Health Check

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

If you’re raising a child with special needs, such as physical, cognitive, behavioural challenges, you are not alone. You deserve the time to look after yourselves and there is comfort to be found from families who have children with special needs.

In this episode, Joyce Teo, a senior health correspondent with The Straits Times, speaks with Dr Lim Hong Huay, an epidemiologist and developmental paediatrician who has two children with ADHD and mild autism, about how parents of special needs children can avoid burnout. She also talks about how friends and family can help parents of special needs children and what the public should (and should not) do when they encounter a parent having a challenging episode with a special needs child.

Dr Lim founded CaringSG in 2020, when many special education schools and early intervention programmes had to stop their services and families were stuck at home. That worsened the exhaustion, burnout and mental health issues that some caregivers had.

Highlights (click/tap above):

02:54 How friends and family can help

10:46 How parents can avoid burnout

14:06 How the public can help

16:08 Tips for parents of special needs children

CaringSG: https://caring.sg/

SG Enable: https://www.sgenable.sg/

Produced by: Joyce Teo ([email protected]), Ernest Luis and Fa'izah Sani

Edited by: Fa'izah Sani

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---

Discover ST's special edition podcasts:

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2

Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa

Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ

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

Artificial intelligence (AI) can revolutionise healthcare but it is hotly debated.

In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo invites Prof Joseph Sung, dean of the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine at the Nanyang Technological University. 

They discuss how AI can help us improve our health and change the future of healthcare, particularly in primary care at home.

Highlights (click/tap above):

00:55 What the future of AI in healthcare can look like

04:11 Trust - a major issue when it comes to technology in healthcare

07:41 The most exciting AI tool expected to be seen in Singapore

10:40 AI-related research that might disrupt healthcare

12:17 Legal aspects and liability issues that may occur when AI and machines are involved

Produced by: Joyce Teo ([email protected]), Ernest Luis and Fa'izah Sani

Edited by: Fa'izah Sani

Follow Health Check Podcast here and rate us:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

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Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

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

---

Discover ST's special edition podcasts:

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2

Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa

Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

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Health Check Ep 74: Fight ageing with exercise

15:18 mins

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

It's almost the end of the year, and nearly two years since the coronavirus emerged and changed the way we work, live and play. If you haven't been exercising, it's time to start. If you have been taking short walks now and then, it's time to walk a bit more on a regular basis.

This is because every step you take will help to keep you physically - and mentally - younger. Ageing is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases. An ageing body is just less able to fight diseases, but if you can do something about your ageing body and brain, you may be able to delay the onset of these diseases.

In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks with Professor Andrea Maier, the co-director of the National University Health System's Centre for Healthy Longevity, who is passionate about researching functional ageing and healthy longevity. Prof Maier is also the Oon Chiew Seng Professor in Medicine and Functional Ageing at the National University of Singapore.

Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):

00:48 Reasons to exercise and how it can slow down ageing

03:15 Can exercise prevent memory loss and improve thinking skills? What exactly happens in the brain when we exercise?

07:44 Minimum exercise duration and/or the number of steps recommended in order to see its health benefits

10:01 Does the intensity of the exercise matter?

11:46 How can exercise help immune systems of the aged and help the elderly clear up the Covid-19 virus if they're infected?

*Joyce Teo will return with her next episode on Jan 19, 2022.

Produced by: Joyce Teo ([email protected]), Ernest Luis and Fa'izah Sani

Edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Follow Health Check Podcast here and rate us:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

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

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6Wv 

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

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

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

---

Discover ST's special edition podcasts:

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2

Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa

Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#healthcheck

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Health Check Ep 73: What to know about antimicrobial resistance

21:28 mins

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

The World Health Organisation has declared that antimicrobial resistance or AMR is one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity. AMR occurs when some of the germs that cause infections no longer respond to the drugs designed to kill them.

Infections then become harder or impossible to treat.

