Health News

by Joyce Teo on April 26, 2024 at 1:29 am

SINGAPORE — The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) will expand its overnight dialysis capacity from 36 slots in two centres to 250 slots in five centres by 2027 to meet the evolving needs of its patients, as well as to keep pace with fast-rising demand from a rapidly ageing population. This was announced at NKF's 55th anniversary event, held at its headquarters in Kim Keat Road on April 25. With 41 dialysis centres, NKF is the biggest dialysis provider in Singapore, caring for around 5,500 of the roughly 9,000 people here who are on dialysis. Other patients are treated mostly at private dialysis centres. The fight against kidney failure continues as, each day, six new patients are diagnosed with kidney failure in Singapore. "The total number of kidney failure patients is rising: 10 years ago it was 5,500, today it is 8,800," said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung at the event. The major culprits are diabetes and hypertension, which are precursors to kidney failure, he added. […]

on April 22, 2024 at 3:23 am

BRUSSELS — Europe is increasingly facing bouts of heat so intense that the human body cannot cope, as climate change continues to raise temperatures, the EU's Copernicus climate monitoring service and the World Meteorological Organisation said on Monday (April 22). In a report on Europe's climate, Copernicus and the WMO noted last year's extreme conditions, including a July heatwave which pushed 41 per cent of southern Europe into strong, very strong or extreme heat stress — the biggest area of Europe under such conditions in any day on record. Extreme heat poses particular health risks to outdoor workers, the elderly, and people with existing conditions like cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Parts of Italy recorded seven per cent more deaths than normal last July, with victims including a 44-year-old man painting road markings in the northern town of Lodi who collapsed and died. […]

by Kolette Lim on April 21, 2024 at 2:30 am

SINGAPORE — Construction coordinator Jonathan Wu found himself often glued to his mobile devices during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020 and because he was working from home, his lifestyle was sedentary. At the time, he was no longer visiting project sites, and he attended meetings online using his smartphone or computer.  Wu, 34, said: "I developed a bad habit where I started cradling my phone on one side of my neck while working, causing my neck to tilt at an odd angle for prolonged periods."  Before he knew it, Wu was experiencing severe neck pain and headaches, which made it difficult for him to sleep or drive. He said: "I was constantly in pain, and this caused me a lot of stress to the point that I told my boss that I could no longer work." Wu is among the many patients with neck pain and strain that doctors are seeing now, and who, doctors say, are younger than those who suffered from such ailments in the past.  Many of them suffer from a condition called tech neck syndrome — a repetitive stress injury caused by holding the head in a forward and downward position for long periods of time.&nbs […]

on April 19, 2024 at 1:30 am

LONDON — The World Health Organisation and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the Covid-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives. The Geneva-based UN health agency released a technical document on the topic on Thursday (April 18). It said it was the first step towards working out how to better prevent this kind of transmission, both for existing diseases like measles and for future pandemic threats. The document concludes that the descriptor "through the air" can be used for infectious diseases where the main type of transmission involves the pathogen travelling through the air or being suspended in the air, in line with other terms such as "waterborne" diseases, which are understood across disciplines and by the public. Almost 500 experts contributed to the definition, including physicists, public health professionals and engineers, many of whom disagreed bitterly over the topic in the past. […]

by Pheona Ilagan on April 14, 2024 at 6:15 am

After a tough day at work or a disagreement with a loved one, managing anger can feel like a daunting task. While venting to a friend might seem like a quick fix, recent research suggests otherwise. Here's a breakdown of effective anger management strategies based on scientific findings: 1. Embrace meditation and yoga According to a study published in Clinical Psychology Review, engaging in activities that decrease arousal, such as meditation or yoga, proves to be highly effective in managing anger. These practises help calm the mind and body, reducing the intensity of anger-inducing emotions. PHOTO: Unsplash 2. Practise deep breathing Deep breathing exercises are simple yet powerful techniques for anger management. When you feel anger rising, take slow, deep breaths. This technique can help regulate emotions by activating the body's relaxation response. […]

