Author: Davidson Chua

Inside NUH’s trauma centre, a multidisciplinary team works tirelessly to rescue victims of road traffic accidents. Websites like ROADS.sg aim to spread awareness of road safety messages.

As our population ages and the incidence of chronic diseases rises, telemedicine has emerged as a critical tool for bridging the gap between patients and healthcare providers.  Telemedicine offers the convenience of accessing medical care without the constraints of distance, time, and cost.  However, like any medical innovation, telemedicine has limitations, and not all conditions can be effectively managed remotely.  What is Telemedicine? Telemedicine, often used interchangeably with telehealth, encompasses a broad range of services where healthcare professionals interact with patients, caregivers, or other medical providers using information and communication technologies (ICT).  These interactions can serve various purposes, from administrative…

For many people in their 40s, the gradual onset of presbyopia can be a frustrating reminder of ageing.  The need to hold objects at arm’s length, use extra lighting to read, or increase the font size on digital devices are telltale signs.  While glasses with progressive lenses have been the traditional solution, multifocal contact lenses present a modern alternative that combines the benefits of both near and far vision correction. To learn more about the benefits, risks, and future advancements of multifocal contact lenses, we interviewed Dr. Lee Shu Yen, a senior consultant ophthalmologist and vitreoretinal surgeon at Advanced Eye…

As Singapore celebrates its 2024 National Day Parade under the theme “Together, As One United People,” the focus on collective strength and unity resonates deeply with the importance of mental health in our society.  While much attention is given to individuals facing mental health challenges, an often-overlooked aspect is the emotional toll on their caregivers—those who provide unwavering support, often at the cost of their own well-being. In fact, a 2020 national survey on caregivers in Singapore revealed that 75% of caregivers for individuals with mental health conditions feel the need for temporary separation from the person they care…

In recent years, the topic of cognitive decline in older athletes, particularly boxers, has gained increasing attention.  As athletes like Mike Tyson and Manny Pacquiao continue to remain in the spotlight well into their 40s and 50s, concerns about the long-term impacts of repeated head trauma and its correlation with cognitive decline have surfaced.  The Impact of Repeated Head Trauma Boxing is a sport that inherently involves repeated blows to the head, and over time, this can lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive brain condition believed to be linked to repeated concussions.  Symptoms of CTE may include memory…

As global populations continue to age, the pursuit of effective anti-ageing treatments has never been more urgent.  Recent findings from Duke-NUS Medical School have highlighted a significant breakthrough in this field, identifying interleukin-11 (IL11) as a key driver of ageing. This discovery opens up promising avenues for developing therapies that could potentially extend healthy lifespans, anti-ageing solutions, and enhance the quality of life for millions. Understanding the Role of IL11 in Aging Ageing is characterised by a gradual decline in physiological functions, often marked by increased fat accumulation and muscle loss. The team at Duke-NUS discovered that IL11 promotes these hallmark…

Exercise has long been hailed as a cornerstone of good health, offering benefits that extend far beyond physical fitness.  Recent research sheds light on how exercise can keep the brain young, enhancing cognition, mood, and reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.  We have recently also interviewed Dr. Low Chung Min, a Geriatrician from Sunway Medical Centre Penang, to find out more about exercising and how it keeps our brain young.  The Broad Benefits of Exercise Regular physical activity is known to improve muscle strength, heart health, and blood sugar levels, among other benefits.  Activities such as running, biking, lifting weights,…

The recent incident involving Singapore Airlines Flight SQ321 has brought to light the often-overlooked health risks associated with turbulence during flights. The harrowing experience left one passenger dead from a suspected heart attack and dozens injured. It has also prompted concerns about both physical and psychological well-being among survivors.