Resting too much can weaken muscles, worsening joint pain in the long run, says an expert.

Synopsis: Every month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

Problems affecting bones, joints, muscles, and tendons are the leading contributor of disability among all ages worldwide. 

These problems arising from musculoskeletal disorders comprise diverse conditions affecting bones, joints, muscles, and connective tissues, which may result in pain and loss of function.  

The disorders, which include conditions such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, sarcopenia, low back pain, and other degenerative conditions, are especially common in older adults. 

However, they are not an inevitable part of aging. 

In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo talks to surgeon-scientist, Assistant Professor Bryan Tan to find out more about what one can do to prevent musculoskeletal disorders.

They touched on strength training, what one can do about exercise after a flare of knee osteoarthritis, and not waiting till there is no pain to resume exercising.

Prof Tan is an orthopaedic surgeon at Woodlands Hospital, and the co-chair of the musculoskeletal integrated care work group at NHG Health.

Highlights (click/tap above):

3:48 What are musculoskeletal conditions? 

6:55 It’s never too late to build your muscles and bones

8:45 The more you don’t use your muscles, the weaker they will become 

18:21 Hyrox or not, everyone should be engaging in physical activity

20:27 How to get back to your exercise routine after a flare of your knee osteoarthritis?

Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN 

Host: Joyce Teo ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

Follow Health Check Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ

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The science of getting unstuck from OCD in four days.

Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD is often misunderstood. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is frequently misunderstood. Although the term is often used casually, it is a potentially severe disorder that can drastically disrupt a person's life.

However, it is highly treatable. Yet, many people remain undiagnosed and untreated for years.

To learn more about OCD, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo talks to two psychologists who specialise in the treatment of OCD for a two-part series on what the disorder is about and how the Bergen approach treats OCD in just four days?

They are  Dr Jackki Yim, Principal Clinical Psychologist & Deputy Head of Anxiety Service, Department of Mood & Anxiety at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and Ms Tammie Kwek, Senior Clinical Psychologist, Department of Mood & Anxiety, IMH.

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:56 How is OCD treated? 

6:00 What does the Bergen treatment entail?

11:00 Is it for everyone suffering from OCD?

14:05 What is the “homework” that patients have to do?

21:52 How should families accommodate a family member living with OCD?

Listen to OCD Part 1: The hidden reality and a new way out - https://str.sg/yBjG

Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN 

Host: Joyce Teo ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

Follow Health Check Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ

Feedback to: [email protected]

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

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OCD is more than a quirk.

Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD is often misunderstood. Although the term OCD is often used casually, it is a potentially severe disorder that can drastically disrupt a person's life. 

However, it is highly treatable. Yet, many people remain undiagnosed and untreated for years.

To learn more about OCD, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo talks to two psychologists who specialise in the treatment of OCD for a two-part series on what the disorder is about and how a new treatment can help.

They are  Dr Jackki Yim, Principal Clinical Psychologist & Deputy Head of Anxiety Service, Department of Mood & Anxiety at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and Ms Tammie Kwek, Senior Clinical Psychologist, Department of Mood & Anxiety, IMH.

Highlights (click/tap above):

3:37 Clearing misunderstandings about OCD 

5:46 An example of OCD 

11:19 How can parents respond to their children who have OCD?

Listen to OCD Part 2: 4-day treatment and the Bergen approach - https://str.sg/hZaB

Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN 

Host: Joyce Teo ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

Follow Health Check Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ

Feedback to: [email protected]

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

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A psychiatrist's guide to your child's emotional well-being.

Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

Many parents spend time teaching their kids essential skills like reading or spelling but they often forget to teach them a key skill that will determine their success, their relationships, and their overall happiness. That is emotional regulation. 

In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo talks to Dr Ong Say How, a child and adolescent psychiatrist. He’s the chairperson of creative services and youth committee at SAMH and a senior consultant psychiatrist at the Institute of Mental Health. 

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:49 What exactly is emotional regulation? 

6:40 Signs that a child might be struggling emotionally 

11:14 It’s ok to tell your children that you’re concerned about them

15:00 Screen time limits can help with a child’s ability to handle boredom and regulate mood

20:51 Parents must be role models

22:24 What parents can do to repair the damage after losing their cool? 

24:13 You don’t have to shield your child from negative feelings 

Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN

Host: Joyce Teo ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

Follow Health Check Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ

Feedback to: [email protected]

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

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Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast

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Boys who slept nine hours or more every night had a lower obesity risk and less dangerous fat.

Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

A recent A*Star study found that boys who slept at least nine hours every night had a 51 per cent lower obesity risk and less abdominal fat. 

Abdominal fat, particularly fat around internal organs, is more strongly linked to metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease than overall body weight.

Published in the journal Obesity (Oct 2025), the study used MRI imaging to examine how sleep habits relate to fat distribution in 10-year-olds in Singapore. 

In this episode, host and ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo finds out more from the study’s authors Dr Cai Shirong and Dr Navin Michael, about the importance of sleep and how sleep deprivation can increase the risk of obesity and overweight in children.

Dr Cai And Dr Navin are principal scientists from the A*Star Institute for Human Development and Potential. 

Highlights (click/tap above):

4:48 Does catching up on sleep during the weekend reduce the risk of obesity?

7:07 Why was there a weaker association between sleep deprivation and obesity in girls?

8:00 Prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents

15:45  Why do we prefer burgers over salad when we are sleep deprived? 

17:38 Sleep can help regulate cognition in children

19:43 Examples of caffeinated beverages consumed by children

Check out ST's new series, No health without mental health: https://str.sg/mentalhealthmatters

Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN

Host: Joyce Teo ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

Follow Health Check Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ

Feedback to: [email protected]

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast

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Grief is a painful, individual emotional and physical response to a significant loss. But it can be managed. 

Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

Grief is a painful, individual emotional and physical response to a significant loss.

Death, divorce, the loss of a home or a job, fast declining health are among the major events that people grieve.

To learn more about coping with grief, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to Lin Jing, a counsellor from the Singapore Association for Mental Health.

SAMH is one of the few social service agencies focusing on mental health here that operates a general helpline for the public at 1800-283-7019

They also discuss what is grief counselling about. 

If your grief feels like it's too much to bear, please reach out for help. We have included more helplines below.

Highlights (click/tap above):

9:00 When should you consider grief counselling?

12:45 When guilt is thrown into the picture

23:00 Understanding cognitive behaviourial therapy, grief counselling and grief therapy

29:10 Building a life around the loss of a child…

32:00 Appearing strong and unaffected by grief, when you are crumbling inside

Check out ST's new series, No health without mental health: https://str.sg/mentalhealthmatters

Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN

Host: Joyce Teo ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

Follow Health Check Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ

Feedback to: [email protected]

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

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Helplines

Mental well-being

• National helpline: 1771 (24 hours) / 6669-1771 (via WhatsApp)
• Samaritans of Singapore: 1-767 (24 hours) / 9151-1767 (24 hours CareText via WhatsApp)
• Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019
• Silver Ribbon Singapore: 6386-1928
• Chat, Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health: 6493-6500/1 
• Women’s Helpline (Aware): 1800-777-5555 (weekdays, 10am to 6pm)
• The Seniors Helpline: 1800-555-5555 (weekdays, 9am to 5pm)
• Tinkle Friend (for primary school-age children): 1800-2744-788

Counselling

• Touchline (Counselling): 1800-377-2252
• Touch Care Line (for caregivers): 6804-6555
• Counselling and Care Centre: 6536-6366
• We Care Community Services: 3165-8017
• Shan You Counselling Centre: 6741-9293
• Clarity Singapore: 6757-7990

Online resources

• mindline.sg/fsmh
• eC2.sg
• chat.mentalhealth.sg
• carey.carecorner.org.sg (for those aged 13 to 25)
• limitless.sg/talk (for those aged 12 to 25)

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You can appear lean but have insufficient muscle mass and too much body fat.

Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

A local paper has found that 1 in 4 young women, despite having a normal weight, had low muscle mass, weak bones and high body fat. This increases their future risks for not only osteoporosis and muscle loss but metabolic diseases like diabetes and obesity.

ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to the paper’s authors to find out more.

Lead author Dr Mya Thway Tint is a principal scientist at the A*STAR Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP) and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Dean's Office, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. 

Professor Johan Eriksson is the Executive Director of A*STAR IHDP and highly knowledgeable about the S-PRESTO study, or  the Singapore Preconception Study of Long-Term Maternal and Child Outcomes cohort study, which the paper is part of.

He was previously a professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, and the chief physician at Helsinki University Central Hospital in Finland. 

