Author: Sony Sherpa

The term ‘brain tumour’ can sound frightening, but not all of them are fatal. Some may not even require treatment. Generally, we use the term ‘tumour’ to include both benign and malignant varieties of cellular growth. A malignant tumour is called cancer. Read on more to find out about brain tumour and brain cancer. What is brain cancer? Brain cancer consists of two types: primary and secondary. Primary brain cancer means cancer that arises from the brain tissue itself. Secondary brain cancer refers to cancer that travels from other regions of the body to the brain. The process of traveling of…

World Hypertension Day is held on the 17 May of every year. This year’s theme for World Hypertension Day is to focus on the low awareness rates worldwide, and accurate blood pressure measurement. Blood pressure (BP) refers to the pressure exerted by blood on the wall of your blood vessel. It is measured using a device called a sphygmomanometer. Read on below to find out more on the importance of measuring your blood pressure accurately. Why is measuring your blood pressure important? Measuring your BP is important as it aids in early detection of BP-related medical conditions such as stroke…

The pneumococcal vaccine lowers the risk of being infected with pneumococcal disease, a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Pneumococcus, also known as Streptococcus pneumoniae, causes pneumococcal disease. This disease can cause milder conditions like: Sinusitis: inflammation of the sinuses, with symptoms similar to a flu Otitis media: ear infection, causing ear pain But also more severe ones requiring hospitalisation: Pneumonia: lung infection Meningitis: infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord Bacteremia: blood infection 40-50% of children and 20-30% of adults  are healthy, asymptomatic carriers of the bacteria i.e. Pneumococcus is present in the nose and…

More than 70 countries, including Brunei and Malaysia, have included the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine in their national immunisation programme. This effectively protects a good number of females against cervical cancer, which has a high mortality rate of almost half of those who get diagnosed. Cervical cancer vaccination, is hence a simple step, of of great importance as they have the potential to reduce the overall burden of cervical cancer. What is Cervical Cancer? It is a type of cancer that occurs in the lower part of the uterus known as the cervix that is connected to the vagina…

Though under-reported, back pain is quite common among adults. Studies have shown that 4 out of 5 adults encounter debilitating back pain which disrupts daily life at least once in their lifetime. Understanding what causes it, taking steps to prevent it, and how to manage it when it happens, is then crucial. Read on to find out more, or listen to an orthopaedic surgeon explain more at the bottom of the article. Anatomy of the spine Before delving into back pain, it is helpful to understand the basic structure of the spine. The spine is made up of 33 bones…

Sleep apnea is a sleep condition in which breathing stops for short periods, usually 10 seconds or more at the time of sleep. These short-term breathing pauses cause low-quality sleep. It also hinders the continuous flow of oxygen supplied to the brain. This affects overall quality of rest of the body which may lead to harmful health problems. A cross-sectional population study conducted in Singapore, showed that 30.5% of the population was suffering from moderate to severe sleep apnea. What was more alarming, was that 91% of the participants remain undiagnosed. This is reflective of other studies conducted in Asia,…

So, the decision has been made to proceed with getting Botox injections. Whether it be for medical or cosmetic reasons, here are some important things to know to help in preparing for a botox procedure. Before the Botox procedure You may be advised to stop taking fish oil, ginkgo supplements, aspirin and anti-inflammatory medications 2 weeks before treatment. One should also avoid alcohol 2-3 days before the procedure, as they have blood-thinning effects, which may increase the risk of bruising.  During the Botox procedure Botox injections are usually performed in a clinician’s office. For cosmetic procedures, clinicians might use one…

Botulinum toxin (Botox) is a protein produced by a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum. Commonly associated with commercial cosmetic use, there’s much more to know about this chemical compound. Read on to learn about the basics of botox in this article.  What is Botox? The clinical utility of Botox stems from its inhibition of nerve signalling between nerve endings and muscle fibers. This prevents muscular contraction, hence weakening or paralyzing skeletal muscle. When used appropriately, Botox is generally safe for cosmetic and medical treatment. Read this article if you’d like to understand in greater detail about the procedure of getting a…

Orthorexia, also sometimes referred to as orthorexia nervosa, is an eating disorder in which people have a deleterious fixation with eating healthy food.  In contrast to other eating disorders, orthorexia primarily focuses on the quality of food rather than the volume of food. People with this disorder may or may not be concerned with body image. This is unlike other disorders such as bulimia and anorexia nervosa, which are all about achieving weight loss by controlling food quantity.  Though it has yet to be officially defined as an eating disorder by the American Psychiatric Association, medical communities have in recent…

Insomnia is a sleep disorder that is characterised by difficulty initiating and/or maintaining sleep. Affecting approximately 35% of the world’s population, insomnia has a predilection for women, the elderly, and people with health issues. Read on to find out more about the risk factors, symptoms, treatment and prevention tips for insomnia.  “Sleep is for the weak” Sleep problems are becoming increasingly common worldwide due to multiple reasons, almost all of which are associated with the increasingly fast-paced, busy lifestyle. Unfortunately, due to lack of proper research, not much is known about the causes of this condition. This, along with lack…