by Grace Koh on March 20, 2024 at 6:45 am

Whether we live to eat or eat to live, anyone can agree that food is an essential part of everyday life. Good nutrition is needed for health and well-being, and people with dementia are no exception. However, because of the way that dementia affects brain functioning, they may not eat as well as they used to. As their eating habits and patterns change, understanding and supporting persons with dementia can help to ease the stress and confusion around eating, meal times, and nutrition.  How does dementia change a person's eating habits?  It is well-known that dementia affects a person's memory and brain functioning. They may not remember past events well, have poorer understanding and communication skills, or face greater difficulty using their problem-solving and thinking skills. Dementia also often changes the person's mood, causing personality changes that in turn result in behaviour changes. However, did you know that dementia can also alter one's hearing, taste, and sight? All these factors can greatly affect how they perceive the food placed in front of them.&nbs […]

on March 13, 2024 at 8:34 am

Pfizer said on Tuesday (March 12) its drug, Adcetris, extended survival in patients with the most common type of lymphoma in a late-stage study, bolstering efforts to expand the use of the treatment gained through its US$43 billion (S$57 billion) purchase of Seagen. The New York-based drugmaker last year struck a deal to acquire Seagen and its targeted cancer therapies to reinforce its pipeline in the face of a steep fall in Covid-19 product sales and generic competition for some top-selling drugs. The company, which has US and Canadian commercialisation rights for Adcetris, reported total sales of US$46 million from the drug last year. Pfizer said on Tuesday it plans to discuss with regulators a submission for approval to treat these patients. A potential greenlight for Adcetris for the most common type of lymphoma will pave the way for the eighth approval for the drug and beef up an oncology portfolio that already has more than 25 approved therapies. […]

by Zebah Meraki on March 10, 2024 at 1:30 pm

What does baby diarrhoea look like? What should I do if my baby has diarrhoea? How long is it okay and when should I worry about baby diarrhoea? Feeding and changing — are perhaps the two primary concerns of most new parents. After all, babies are always hungry and soiling themselves. Thankfully, these are also signs of a healthy growing bub. However, yellow watery diarrhoea in babies is not a sign of good health. A common concern for most parents, yellow watery diarrhoea can be a sign of infection and allergies. The baby may also need to be taken to the doctor if it doesn't stop. But worry not. There are a few things you can do to prevent this from happening. Here's a helpful guide to take you through the signs and treatment of diarrhoea in babies. What is baby diarrhoea? Baby diarrhoea is a condition that causes a baby to have frequent watery stools. Some things, including illnesses and food sensitivities, can cause this diarrhoea. Diarrhoea is one of the most common illnesses in babies and young children. Viruses or bacteria usually cause it in contaminated food or drink. […]

on March 8, 2024 at 2:06 am

LONDON - The World Health Organisation (WHO) on March 8 urged governments to consider gender when developing their alcohol policies, warning that industry marketing increasingly targeted women, who face greater health risks than men from lower levels of drinking. The Geneva-based WHO said that there was good evidence that men, women and minority groups were affected differently by alcohol-related harms and that the industry tailored its marketing to target different genders. “Despite this… alcohol control policies remain largely gender blind,” it said, calling on governments to consider gender when devising control measures. The industry increasingly used gendered approaches to appeal to consumers, it continued, adding that it was vital to keep pace with these changing marketing tactics. After broad successes in tackling the public health impact of other products like cigarettes, the WHO is increasingly turning its attention to addressing the harms linked to alcohol. […]

by Sarah Koh, David Sun on March 4, 2024 at 10:05 am

SINGAPORE — People who use "energy stick" inhalers can progress to smoking or vaping, and it can also lead to respiratory problems and long-term health damage, said healthcare experts. The flavoured additives found in these nasal inhalers, such as mango, grape and watermelon, are added to the product and marketed as "healthier" and "more natural", but there are limited studies to substantiate these claims, said Dr Sewa Duu Wen, head and senior consultant of respiratory and critical care medicine at Singapore General Hospital. "In fact, there is broad literature suggesting some of these flavouring compounds contribute to airway toxicity, impaired respiratory immune cell function and cause cellular damage," said Dr Sewa. He added that while these flavours are not addictive, their use in other products such as cigarettes and vaping products have been associated with increased use by adolescents, and may pose uncertain long-term health hazards. Senior Minister of State for Health Janil Puthucheary told Parliament on March 4 that the ministry and the Health Sciences Authority are closely monitoring the use of energy sticks. […]