure will be applied to countries to take sides.

Even a simple acquisition of technology, such as using Huawei’s applications, has turned complicated.

Kishore shared an anecdote of how a British top official had told him that it would use Huawei as security clearance, and with a stiff upper lip, said there was no reason for it to submit to US pressure.

But just months later, the United Kingdom “crumbled” to US pressure and abandoned Huawei.

He feared that Taiwan would be a more sensitive issue than the South China Sea as it benefits the United States and China to keep the international waterways safe for freedom of navigation.

But Taiwan is a more potential flash point. It is the red line that no one should cross, and most Asians know it and “they shut up”, he said, advising Asian countries to continue with this approach.

The Chinese see Taiwan as a renegade province that belongs to China and do not tolerate any moves to push for independence. Most countries adopt a One China policy and have no diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

Kishore said for a long time, the United States stayed away from the Taiwan issue, but now it has been broached and “it is not rational, it’s dangerous and emotional”.

But he said Asean could play an influential role to speak up for moderate measures to initiate dialogues between the United States and China and to help reduce tensions that could contribute to possibilities of a war.

He acknowledged that Asean may be “weak and chaotic”, but paradoxically, no one sees the grouping as a threat and its meetings were all attended by the powerful nations.

“Everyone loves Asean. It has convening abilities,” he said, adding that both China and the United States had invested huge amounts there compared to other regions of the world.

China has been the largest market for Asean exports for the past 12 years and Malaysia’s number one trading partner for the past 15 consecutive years, while Asean countries collectively are the United States’ fourth largest trading partner.

Together, they represent a market with a gross domestic product (GDP) of more than US$3 trillion (RM13.38 trillion). US goods and services traded with Asean totalled an estimated US$362.2bil (RM1.62 trillion) in 2020.

Kishore said while the US-China contest may be a gloomy topic, there is also a positive aspect as both sides will woo support and attention, adding that it was good to be courted but reaffirmed that Asean members must stay out of the feud.

“It is said that when elephants fight, the grass gets trampled, but let’s not forget that when elephants make love, it tramples too,’’ he said in jest.

Talk is better than war and for a start, the rhetoric can be lowered down. A deeper rationality is needed and surely, there is a need to accept that the world has changed.

A painful and unnecessary clash needs to be avoided. The journey for both sides to work together has to start soon.


Wong Chun Wai began his career as a journalist in Penang, and has served The Star for over 35 years in various capacities and roles. He is now group editorial and corporate affairs adviser to the group, after having served as group managing director/chief executive officer. On The Beat made its debut on Feb 23 1997 and Chun Wai has penned the column weekly without a break, except for the occasional press holiday when the paper was not published. In May 2011, a compilation of selected articles of On The Beat was published as a book and launched in conjunction with his 50th birthday. Chun Wai also comments on current issues in The Star.

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Saturday, April 22, 2023

Malaysian Scientist in Tsinghua leads space stem cell research at top varsity

 

Prof Dr Kee Keh Hooi from the School of Medicine, Tsinghua University in Beijing.

 Kehkooi Kee-School of Medicine, Tsinghua University 

https://www.med.tsinghua.edu.cn/en/info/1352/1446.htm

Guest: Prof Dr Kee Keh Kooi (Scientist, Tsinghua University)

Kampung boy leads space stem cell research at top varsity 

KUALA LUMPUR: It may seem like a galaxy far, far away when human beings from earth can stay for a long period of time in a spacecraft or even on the moon or Mars, but Malaysian scientist Prof Dr Kee Keh Kooi is already doing research on its effects on human bodies.

The Tsinghua University lecturer is heading a team to study how gravity and even radiation affect the development of human embryonic stem cells in space.

In short, understanding how human reproduction will affect human beings who will spend a long time in space.

The research is also to find answers as to how the human embryonic stem can differentiate in space.

“It is already happening as Chinese astronauts could stay for a period of time in a station on the moon, astronauts could orbit around the earth, and even ordinary people could travel to space,’’ he said.

The Sitiawan-born renowned academician was interviewed online from Beijing by Star Media Group adviser Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai on his webcast programme @realchunwai on Thursday.

His accomplishment was highlighted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when he spoke at Tsinghua University during an official visit to China last month.

China recently announced its readiness to start its lunar base on the moon within five years, ahead of landing astronauts there in subsequent years.

Dr Kee has also conducted his research via China’s first cargo spacecraft, Tianzhou-1, which was launched in 2017.

