Author: Rachel Tan

China announced a lockdown on one of Wuhan’s districts, Jiangxia, after four asymptomatic COVID cases were reported last Tuesday

High cholesterol occurs when the body has an excess of a fatty substance called cholesterol in the blood. Based on worldwide trends, international data across 40 years show that elevated cholesterol levels have shifted from high-income Western countries towards the East and Southeast Asia. High cholesterol is also medically known as hypercholesterolemia. Keep reading to find out all about high cholesterol and how it may affect you.  What is Cholesterol? Cholesterol is a waxy substance produced by the liver and is a component of all the cells found in the body. Cholesterol is required for various body functions to occur,…

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a rise in mental health cases and a decline in physical activity, as many people stay indoors due to social distancing. However, exercise is very helpful in lifting moods and countering symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety. Keep reading to find out what types of physical fitness and wellness activities would work for you.  Why keeping fit matters Studies have shown that getting sufficient physical activity could prevent 1 in 10 premature deaths. There are innumerable benefits for children, adults, and the elderly. For children, exercise can improve attention span and academic performance. For adults,…

How do I know if I have hypertension?    In our previous article on high blood pressure, otherwise known as hypertension (HTN), we spoke about measurement and interpretation of blood pressure (BP) readings. Your doctor can diagnose HTN by checking your blood pressure (BP), using an inflated upper arm cuff with a gauge. For the most accurate BP readings:  Sit very still with your ankles and legs uncrossed  Relax your arm while they measure your BP  What are the different stages of hypertension?  Here are the different BP readings for a normal patient vs other stages of HTN: BP Category SYSTOLIC…

What do your blood pressure readings mean? The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have it tested. Understanding your blood pressure readings is key to controlling high blood pressure. But, how do we read blood pressure?  What’s your hypertension stage?  Here are the guidelines for blood pressure range:  Blood pressure category  Systolic mmHg (upper number)  and/or  Diastolic mmHg (lower number)  Normal  Less than 120  And  Less than 80  Elevated  120-129  And  Less than 80  High blood pressure (hypertension) stage 1  130-139  Or  80-89  High blood pressure (hypertension) stage 2  140 or higher  Or  90…

How much sleep do we need and how can we sleep better? What happens if we don’t get enough sleep? Get all your questions answered here.

Hypertension or having elevated blood pressure is a “silent killer” that significantly increases the risk of brain, heart, kidney, and other diseases. It is a major cause of premature death worldwide, and only 1 in 5 adults with hypertension have it under control. Let’s dive deeper into this pressing medical condition.  What is hypertension?  Arteries carry oxygenated blood from the heart to the other parts of the body. When the heart pumps blood through these arteries, the blood puts pressure on their walls and hypertension occurs when an individual’s blood pressure is too high. The more blood the heart pumps,…

Intermittent fasting has gotten increasingly popular in recent times. What are the types of fasts, and how do they help?

The importance of diet and nutrition for our health cannot be undermined. Click here to discover 8 steps to healthier eating!

It is Liver Cancer Awareness Month this October and we would like to bring your attention to this cancer that does not show any specific symptoms in the early stages. Primary liver cancer occurs when the cancer originates from the liver cells. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common primary liver cancer, originates from the main cells of the liver, called hepatocytes.  Liver cancer is the 3rd most common cause of cancer-death and the 4th most frequent cancers diagnosed for males in Asia. According to the Cancer Journal for Clinicians, men are 2-3 times more likely to suffer from this cancer…