Conditions

Dr Kanika Chaudhuri, practicing consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Singapore talks of the Risks of Gestational Diabetes and how to control diabetes before, during and after pregnancy As the age of childbirth goes up due to changing demographics, we are seeing more patients with pre-existing diabetes and the incidence of Gestational diabetes mellitus (diabetes developing in pregnant women) is also on the rise. Both these conditions need multi-disciplinary management to…

Dr Jayaraman Hariram, Psychiatrist, Senior Consultant, Emergency Service & OCD Clinic, Singapore answers the frequently asked questions on OCD including treatment options and how to recognize if you need help. What is OCD? Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is one of the common mental illness recently separated from anxiety disorder and placed within Obsessive Compulsive and Related Disorder.  It affects people of all ages and walks of life, and occurs when a person gets caught in a…

An informed and engaged cancer patient has better clinical outcomes and fewer side effects. Knowing the trajectory of the illness also helps the patient and their family plan for the treatment and other care related aspects. Dr. Shital Raval shares an exhaustive set of questions that you may need to ask your cancer specialist.   A Cancer diagnosis can be quite alarming but by taking an active role in planning treatment and care, it can help alleviate the unwelcome stress and anxiety.…

What is a Bone Scan? What do the results of the scan indicate? When do you need a Bone Scan? How often should you get a Bone Scan? We give you information that will help you discuss your options with your doctor. What is a Bone Scan  A Bone scan is done to check the bone mineral density (BMD) so as to assess strength of the bones and probability of any fractures. The scan helps identify any mild (osteopenia) or serious bone loss (osteoporosis). The most common bone density test is the DEXA…

Cervical cancer refers to cancer that originates in the cells lining the cervix, which is the organ connecting the uterus and the vagina. There are two main types of cervical cancers: The most common is squamous cell carcinoma, arising in the squamous (flattened) epithelial cells that line the cervix. The other is adenocarcinoma, which starts in the mucus-producing gland cells of the cervix.  The human papilloma virus (HPV) infection is the leading cause of cervical cancer.…

People with type 2 diabetes are at an increased risk of developing frozen shoulder,  a sometimes severely painful condition in which there is reduced mobility of the shoulders, says Dr Girish Parmar, Consultant Endocrinologist, Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital. Is there a link between diabetes and muscle joint disorders? Yes there is a link between diabetes and musculoskeletal system. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder wherein the extra glucose in circulation sticks to the tissues.…

If you have decided to quit smoking but are not sure how to go about it, here are some tips from those who successfully quit smoking. Don't miss the benefits of stopping smoking. And how to handle withdrawal symptoms. The reasons to quit may vary.  As people have shared in their experiences, they tried to quit multiple times and eventually succeeded when their health got affected - either a heart attack or COPD. In some cases it was for family reasons - either due to the wife being…

Dr Kumar Prabhash, Prof. Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, gives insights into the different types and stages of lung cancer and outlines the benefits of targeted therapy as treatment. How many different types of lung cancer are there? Earlier lung cancer was classified only into two major types: Small cell lung cancers (SCLC) and Non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC), based upon the microscopic appearance of the tumor cells. These two different types of cancers grow, spread as…

Dr. Shivaprakash Srinivasan, Child Adolescent  and Adult Psychiatrist at SCARF puts the spotlight on the growing trend of cyberbullying, the impact of cyberbullying on adolescent mental health and what parents and educators/teachers can do to prevent cyberbullying and spot signs. The internet since its introduction to the public in the early 1990’s has been changing the world at a really rapid pace. It has been making communication with persons around the world astoundingly easy and also…