Can’t poop everyday? Don’t sweat it…
Friday, March 18, 2016 - Posted by SunnyHealth - 0 comments
“Pooping once everyday is a must for good health,” many well-meaning health enthusiasts are fond of this advice. Myself included, before I learned that this is a misconception.

Some people who are unable to clear their bowels on a daily basis spend every a stressful morning sitting on the toilet bowl, wondering why they can’t go despite drinking a lot of water, eating fruits and vegetables, and even diary products. In fact, if you do not have constipation, then you actually have nothing to worry about.

According to Medical Daily, toilet habits fall into two types:
1) Going at the same time daily (usually morning), and in the same toilet if available
2) Goes less frequently, with no fixed pattern

Both are normal, and none is healthier than the other. Anything in the range of thrice a day or thrice a week is healthy enough.

You should only be concerned if you encounter the following:

•    Faeces are too hard, causing pain and difficulties in coming out. This might be a sign of constipation, piles or something more serious.
•    Faeces are too loose, which could be a sign of diarrhea
•    Sudden change in toilet habits e.g. going from once a day to once every three days. Perhaps you’ve been drinking less water than usual?

Changes in bowel movements can of course be attributed to other factors. Someone on a vacation may not go to the bathroom as often as he usually does due to a change in dietary and exercise habits. Additionally, some menstruating women may experience an increase in amount of bowel movements during their period due to the release of the Progesterone hormone.

If you feel that you aren’t getting as much bowel movements as you should, reviewing your diet is one of the first things you should do. It is a common misconception that lots of dietary fibre automatically equates to better clearance of the bowels. This is only true to a certain extent, because you also need to drink lots of water on top of consuming generous helpings of fruits and vegetables. Otherwise, your large intestine becomes akin to a blocked drain; both require water to move the waste along. Additionally, people who don’t eat a lot will naturally have less waste to clear out.

There’s probably a very sound reason why the need to go to the bathroom is described as nature’s call. So let nature run its own course, and don’t stress yourself needlessly over your irregular bathroom habits. Most of all, never administer laxatives (something known as colon cleansing) without a doctor’s direction. This is usually unnecessary as the body is equipped with its own cleansing mechanism.

However, if pooping causes pain or discomfort, as well as presents unnatural symptoms like blood and strange colours in stools, then it is definitely time for a visit to the doctor. Chronic constipation can eventually lead to colon cancer. Never ignore the signs and protests from your body!


Stop Glaucoma from stealing your sight!
Thursday, March 10, 2016 - Posted by SunnyHealth - 0 comments



Did you know that this week (6 Mar to 12 Mar) is World Glaucoma Week?

Glaucoma is an eye condition whereby the sufferer’s field of vision narrows. It has been referred to as the silent thief of sight because by the time one discovers he/she has it, the condition is usually too serious, and irreversible. That sounds scary, doesn’t it? But that is why awareness about this condition is so important. While unpreventable, getting treatment at an early stage can slow down further damage to optic nerves. Proper administration of medication (usually in the form of eyedrops) prescribed for this condition can enable one to keep their eyesight even in old age, hence preventing blindness.

The Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) webpage provides an excellent visual of what different stages of glaucoma could feel like (scroll to the section under How do I know if I have Glaucoma?). Essentially, if you start seeing little black edges around your vision, you need to make an appointment with the eye specialist, no matter how non-intrusive or tiny you may deem those little tiny edges to be. Leaving them alone can only cause the condition to further deteriorate rapidly.

SNEC also provides a list of risk factors that increase the likelihood of contracting glaucoma:
  • Age; the risk increases once you are over 50 years old.
  • Chronic diseases, notably diabetes and high blood pressure
  • Being Asian and Afro-caribbean
  • Eye injuries
  • Severe nearsightedness
  • Family history of glaucoma
  • Use of steroids
You can’t prevent glaucoma, which is the gradual damage of an optic nerve. But you can slow down the amount of damage through some good habits:

Regular eye examinations. Those who possess any of the above-mentioned risk factors should have an eye examination every year after the age of 35.

Regular exercise. Studies found that moderate exercise such as walking or jogging at least thrice a week helps lower the intraocular pressure (IOP), hence reducing damage to the optic nerve. Yoga is also beneficial but one should avoid regular inverted positions like headstands and shoulder stands for prolonged periods of time as those would increase the IOP.

Eye protection. When engaging in sports or any activity that could cause injury and trauma to your eyes, do wear the appropriate eye protection gear.

Spread the word, remind your parents, grandparents and elderly neighbours. No one should suffer from vision loss in their twilight years due to ignorance.

Always, always make an appointment with an eye doctor if there are changes to your vision, no matter how small.

Sources:
http://www.snec.com.sg/eye-conditions-and-treatments/common-eye-conditions-and-procedures/Pages/glaucoma.aspx
http://www.glaucoma.org/gleams/what-can-i-do-to-prevent-glaucoma.php
http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/glaucoma-facts-you-need



Prevent cosmetic surgery from becoming disfigurements
Friday, March 04, 2016 - Posted by SunnyHealth - 0 comments

Gone are the days when cosmetic surgery was taboo. Partially due to the influence of social media with apparently well-meaning bloggers presenting their latest plastic surgery procedures in the form of tutorials, young women observe the results with envy and intrigue, rather than disdain.

