Health News

on September 24, 2023 at 12:00 pm

Going on holiday with a bunch of Singaporeans but forgot your contact lens solution? Someone else will most certainly have some with them. Why? Because Singapore has the dubious honour of being the myopia capital of the world. That means that almost anyone who’s not wearing glasses is either wearing contact lenses or has gotten LASIK surgery done. LASIK certainly sounds tempting, as you’ll never again have to deal with your glasses fogging up when you eat instant noodles or buy travel sized bottles of contact lens solution before a trip. But as with all things in Singapore, the big question is: how much does it cost? Let’s examine the options available at private clinics as well as the Singapore National Eye Centre. What is LASIK? LASIK is short for Laser-Assisted In situ Keratomileusis. It’s a mouthful, so we appreciate the acronym. LASIK is a type of eye surgery where a laser is used to sculpt the cornea to improve short-sightedness (myopia), far-sightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism. […]

by Patricia Wang on September 24, 2023 at 10:00 am

There comes a time when married couples want to transition into becoming a family and start trying to have children. However, this may mark the start of a long and arduous journey for some couples. As a matter of fact, fertility problems are not as uncommon as you may think. An estimated 15 per cent of couples in Singapore are reportedly unable to conceive within 12 months of trying. Thus, it is recommended to go to your local fertility clinic regularly for check-ups and assessments. When should you seek professional help in a fertility clinic? The topic of fertility is not commonly discussed and often considered quite taboo, basically existing only in hushed and private conversations. This can thus lead to a plethora of misconceptions and falsehoods which can, unfortunately, result in couples seeking help after it is already too late. Generally, you should make regular visits to your fertility clinic to keep updated about your fertility health. Without a doubt, getting checkups regularly will enable prompt diagnosis of any conditions that could potentially affect fertility. […]

on September 23, 2023 at 11:15 pm

Hospitalisations have gone up since the summer and a new variant is spreading. Should we be concerned? […]

by Pheona Ilagan on September 23, 2023 at 12:15 pm

Maintaining a strong and healthy marriage is a journey filled with ups and downs. When challenges arise, seeking professional guidance can make all the difference in the world. Fortunately, Singapore offers a range of excellent marriage counselling services designed to help couples work through their issues and foster stronger bonds. Strengthening Families Programme@Family Service Centres The Strengthening Families Programme@Family Service Centres (FAM@FSCs) offers face-to-face counselling services where clients can meet with a counsellor individually or as a couple. These services are open to Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents, or individuals with a Singapore nexus, defined as having a family member who is a Singapore Citizen or a Permanent Resident. […]

on September 23, 2023 at 7:11 am

The 19-year-old is named as Sudiksha Thirumalesh after legal restrictions are lifted. […]

on September 22, 2023 at 11:50 pm

Further evidence emerges that a serious infection can leave some major organs with long-term damage. […]

on September 22, 2023 at 4:51 am

Ella, nine, finds hospital "boring" and loves the lessons which are believed to be a hospital first. […]

by Sophiyanah David on September 22, 2023 at 3:33 am

If you're not already aware of the rising dengue cases, have you been living under a rock? …And did you check it for mosquitoes? But fear not; we'll get you up to speed. In this article, we'll take you through the current case numbers, what the National Environment Agency (NEA) is doing to tackle this issue, and most importantly, dengue prevention tips to protect yourself, your loved ones, and your community from this growing health threat. The buzzing numbers First things first - the statistics paint a concerning picture. To put it into perspective, in the week ending Sept 16, 2023, a whopping 330 dengue cases were reported, a spike of 69 cases compared to the previous week. There are currently 58 active dengue clusters, and a striking 11 of them have raised the red flag, indicating clusters with ten or more cases. Some areas are seeing dengue transmission at warp speed - take a look at the table below for a quick summary. Adding to the challenge, 26 Zika cases have been reported so far this year. The good news is that the 15-case Zika cluster at Highland Walk, Kovan Rd, and Upp Serangoon Rd has been contained and closed. […]

on September 22, 2023 at 2:39 am

Doctors reprogrammed eight-year-old Aditi's immune system so she does not need daily anti-rejection drugs. […]

on September 21, 2023 at 8:49 am

SYDNEY — Australia's centre-left Labour government on Thursday (Sept 21) said it would hold an independent enquiry into the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic to better prepare for future health crises. Australia closed its international borders and locked down cities among other pandemic restrictions that helped keep infections and deaths far below levels in other comparable developed economies such as the United States and UK. It shifted to living with the virus in early 2022 after a majority of the population was vaccinated. A three-member panel, which includes an epidemiologist, public service expert and economist, will conduct the enquiry, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told a media conference. […]

