Age brings mixed blessings. Among the welcome gains are the wisdom of life experience and more time to spend on hobbies and with grandchildren. On the other hand, it brings a heightened risk of broken bones and joint problems. Dr Hitendra K Doshi, Orthopaedic Surgeon and Founder of HK Doshi Orthopaedic Center, explains how orthogeriatrics is helping older people retain and regain their mobility. WHAT IS ORTHOGERIATRICS? Orthogeriatrics simply means managing orthopaedic concerns in the elderly or geriatric population. It involves a diagnostic, holistic and preventive concept in managing bone- a ..read more

Everyone worries about something sometimes. But some people feel anxious all of the time. Ms Tan Ming Chin, Counselling Psychologist, Clarity Singapore, explains the difference between normal and clinical anxiety, and how to keep the latter at bay. ANXIETY IN SINGAPORE The Singapore Mental Health Study initiated in 2016 by Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Ministry of Health (MOH) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) revealed that one in seven persons in Singapore has a lifetime prevalence of a mental disorder. One in 62 persons would develop generalised anxiety disorder, and that is onl ..read more

Separating Myth from Science Does your nose constantly drip or feel blocked? Are you no longer enjoying the aroma and taste of your favourite foods? You could be suffering from nasal polyps. Dr David Chin, Senior Consultant Ear Nose Throat Surgeon at Ascent ENT Alvernia Holdings Pte Ltd, separates the myths from the facts. SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES Nasal polyps are noncancerous yellow grape-like structures in the sinuses and nasal passage, resulting from severe swelling of the mucosal lining of the sinuses due to chronic inflammation. Symptoms range from sinus congestion in mild cases to complete na ..read more

Do you wear contact lenses regularly? Senior Consultant Ophthalmologist Dr Jacob Cheng cautions that you should keep an eye out for these possible issues. Singapore tops myopia rates worldwide Here’s a chart-topping claim that Singapore really shouldn’t be proud of: we have the dubious honour of having one of the highest myopia rates worldwide. According to the Ministry of Health, over 65 percent of children are myopic by Primary Six, and 83 percent by the time they reach young adulthood. By 2050, it is projected that 80 to 90 percent of all Singaporean adults will be myopic. With figures like ..read more

With colorectal cancer being Singapore’s top killer, using robotic technology can potentially save many lives. Find out more from General and Colorectal surgeon, Dr Dean Koh from Colorectal Clinic Associates. Robotic surgery = done by robots? Fear not, you will have a proper surgeon in your operating theatre. “A common misconception is that robotic surgery is done autonomously by a robot. This is not the case. The surgeon carries out the surgery by controlling the robotic arms and instruments through a console, which is physically separate from the patient’s side,” explains Dr Koh. Robotic sur ..read more

How can robots treat patients with prostate cancer? Senior consultant urologist Dr Png Keng Siang from FeM Surgery @ Alvernia offers tips on minimally-invasive robot- assisted biopsy and surgery. Robot-Assisted Biopsy How does it work? Your doctor needs to remove small tissue samples of the prostate for analysis and one of the methods to do so is to conduct a robot-assisted prostate biopsy. Even though the suspected cancerous area in the prostate gland can be very tiny – just 1mm to 2mm – the robot-assisted biopsy is particularly useful at detecting cancers at a very early stage. This is becau ..read more

Organised by Mount Alvernia Hospital and Singlife with Aviva, the 90-minute Facebook ‘live’ session held on 18 January 2022 featured speakers such as Senior Parentcraft Specialist & Lactation Counsellor, Rita Francis, and Dietitian, Jacqueline Low. Here are six commonly asked questions posed by our participants. Q: Are there any food that parents or mums should avoid during pregnancy? What about cheese, peanuts and seafood? Jacqueline Low: I’m sure many parents would have read up on the things that are harmful to your baby. These include alcohol, which is not recommended during pregnancy a ..read more

by Anthony Goh When I was asked to share my views on community outreach, I drew on my first-hand experience of serving as a befriender in a major public hospital. It reminded me that it is indeed more blessed to give than to receive. MY INSPIRATION My journey in volunteering began after attending some lectures and workshops conducted by RSVP Singapore (The Organisation of Senior Volunteers). Speaker after speaker spoke about their meaningful real-life experiences in helping set up old people’s homes, and volunteering in hospitals. Furthermore, I had always admired healthcare workers, and to th ..read more

What exactly are gynaecological cancers? What are their symptoms, and who is at risk? Dr Timothy Lim, Senior Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist of Timothy Lim Clinic for Women & Cancer Surgery, explains why there is both cause for concern and reason to hope. CANCERS OF THE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS Gynaecological cancers describe cancers that originate in a woman’s reproductive organs. The three most common types are cancers of the cervix, uterus and ovaries. Breast cancer is not considered a gynaecological cancer. Cancers of the vagina, vulva and fallopian tubes are relatively rare types ..read more