I would be lying if I said I have never been tempted by the flawless large-eyed pixie-faced selfies frequently circulated all over Weibo, instagram and the like. But what keeps me from developing further interest in the subject matter are the stories of cosmetic surgeries gone wrong, such as in the case of one local blogger whose breast implants ruptured and her chin implant infected last month. And if you do a quick google search on plastic surgeries gone wrong, the squeamish might have to skip lunch today. Call me conservative, but I think going against nature and inserting foreign objects in your body for the sake of non-lasting beauty is simply asking for health troubles, if not at the current moment, then many years down the road. So many complications can arise from a simple infection!

Nevertheless, some people are willing to put up with the pain and potential risks, and certainly, they are free to do as they desire. But are you completely aware of all the potential risks that come with plastic surgery? Many of us are so easily blinded by achievements that we forget the troubles and sacrifices one has to go through to attain them. Furthermore, it is human nature to trumpet our achievements but keep mum about failures, so we are exposed to more success stories than failures in plastic surgery. With the ages of girls desiring plastic surgery getting younger, creating awareness about the potential risks of plastic surgery really needs to take a front seat.

Here are some common mistakes people make when they plan to go under the knife:

Forgetting that scarring is a thing

It seems ironic that procedures meant to beautify the body could do the opposite. The fact is, plastic surgery is invasive, like all other medical surgeries, and could potentially leave scars, notably major procedures like tummy tucks and breast augmentation. Aside from the doctor’s skill, genetic factors also come into play. For example, people with darker complexion and high skin pigmentation have a higher tendency to get obvious post-procedure scarring. To avoid or reduce the impact of post-procedure scarring, do consult your doctor on all the after-care precautions you should take.

Taking doctor’s credibility for granted in an unfamiliar place

Many beauty fanatics head overseas to places like Korea and Thailand for plastic surgery these days because the procedures are cheaper than done locally, bloggers recommend them, and also due to the rise of plastic surgery tourism. Bear in mind that advertorials and recommendations by bloggers are often sponsored. Tour companies get commission. Always do extensive checks on the doctor’s background, and ask lots of relevant questions during consultation. With the prevalence of plastic surgery clinics these days, it is becoming more challenging to discern the good ones from the mediocre ones. 

According to the South China Morning Paper, "The South Korean plastic surgery industry currently faces a myriad of issues that may compromise the health and safety of patients. The industry’s lax regulations towards medical practitioners; lack of emergency training and equipment at clinics; and high numbers of illegal plastic surgery agents have begun to affect the country’s reputation as a top medical tourism destination. Under current laws, doctors are unrestricted when it comes to their practices. Non-specialist doctors may perform any type of surgery".

Follow-up sessions, touch-ups and revision surgeries may be necessary so you may want to think twice about heading overseas. If you must go, then be sure to familiarise yourself with the local laws and understand the types of certifications that clinics are awarded with. In case something goes wrong, you know how to go about protecting your consumer rights.

Not having an adequate understanding of your own facial / body structure

Everybody has different body and facial structure. One particular type of feature may look great on someone but poor on another. Post-surgery dissatisfaction can potentially lead to a myriad of negative emotions from disappointment and regret (especially if the expenses were high) to an even lower self-esteem, if one already had low self-worth to begin with (i.e. nothing I do will improve my looks). Take breast augmentation for example.Many women have irregular breastbones and rib cages, and this often leads to unsatisfactory breast implants, with lopsided breasts being a common post-surgery problem. Some women also had to down-size their cups when they developed back problems consequently.

Not consulting your doctor when you have existing health problems

Like all surgical procedures, plastic surgery carries potential risks, which could complicate existing health problems such as obesity, heart problems etc. Think about it, when you go under the knife, you’d be placed under anaesthetic, and that alone can cause potentially life-endangering effects.

You should consult both your doctor about the types of procedures you intend to do, so that he/she can advise you if you are suited to undergo the procedure. Your plastic surgeon may be knowledgeable about this, but it is best to consult the expert, especially someone who has comprehensive knowledge about your health condition.

Do also be honest with your plastic surgeon about your existing medical conditions and lifestyle as some factors could inhibit the safety and effectiveness of the procedures. For example, heavy drinkers and regular smokers would not be good candidates for cosmetic surgery. And recent users of the the acne medication accutane would be ill-advised to go ahead with a lip augmentation.

If both doctors provide conflicting advice, you should definitely consider consulting another plastic surgeon.

Not educating oneself on potential side effects or following up after procedure

Various cosmetic procedures have their own sets of potential side effects. Implants run the risk of becoming infected, rejection or shifting to a different position and requiring further surgery to correct it. Forehead and brow lifts could lead to hair-loss around the surgical area as well as numbness in the forehead and scalp. Even the very commonly done and presumably safe eyelid surgery may potentially lead to blindness (though very rare), dry eyes, scarring and eye irritation. And the list goes on. Some side effects may only appear months or years after the surgery, such as rupturing of breast implants, so it is always important to monitor your condition and abide by the doctor’s advice on post-surgery care.

Cosmetic procedures may be commonplace now, but that doesn’t mean you should jump on the bandwagon. Above all, you should have a healthy self image and expectations of what plastic surgery can do for you, which all good doctors should discuss with you before recommending any sort of procedure. Plastic surgery should be regarded as what it is - an enhancement of physical attributes. It certainly will not stop the aging process or bestow you with a perfect body image. People are rarely content and soon you will be expecting more.

If you have self-esteem issues, it is more effective in the long run to work on improving your physical and mental well-being through setting attainable goals, a healthy lifestyle, sufficient sleep, balanced diet and exercise.