In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to Associate Prof Hsu Li Yang, who has a special interest in antibiotic resistance, about AMR. Prof Hsu is the Vice Dean of Global Health and Programme Leader of Infectious Diseases at the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health. And, with the worrisome Omicron spreading around the world, she also asked him how worrying the new variant is.

0:00 Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):

01:20 Why should you bother about antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in a pandemic?

03:42 The use of antibiotics in chickens, and what you should know about what you find in supermarkets

10:59 Lessons from the pandemic that can be applied to the control of AMR

15:05 Why is it difficult to develop new antibiotics for drug-resistant infections?

16:35 Will the new variant Omicron break through vaccine protection against severe disease?

Produced by: Joyce Teo ([email protected]), Ernest Luis and Fa'izah Sani

Edited by: Penelope Lee & Hadyu Rahim

Follow Health Check Podcast here and rate us:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

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Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

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

---

Discover ST's special edition podcasts:

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2

Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa

Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

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Health Check Ep 72: Don't let diabetes sneak up on you

17:10 mins

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

In this pandemic, many people may be eating more and exercising less. It's not a good combination. The prevalence of obesity in Singapore across all ages has risen from 8.6 per cent in 2017 to 10.5 per cent last year. Not only is obesity a leading risk factor for Type 2 diabetes, it is also one of the factors that can cause one to have more serious complications when infected with Covid-19.

In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks with Dr Asim Shabbir, a senior consultant and the Head of General Surgery at Alexandra Hospital, who has a special interest in bariatric and metabolic surgery.

0:00 Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):

1:03 Singapore's diabetes situation outlook in 2021, challenge of obesity and more Asians getting diabetes at a younger age

3:40 Early diagnosis as more people put on weight during this pandemic: Key interventions include being able to manage glucose levels, reducing weight to prolong normal abilities of pancreas, avoiding loss of limbs later in life

6:40 Dr Asim's dietary suggestions and advice on consuming supplements

7:39 Whether it's a good idea for people with diabetes to pop a supplement to boost their immunity or if they should get a flu jab?

10:30 Why exercising is more profound for our bodies than just seeing it as a way to burn calories; how medical interventions such as bariatric surgery can add as much as 10 years to a patient's life expectancy

Produced by: Joyce Teo ([email protected]), Ernest Luis and Fa'izah Sani

Edited by: Hadyu Rahim

Follow Health Check Podcast here and rate us:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

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Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6Wv 

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

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

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

---

Discover ST's special edition podcasts:

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2

Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa

Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#healthcheck

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Health Check Ep 71: Why lifelong immunity from Covid-19 is unlikely

15:54 mins

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

Singapore is gradually opening its borders to allow for quarantine-free travel as it moves towards a new normal of living with Covid-19. However, at home, restrictions remain in place to protect the unvaccinated seniors and prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed.

The country is seeing very high numbers of daily Covid-19 cases, with a considerable number of people in the hospitals and about 10 or more dying from complications linked to Covid-19. Unvaccinated older adults account for most of these deaths, though some vaccinated people have also succumbed to the complications of the disease.

ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks with Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang, an expert on infectious diseases at the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health to find out more.

1. Are daily deaths expected in the year ahead, and will this number ever be reduced? (0:35)
2. Endemics always see infections come and go in waves, and Covid-19 is no different (4:40)
3. What is known about vaccinated elderly succumbing to Covid-19? (5:22)
4. Moderation is key to maintaining the balance between staying at home and going out for social benefits (7:00)
5. Likelihood of lifelong immunity from the first two standard Covid-19 jabs and a booster is unlikely, so yearly boosters should be expected (10:35)
6. Views on vaccinating children with only one dose of MRNA vaccines, based on medical opinions in Europe and US (13:47)

Produced by: Joyce Teo ([email protected]), Penelope Lee and Fa'izah Sani

Edited by: Penelope Lee and Hadyu Rahim

Follow Health Check Podcast here and rate us:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

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

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Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6Wv 

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

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

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

---

Discover ST's special edition podcasts:

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2

Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa

Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#healthcheck

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Health Check Ep 70: Unlock your ADHD

21:49 mins

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

It’s October, the ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) Awareness month, and ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo is going to find out more about what you can do if you have this disorder.