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:50 Having a normal BMI and low bone density

5:03 You have to exercise to grow bone 

10:29 Using bioimpedance or bioelectrical impedance analysis to measure body composition

13:53 What is considered an unhealthy body fat percentage level?

19:56 What can we do to improve our bone health?

Check out ST's new series, No health without mental health: https://str.sg/mentalhealthmatters

Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN

Host: Joyce Teo ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

Follow Health Check Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ

Feedback to: [email protected]

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

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The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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Learn how to manage bothersome symptoms that typically emerge in the four to five years before a woman's final menstruation. 

Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

Perimenopause is the stage before menopause that many women here do not talk about, largely due to stigma or a lack of awareness. 

The transition phase in perimenopause ends in menopause, which marks the end of a woman's natural fertility. This affects not just her reproductive organs but her entire body, adding to the confusion in distinguishing between ageing or illness. 

In this episode, senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to Associate Professor Rukshini Puvanendran, the co-director of the KK Menopause Centre, to counter the misinformation out there.

Prof Ruskhini is also the head and a senior consultant at the Family Medicine Service at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH).

Highlights (click/tap above):

2.28 Symptoms of perimenopause

7.23 Older women can still have hot flushes 

11.03 Some women develop an awareness of their heartbeat 

18:39 What can women do about their symptoms?

30:08 The four symptoms of menopause that doctors won't argue about

31:59 Oestrogen cream to treat vaginal dryness and urinary incontinence

Check out ST's new series, No health without mental health: https://str.sg/mentalhealthmatters

Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN

Host: Joyce Teo ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

Follow Health Check Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ

Feedback to: [email protected]

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

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Caregiving for persons with mental health conditions is for the long-haul.

Synopsis: Every first Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

Caregivers Alliance Limited is an organisation that focuses on supporting caregivers of persons with mental health conditions as well as those who have developed mental health challenges due to caregiving.  

It has a small outpost at the Institute of Mental Health, where families can seek caregiver support. 

In this episode, senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to Ms Evelyn Chng, who is based at the outpost, about the cases that she has seen there, the mental health burden of caregiving, and what caregivers can do about it. 

She heads CAL’s Community Outreach Team or Crest programme. Crest, which acts as a mental health first-stop touchpoint, was developed by the Agency for Integrated Care and the Ministry of Health.

Ms Chng also talks about the challenges of caring for her adult son, who is living with obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD.

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:15 Who are these caregivers who stop by the CAL counter at IMH?

10:15 Recent twists in Evelyn’s caregiving journey

14:40 How Evelyn takes care of herself

17:36 A strict father rebuilds his bond with son who was being treated for depression

24:40 A piece of advice for caregivers of persons with mental health conditions

Check out ST's new series, No health without mental health: https://str.sg/mentalhealthmatters

Read Joyce Teo's stories: https://str.sg/JbxN

Host: Joyce Teo ([email protected])

Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

Follow Health Check Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWRX

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ

Feedback to: [email protected]

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

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Listen to our news commentary podcasts on the go every week.

Podcasts have become part of the global media landscape these days. The audio-on-demand format allows many listeners to often do other chores or hobbies, while hearing the shows in the background over headphones or bluetooth speakers

Almost every weekday, check out our discussions on Singapore current affairs and social issues, geopolitics through an Asian lens, health, climate change, personal finance and career.

Follow our shows on your favourite audio apps Apple Podcasts, Spotify or even ST’s app, which has a dedicated podcast player section.

Trailer narrated by: Podcast editor Ernest Luis ([email protected]); edited by: Elsa Goh

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Discover more ST podcast channels:

'All-in-one' ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Headstart On Record: https://str.sg/wB2m

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Wheel Insights: https://str.sg/iTtE

ST Podcasts website: https://www.straitstimes.com/st-podcasts

(*New) The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast

Feedback to: [email protected]

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

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Special edition series:

Green Trails (4 eps): https://str.sg/bMyx

This series clinched the gold award for Best Podcast at the Digital Media Awards Asia 2025 on April 23, organised by the World Association of News Publishers (Wan-Ifra).

True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T

This series clinched the gold award for Best Podcast at the Digital Media Awards Asia 2024 in April, and third place for Best Podcast at the Digital Media Awards Worldwide 2024, both organised by Wan-Ifra.

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

This series also won The Best Podcast/Digital Audio Project category at the 2022 Digital Media Awards Asia, organised by Wan-Ifra.

Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

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The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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