on September 21, 2023 at 5:27 am

A student who ignored the symptoms of meningitis urges others to be aware of the signs. […]

on September 21, 2023 at 5:13 am

The 18-year-old man died in a Scottish hospital after drinking an excessive amount of water. […]

on September 21, 2023 at 5:10 am

Patients affected by walk-outs by NHS staff say they are frustrated and anxious. […]

on September 21, 2023 at 5:08 am

Staff in some parts of the hospital have to work around metal props supporting the ceiling. […]

on September 21, 2023 at 5:01 am

Orla Guerin visits a hospital and clinic in Ukraine, where 15,000 lost limbs in the first half of 2023. […]

on September 20, 2023 at 7:32 pm

Unused medication costs Northern Ireland an estimated £18m annually, the Department of Health says. […]

on September 20, 2023 at 4:31 pm

Scotland's drugs minister says the plan would strike a balance between public health and the impact on business. […]

on September 20, 2023 at 9:42 am

Concern mounts about costs of walkouts in England, as doctors charge premium rates to provide cover. […]

by Candice Cai on September 20, 2023 at 8:15 am

One woman in China found out the hard way that vanity has its price. A 32-year-old woman from Hangzhou reportedly landed herself in hospital after fracturing her ribs from coughing, Chinese media reported.  The woman, who was given a pseudonym, Lu, recalled how she had awoken in pain after experiencing a coughing fit. A CT scan of her chest found that Lu had a rib fracture on her right side, reported Red Star News. Despite her relatively young age, Lu was later diagnosed with osteoporosis, which is caused by calcium or vitamin D deficiencies.  According to sources online, post-menopausal women above the age of 50 are most at risk for developing the disease, which results in low bone mass. The condition afflicts one in five women in that age bracket, reported the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. […]

on September 19, 2023 at 2:51 pm

Nicky Newman, who inspired with her brave outlook despite having stage four breast cancer, has died. […]

on September 19, 2023 at 2:26 pm

Covid vaccine rules are changing, but those most at risk are being offered another jab this autumn. […]

on September 19, 2023 at 10:12 am

No Covid restrictions are in place across the UK, so how should you manage having it? […]

on September 18, 2023 at 12:12 am

The rollout has been brought forward as a precaution against a highly-mutated new Covid variant. […]

on September 15, 2023 at 8:57 am

BEIJING - China plans to manage monkeypox in the same way it handles infectious diseases such as Covid-19 starting from Sept 20, health authorities said on Friday (Sept 15), after detecting around 500 cases of the viral infection last month. Monkeypox will be managed under Category B protocols, the National Health Commission (NHC) said in a statement. Under this category, China could take emergency measures such as restricting gatherings, suspending work and school or sealing off areas when there is an outbreak of a disease. Category B infectious diseases currently include Covid-19, Aids and Sars. "Over 20 provinces have reported monkeypox cases in China since the first imported case in September 2022 and the beginning of locally transmitted cases in June 2023, triggering continued outbreaks and 'hidden' transmissions," the NHC said. China puts infectious diseases into three classes, with the top level Category A giving authorities the power to quarantine patients and their close contacts. […]

on September 15, 2023 at 8:00 am

There is enough scientific evidence for some less conventional "body and mind" approaches, say experts. […]

on September 15, 2023 at 4:56 am

Archie's Caravan in Filey provides free holidays to families also facing childhood cancer. […]

by Kolette Lim on September 15, 2023 at 1:24 am

SINGAPORE — When Ms Wee Jing Xuan visited Macpherson Medical Clinic for her human papillomavirus vaccination appointment in August, she had to pay 10 cents at the reception, even before she saw the doctor. When Ms Wee entered the clinic, the receptionist told her it was compulsory to wear a mask and prompted her to buy one.  The National University of Singapore undergraduate, 22, said: "I don't see anyone wearing masks any more, so I had forgotten that there were still existing measures, and it was still compulsory to wear a mask to the clinic." After making people wear masks for public health reasons for more than two years because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Singapore eased its mask mandate on Feb 13, 2023. But masks are still required in certain settings, including at hospitals, clinics and residential care homes. Now, more clinics are charging for masks, and visitors who show up without one have to pay between 10 cents and 50 cents a piece. For example, all seven polyclinics under the National Healthcare Group (NHG) started charging 30 cents for an individually packed mask from Tuesday.&nbs […]