Its main task was to deliver fuel and supplies to the orbiting Tiangong 2 space lab, but it also played host to ground-breaking scientific experiments conducted remotely by earth-based scientists in China.

Dr Kee specialises in stem cell research and how it can be cultured for medical technologies to help patients suffering from Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases and even spinal cord injuries.

Besides devoting his time in laboratories, he also lectures undergraduate and post-graduate students at Tsinghua, which is regarded as China’s top university.

He spent decades in the United States, where he obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Iowa State University. This was followed by a PhD at Weill Cornell University.

Later, he worked at the University of California, San Francisco, before taking up a three-year stint as a research associate at Stanford University.

The opportunity for him to take a leading role as a principal researcher came when he applied for a post at Tsinghua University after seeing a vacancy advertised in an academic journal in 2009.

“There was an opening for stem cell research at the university, and it caught my interest immediately,’’ he said.

Asked about the differences in the manner in which research is conducted in China and the United States, Dr Kee said that in the United States, individual research was common, while in China, a team of between 50 and 100 people could be involved in a big project.

Despite having spent over 12 years in Beijing, Dr Kee, who grew up in Johor Baru, makes it a point to visit Malaysia annually, especially during Chinese New Year.

His parents, who moved to Johor Baru from Sitiawan to run a coffee shop, are still operating at the premises in Gelang Patah.

Dr Kee is a former student of Foon Yew High School, one of the elite independent schools in Johor.

“Balik kampung is always on my mind. The minute China reopened its border, I took my family home to Malaysia for three weeks,” he said.

Dr Kee, who was born in Kampung Remis, a small fishing village, described himself as a kampung boy. His family, he said, is “a simple Teochew family”.

Dr Kee said he would be happy to conduct talks on his work at Malaysian universities if there are opportunities.

His advice to Malaysians who wish to study at Tsinghua or Peking University is simply to study hard, get good grades and be focused.

However, he added that there are many other universities in China besides these top two.

He said Tsinghua also offers other disciplines, especially at the post-graduate level in economics, architecture, and law, which are conducted in English for international students.

To watch the full interview with Dr Kee, follow @realchuwai on Facebook and YouTube. 

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Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Brain aneurysms can happen when there's too much pressure inside your brain

A sudden, severe headache could be a sign that the aneurysm has ruptured. — 123rf.com


The human brain is a unique and complex organ, with the cognitive capacity allowing us to invent the wheel, build pyramids and land on the moon.

The brain is seen as a crowning achievement of human evolution but when it comes to looking after our brains in the modern world, many individuals do not know where to start.

The interest in looking after our brain health can be triggered by a variety of different external factors: sometimes a simple headache will intrigue individuals to wonder why such head pains persist; other times, head injuries result in individuals wondering how to best help the brain recover with minimal side effects.

But sometimes, it takes a loss to the global community to make us take a step back and wonder if we are doing enough for our overall brain health.

When American actor Tom Sizemore was in critical condition after suffering a ruptured brain aneurysm, the news quickly became a trending search topic, reaching its peak when it was announced that he had unfortunately passed away on 4th March 2023.

In light of his death, it is important for us to be aware of what brain aneurysms are, what signs and symptoms we should be monitoring and when we should worry about the condition. 

What is a brain aneurysm?

A brain aneurysm, also known as a cerebral aneurysm, is a bulging spot in a weak area of the artery, in or around the brain.

As the body pumps blood around the body and to the brain, the pressure of the blood flow will flow into the aneurysm and stretch it even further.

One way to understand the dangers of a brain aneurysm is like this: Imagine a balloon that is being inflated. As it is blown up, it is stretched and becomes bigger, causing its walls to become thinner.

Once it exceeds its maximum capacity, the balloon will burst. Similarly, a brain aneurysm stretches as it is filled with blood, making it more likely to pop and rupture.

This rupture will then cause bleeding in the brain and may result in life-threatening conditions such as subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH).

While we don’t know why brain aneurysms occur and what the exact causes are, it is important to understand who are more prone to develop the condition and what risks aneurysms pose.

Having high blood pressure increases your chances of developing a brain aneurysm as the walls of the blood vessels tend to be weakened. — AFP 
Having high blood pressure increases your chances of developing a brain aneurysm as the walls of the blood vessels tend to be weakened. — AFP Are you at risk?