ADHD is characterized by developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. However, the condition can be treated and the key symptoms have been described by some people as superpowers.

Her guest is Moonlake Lee, the founder of Unlocking ADHD, the first site in Singapore that aims to unravel the mysteries of this condition and help everyone appreciate the strengths of individuals with ADHD.

More about Unlocking ADHD: https://www.unlockingadhd.com/

Produced by: Joyce Teo ([email protected]), Penelope Lee and Fa'izah Sani

Edited by: Penelope Lee and Hadyu Rahim

Follow Health Check Podcast here and rate us:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

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

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

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

---

Discover ST's special edition podcasts:

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2

Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa

Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#healthcheck

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dear listeners,

The actual episode for this topic is here: https://omny.fm/shows/health-check-1/health-check-ep-77?in_playlist=health-check-1!podcast

Thank you for listening and following our podcasts.

#stcovidbook

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health Check Ep 69: Can plant stanols lower my cholesterol?

15:35 mins

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

In this episode, we look at whether plant stanols and a more natural diet can help reduce cholesterol. Plant stanol ester is a natural compound which is used as a cholesterol-lowering ingredient in functional foods and food supplements.

ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks with Helena Gylling, Professor Emerita of Clinical Nutrition and senior lecturer in Internal Medicine at the University of Helsinki in Finland. This episode is brought to you by VITAPLUS Benecol: www.benecol.com.sg

They cover the following points:

1. What are plant stanols, that are present in plant-based foods? Do they get absorbed by the body? (1:15)
2. How studies in plant stanols as dietary means to lower LDL cholesterol began in 1989 in Helsinki, and their safety profile (2:22)
3. Why 2-3g of plant stanols consumed daily can lower LDL cholesterol by 9-12% (3:57)
4. How a dietary approach with plant stanols can lower cholesterol by an additional 35%, before factoring in other lifestyle controlling measures (7:11)
5. How to avoid being prescribed statin drugs early on in your life (10:35)
6. Do food products fortified with plant stanols work in the same way as plant stanol supplements? (12:34)
7. Why plant stanol products should be taken with meals for effectiveness (13:11)

More about VITAPLUS Benecol: www.benecol.com.sg

Produced by: Joyce Teo ([email protected]), Ernest Luis and Fa'izah Sani

Edited by: Penelope Lee

Follow Health Check Podcast here and rate us:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

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

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaQ

Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6Wv 

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Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

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

---

Discover ST's special edition podcasts:

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2

Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa

Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#healthcheck

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Health Check Ep 68 (Pt 2): Vaccine expert on combating new Covid variants

20:02 mins

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

In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks with Prof Ooi Eng Eong from the Duke-NUS Medical School’s Programme in Emerging Infectious Diseases about the current Covid-19 situation and how vaccination will lead us out of this pandemic.

In the second part of their conversation, Prof Ooi talks about the best but tricky solution to combating new variants, touches on long Covid and tells us what to note about the different vaccines used here. 

Listen to Pt 1: Why bother about asymptomatic Covid-19 cases, says vaccine expert - https://omny.fm/shows/health-check-1/health-check-ep-68-p1-mixdown

Produced by: Joyce Teo ([email protected]), Ernest Luis & Penelope Lee

Edited by: Hadyu Rahim & Penelope Lee

Follow Health Check Podcast here and rate us:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWaN

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Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6Wv 

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

Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Feedback to: [email protected]

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

---

Discover ST's special edition podcasts:

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2

Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa

Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn

---

Discover more ST podcast series:

Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas

Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

#healthcheck

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.