Why Cancer Screening Matters
Friday, February 03, 2012 - Posted by SunnyHealth - 0 comments
Just last month, prostrate cancer was discovered in a 2,200-year-old Egyptian mummy of a man who died in his forties. And this is by no means the oldest known case of prostrate cancer. The oldest was found in a 2700 year-old skeleton of a king in Russia.

This suggests that contrary to what many think, cancer is not just the unfortunate result of pollution and unhealthy diets of the modern day.  Genetics could be a major factor in the cause of cancer. If it wasn’t the problem with polluted environments and unhealthy lifestyles, why then does it seem that more cancers and death-related cancers, along with other strange diseases that were never known to exist, keep making headlines in recent years?


The idea that these diseases came into existence recently could be flawed. Rather, they had impacted the human population all this while, but were only discovered when medical science became more advance. After all, humans passed on at much earlier ages than most of the current generation of humans do, and there had been mentions of ‘mysterious illnesses’ that could well be cancer or some of the illnesses that even we find baffling in our time.


But that is not to say that you should start panicking about your health immediately if you know of a relative with cancer, or throw aside your healthy lifestyle since it’s no guarantee of a cancer-free life. The possibility of cancer has become more unfathomable; even perfectly healthy youths in their teens have contracted cancer. The only sure-proof way of keeping cancer at bay is to go for regular health screenings. Treatment for cancer that has been discovered early is often more successful and less complicated compared to advanced-stage cancer. A healthy lifestyle is still absolutely necessary for your well-being. Furthermore, certain poor habits do contribute to cancer risk factors. Smoking, for example, is a main risk factor that may lead to lung cancer.


As stated, the probability of cancer could be genetics-related. As such, some cancers are more prominent among certain communities, ethnic and age groups. The Singapore Health Promotion Board has a handy chart showing the most common cancers in Singapore affecting both sexes, and which age groups should go for regular screening:

Click for larger view
 
Where to go for screening?

Many polyclinics and private clinics offer health screening services. You can visit your nearest doctor to get more information.

For those who worry about the costs, vital health screening tests for common cancers in Singapore have actually been subsidised and made more affordable for Singaporeans with financial problems.

The Health Promotion Board (HPB)’s national health screening programmes offer subsidised screening:

Integrated Screening Programme (ISP):
Aimed at encouraging Singaporeans aged 40 years and older to be screened for diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, obesity and cervical cancer at a Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP)– registered General Practicitioner (GP) clinic.

The blood test to screen for diabetes & lipid disorders (cholesterol) is $8 while Pap smear to screen for cervical cancer (for female patients) costs $15. Costs exclude GST and consultation fees.

Cervical Screen Singapore (CSS):
Aimed at encouraging all women aged 25 years and above who have ever had sex or are sexually active to go for Pap smear once every three years. Pap smear is offered at subsidised rates of $15 at Polyclinics for Singaporeans and $22.50 for Permanent Residents (PRs).

BreastScreen Singapore (BSS):
Aimed at encouraging women aged 50 years and older to go for screening mammograms once every 2 years. The test is offered at a subsidised rate of $50 at polyclinics for Singaporean citizens and $75 for permanent residents (PRs) at the polyclinics. 

You may use your Medisave account or the account of an immediate family member (excluding siblings) for your screening mammogram at all Medisave approved screening centres. All BSS screening centres are approved centres for use of Medisave. 

The Singapore Cancer Society also offers free Pap smear and Faecal Occult Blood Test kit to screen for cervical and colorectal cancer respectively.

Those in need of further financial assistance or wish to inquire more about medical subsidies can speak to the medical social workers at the polyclinics.


Beating the queue at the doctor's
Friday, January 27, 2012 - Posted by SunnyHealth - 0 comments

It’s back to work or school after a very long weekend of Chinese New Year celebrations, a rather stressful point of time as we attempt to readapt and deal with work that has piled up over the holidays. Contributing to post-holiday blues are ailments like cough and sore throats that prey on us while we let our guard down with the feasting and late nights. The erratic weather isn’t helping matters.

According to a news report on Channel News Asia, clinics saw a spark in patient load on Wednesday. Upper respiratory tract infections including cough and sore throat are among the most commonly treated ones.

The symptoms of cough and sore throat are easily identified. They usually start off with itchy dry throats, some phlegm and a bit of coughing. In the early stage, cough and sore throat can actually be prevented from escalating, and you can avoid a visit to the doctor and his nasty sleep-inducing cough syrup if you take the right steps to care for your health (Of course, if you need an MC, that’s another story).

Cough and sore throat are caused by the drying New Year goodies and alcohol, rich, heaty foods, and lack of rest and exercise. It is essential to get back to your daily routine of getting up early and going to bed early to ensure that if you have ample amount of sleep. Getting up early is probably no issue for those who have work and school. For those who plan to do late nights to finish your work from over the holidays, bear in mind that working with a tired mind reduces productivity and may lead to more mistakes in your work, slowing you down instead.

Drink lots of water throughout the day to replenish your body fluids, and soothe your throat. Avoid cold water and soft drinks as these could irritate your throat and aggravate your cough. Warm water is best for your throat, or at the very least, go with water at normal temperature.