There are certain risk factors that can increase the likelihood of an individual developing a brain aneurysm. In no particular order, the most common risk factors are:

  • Age and gender: Brain aneurysms are more common in people over the age of 40 and in women.Smoking: 
  • As smoking damages the walls of blood vessels, smokers are more likely to develop an aneurysm.

  • High blood pressure: Those with high blood pressure are more prone to weakened blood vessel walls.

  • Drug use: Use of drugs such as cocaine or amphetamines.
     
  • Family history: If you have a close relative such as a parent or sibling who have had a brain aneurysm, the chances of you developing an aneurysm in the future is slightly higher.
     
  • Medical conditions: Certain medical conditions, such as polycystic kidney disease and arteriovenous malformations.
     
  • Head injury: A severe head injury can damage blood vessels in the brain, increasing the risk of developing an aneurysm.

Looking out for signs

An individual who has an unruptured brain aneurysm may have these signs: headaches, eye pains, blurry vision and a dilated pupil.

However, there are some cases where a brain aneurysm that has yet to rupture may not cause any of the symptoms described above.

These unruptured aneurysms may be discovered when individuals go for their regular health check-ups where the doctor will then be able to periodically monitor the condition with additional imaging tests.

However, if a brain aneurysm has ruptured, these are the signs that individuals should look out for – it could be either for themselves or their loved ones:

  • Sudden severe headache: sometimes individuals describe these headaches as one of the worst they have ever had in their life 
  • Nausea and vomiting 
  • Stiff neck 
  • Sensitivity to light 
  • Blurred or double vision 
  • Loss of consciousness 
  • Seizures 
  • Confusion 
  • Weakness or numbness on one side of the face or body 
  • Difficulty speaking or understanding language.

If individuals feel they are experiencing one or more of these symptoms unexpectedly, it is advisable to immediately seek urgent medical attention.

Treatment options

There are different treatment options for a brain aneurysm that depend on the size, location and overall health of the patient.

If an individual has been diagnosed with a small, unruptured aneurysm, it can be monitored regularly with imaging tests such as CT (computerised tomography) scans or MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging) to see whether they grow or change over time.

Larger or ruptured aneurysms may require surgical intervention, with various treatment options available.

Surgical clipping: In this procedure, a neurosurgeon places a metal clip around the base of the aneurysm to cut off the blood flow to it and prevent it from rupturing.

Endovascular coiling: In this minimally invasive procedure, a neurointerventional radiologist inserts a catheter into an artery in the groin and threads it up to the brain.

Using imaging guidance, the doctor then places tiny metal coils inside the aneurysm to block blood flow and prevent rupture.

Flow diverters: A flow diverter is a stent-like device that is placed across the neck of the aneurysm.

This device diverts blood flow away from the aneurysm and helps promote healing of the weakened blood vessel wall.

Supportive care: If a brain aneurysm has ruptured and caused bleeding in the brain, supportive care such as medication to control blood pressure, seizure medications and pain management may be necessary.

In severe cases, surgery may be required to remove the blood and repair the damaged blood vessels.

While some individuals with an aneurysm may be aware of having a headache that persists for weeks prior to the actual rupture, it can be difficult to differentiate whether the headache stems from other issues.

These are called “sentinel headaches’ which tend to be shorter in terms of duration and signifies an impending rupture of an aneurysm in the near future.  

Why should I care?

When it was announced that the late Sizemore had suffered a brain aneurysm and was in critical condition, his condition was reportedly so severe that his doctors determined his situation to be one of “no further hope”.

This led the doctors to recommend end-of-life decision, which is a term used to describe the support and medical care given during the time surrounding the imminent death of a patient.

While this may not apply to every single patient suffering from a brain aneurysm, it goes to show that overall brain health and monitoring is crucial even in everyday life.

It has been observed that death is seen in 10% of all SAH cases within the first week, and this figure can rise to nearly 50% within the first month because left untreated, an aneurysm can occur very soon after the initial first bleed.

It is one of the reasons why understanding your own health is important and for those who have a family history of brain aneurysms, monitoring signs and symptoms is especially crucial.

As much as we should be aware of what conditions are out there and what we as an individual may or may not develop, it should not hinder our abilities to live life to the fullest.

If you or a loved one is pre-disposed to developing a brain aneurysm, rest assured that while it can occur in the future, as long as you are looking after yourself and do your necessary health check-ups, you will still be able to live a long and healthy life.

- Dr Gerard Arvind Martin is a consultant neurosurgeon. For more information, email starhealth@thestar.com.my. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only, and should not be considered as medical advice. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this article. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information. 

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