on September 14, 2023 at 10:18 am

The NHS must ensure patients know they have the right to a second opinion, the health secretary says. […]

on September 13, 2023 at 1:27 am

An outside panel of experts to the US Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday (Sept 12) refused to back the effectiveness of oral over-the-counter (OTC) medicines made with phenylephrine, an ingredient widely used in cold and cough syrups. The panel unanimously voted against the effectiveness of orally administered phenylephrine as a nasal decongestant, adding that no more trials were required to prove otherwise. The panel vote could lead to the removal of oral phenylephrine, which is a major component of popular products like Benadryl, Advil and Tylenol, from the FDA's list of approved OTC ingredients, barring its sale in the United States. The FDA usually follows the recommendations of its expert panel but is not obligated to do so. "The patient community requires and deserves medications that treat their symptoms safely and effectively and I don't believe that this medication does that," said Jennifer Schwartzott, one of the FDA panelists. Kenvue, the maker of Tylenol, and GSK, which markets Advil, did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. […]

on September 12, 2023 at 3:00 pm

Trainees are being abused by senior male surgeons, a major analysis given to the BBC reveals. […]

on September 12, 2023 at 8:59 am

Martha Mills, 13, died when doctors failed to spot and treat a sepsis infection early enough. […]

by Minoli Almeida on September 10, 2023 at 1:00 pm

Every new parent needs to discuss this with their mum friends. How to stop breastfeeding? How do you successfully wean your baby off the breast? How long does it take for breast milk to dry up? It's a tricky conversation, even though it should be one of the most natural things to discuss, right? Breastfeeding exclusively can have long-term health benefits for both mum and baby, there's no question about that. However, how do you know when it's time to stop? Fret not, for this article is for you. What is weaning? Weaning your baby off the breast is a process that begins when you start to reduce the amount of time you feed your baby at each session. This can be done gradually over several days or weeks, depending on what works best for you and your baby. As a general rule, weaning involves gradually reducing the times you breastfeed your baby daily until you're only breastfeeding at night. The number of times you breastfeed daily will depend on how often your child eats solid foods. […]

on September 8, 2023 at 8:09 am

How much money did Captain Tom raise and why is his family under the spotlight? […]

on September 6, 2023 at 1:22 pm

Shannon Meenan Browse died from malnutrition after gastric sleeve surgery in Turkey 18 months ago. […]

on September 5, 2023 at 3:21 am

They say the sterilisation device left them in pain - but the manufacturer defends its safety. […]

on September 4, 2023 at 2:59 pm

Seventeen-year-old Leia is one of a growing number of teenage vapers - but she’s trying hard to quit. […]

on August 30, 2023 at 5:11 pm

Vaccines for the most vulnerable will start being given in September instead of October in England. […]

on August 29, 2023 at 12:18 am

Anthony Fauci tells the BBC's Katty Kay that 96% of the US population has a degree of immunity. […]

on August 24, 2023 at 4:06 am

Analysis suggests senior doctor pay a little behind Germany and Ireland but higher than Spain and Italy. […]

on August 21, 2023 at 12:48 pm

The dad of two murdered boys says "it destroyed me", and a mum says she relives an attack "every day". […]

on August 17, 2023 at 5:20 am

Experts are not too concerned about a new variant of Covid but say monitoring should continue. […]

on August 13, 2023 at 7:48 am

With a team of 30 scientists, tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson spends millions on his body every year. […]

on August 11, 2023 at 12:51 pm

The BBC asked two junior doctors in England to show us their payslips and reveal their salaries. […]

on August 10, 2023 at 2:20 pm

The World Health Organisation declared the variant of interest, with cases reported in 51 countries. […]

on July 20, 2023 at 12:55 am

The first phase of the Covid Inquiry has come to an end. What have we learnt over the past six weeks? […]

on July 2, 2023 at 10:01 am

Amanda Pritchard says patients are facing disruption for "both sides" failing to find agreement in a dispute over pay in the health service. […]

on June 27, 2023 at 5:20 pm

Planning focused more on burying the dead than averting disaster, ex-health secretary says. […]

on June 22, 2023 at 3:44 pm

Sir Chris laments treatment as he gives evidence to Covid Inquiry on pandemic preparedness. […]

on June 21, 2023 at 6:49 pm

The UK should have prepared to test and isolate more, the ex-health secretary tells the Covid inquiry. […]

on June 20, 2023 at 4:29 pm

Dame Sally Davies apologises to bereaved families and says the UK was poorly prepared for the pandemic. […]