Dislike the tastelessness of water? Whether you prefer Western or Chinese medical remedies, almost everyone who has tried the lemon honey water home remedy would agree that it works for throat discomforts.

Honey helps because it has antibiotic properties. It releases hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), an antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiseptic compound, disinfecting the infected area and killing germs. Before antibiotic was invented, honey was used as an antiseptic on wounds to prevent infection and hasten healing. It was even used as medicine for other ailments, including diarrhoea, stomach upset, and of course, coughs and sore throats. Lemon is also an antiseptic, and taste-wise, it complements the sweetness of honey.

Best of all, the recipe is very simple. Fill a mug with water. Stir in a table spoon of honey and heat it in the microwave for about one and a half minutes. Remove the mug and stir in a teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon. You can drink it immediately!

Warning: If the sick person is diabetic, regular honey may be detrimental to his condition. Be sure to choose organic honey instead. Honey should also not be consumed by babies below one year old. Honey may contain spores of a bacterium that can grow in the baby’s immature digestive system, causing infant botulism which is a fatal illness.

Another fuss-free method to supplement this home remedy is to gargle with warm salt water a few times a day. Salt is a natural disinfectant and it can help to reduce the germs in your mouth.

Ginger tea also brings quick relief to coughing symptoms. While it may be tedious to prepare it from fresh ginger, traditional Chinese medical halls sell them ready-made, and supermarkets sell instant ginger tea in the form of powder and teabags.

Bear in mind that depending on the severity of your cough or sore throat, such home remedies may have limited effects. If your condition is serious or does not improve, you will still need to seek medical treatment.

Last but not least, abstain from heaty New Year goodies like shrimp crackers and bak kwa until your throat gets better, and when it does, consume these goodies with lots of water and ample rest!


Keep Fit the More Relaxing Way!
Friday, January 13, 2012 - Posted by SunnyHealth - 0 comments


Find lifting weights too tiring and boring? Hate puffing like a buffalo at the end of a run? Brisk walking is a simple, low intensity sport that is suitable for people of most ages and health conditions! If you haven’t been exercising in a while and want to start getting fit, brisk walking is a good way to start slow and build up momentum.

In fact, most of us already engage in some form of brisk walking daily. As the world’s fastest walkers, we keep even the densest of crowds moving at top speeds during peak hours. Like personal trainer Lucy Knight rightly states in this article,"It (Walking) is free, enjoyable and already a part of everyday life. All you need to do is correct your technique, walk faster and for longer and you will lose weight."

In spite its low intensity, brisk walking shares benefits of other higher intensity sports:

- Helps you to lose weight if you walk briskly for 30 to 60 minutes each day
- Keeps you active, and therefore prevents you from gaining weight when you get older
- Improves immune system
- Improves brainpower because walking stimulates the blood flow, and sends oxygen to the brain.
- Reduce chronic diseases like heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes

It also has these added benefits:
- Prevents osteoporosis (thinning of bone tissue and density) since it is a weight-bearing exercise
- Enhances your mood and reduces depression, especially if you walk in a scenic place filled with greenery, such as the park.
- Helps prevent peripheral artery disease, an illness that impairs blood flow in the legs
- In pregnancy, brisk walking protects against miscarriages. It can reduce fatigue and related pains, helps lose weight easily, lowers risks of gestational diabetes and prevents spontaneous abortions by lowering the hormonal fluctuations which cause uterine contractions.
- In weakened cancer patients, it is a suitable exercise that helps to improve blood circulation and lessens the side effects of chemotherapy.

Now that we know how good brisk walking is, how do we go about it appropriately?

It is very important to note that just because its low-intensity doesn’t mean you should start walking as and when in inappropriate attire. If you do not wear appropriate footwear, you may end up with feet ailments.

As with indulging in other sports, wear loose fitting clothing and sports shoes with well-cushioned soles to make walking comfortable for you.

To get the best out of brisk walking, you should walk with the right posture and technique. There are many different techniques for brisk walking, and Knight recommends this:

1) Stand tall with your arms by your sides and pull your navel towards your spine so that your core muscles are working.

2) Focus your eyes five to six meters ahead and keep your shoulders relaxed. Bend your elbows at a 90 degree angle and cup your hands lightly, rather than clenching your fists.

3) Leading with the heel, take a step forward with your right foot and move your arms in opposition (i.e. as your left arm moves forward, your right moves back). Transfer your weight through the heel of your right foot.

Finally, how often and how long is probably another popular question. It really depends on your health condition. If you have any special conditions like pregnancy, or illnesses, you should consult your doctor before launching your brisk walking programme.

If you have no ailments or special conditions, you can base the frequency and speed of your brisk walking based on your preference. If you have not exercised in a long time, you should start slow. A recommended routine for starters would be 20 minutes of slow to moderate walking per day. When your body gets used to the daily work out, you can then increase the duration of each work out, and the speed.

Need more advice or encouragement to start your routine? The Health Promotion Board has a National Brisk Walking Programme, whereby briskwalking clubs have been established at all CDCs. More details are available here: http://www.hpb.gov.sg/programmes/article.aspx?id=6606

Sign up at your nearest CDC and start walking your way to good health!

Additional sources: http://health.sify.com/11-benefits-of-brisk-walking/