Health Check

Health Check Ep 48: Why is lung cancer no.1 killer among cancers?

14:48 mins

Synopsis: Fortnightly on Wednesdays, get healthier living tips as The Straits Times chats with expert guests.

With November being Lung Cancer Awareness Month, this episode looks at how lung cancer is the no.1 killer among cancers here in Singapore and globally, and will shed light on advanced treatments as well as how to minimise your chances of getting lung cancer. This episode is brought to you by MSD.

ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo hosts Dr Philip Eng, a senior consultant respiratory physician who has his own clinic - the Philip Eng Respiratory & Medical Clinic at the Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre. He has lectured in various countries, trained many doctors in the region, and published numerous articles.

They discuss the following:

1. How can non-smokers get lung cancer? For air pollution, what is the WHO (World Health Organisation) standard for PM2.5 levels? (1:42)

2. How has lung cancer treatment evolved to today's gold standard of keyhole surgery, alongside other treatments such as stereotactic radiotherapy, safer chemotherapy drugs, immunotherapy and targeted therapy? (4:00)

4. Advice on how to protect yourself to cover the cost of such treatments: Buy good extra insurance coverage when you're young and fit (7:52)

5. Innovations in lung cancer treatments such as proton beam therapy and costs of such therapies (10:10)

6. Best way to decrease lung cancer risk factors and how smokers should do more effective CT lung scans instead of normal chest X-rays (12:27)

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

Edited by: Adam Azlee

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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

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Health Check Ep 47: You don't make a baby to save your marriage

15:45 mins

Synopsis: Fortnightly on Wednesdays, get healthier living tips as The Straits Times chats with expert guests.

As a family goes through different stages, conflicts can arise. There can also be changes in family situations that give rise to conflicts. These conflicts may be worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic, as more people stay home.   

In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks with Assoc Prof Angie Chew, the founder and chief executive of the Brahm Centre, a mental wellness charity, on managing family conflicts. They discuss the conflicts that can occur at the start of the family life cycle, to when a couple have children and to a possible break-up.

Prof Chew also talks about the impact of unresolved conflicts on children. She was The Straits Times Singaporean of the Year 2019, and is an adjunct associate professor at the National University of Singapore, where she teaches a mindfulness-based course known as The Undefeated Mind. 

In September, Prof Chew was the guest for the AskST@NLB video series, where she spoke with Teo about how people can cope with the stress of these trying times brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

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

Edited by: Adam Azlee

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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

---

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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

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Health Check Ep 46: Is there such a concept as an anti-ageing diet?

21:16 mins

Synopsis: Fortnightly on Wednesdays, get healthier living tips as The Straits Times chats with expert guests. 

People are living longer, but not necessarily better if they have multiple chronic diseases.

In ageing research, scientists strive to find ways to improve healthspan - the period of life that is spent in good health. They are studying different methods, including calorie restriction and fasting.

So, is there such a concept as the best anti-ageing diet, and are there foods to eat or avoid when it comes to delaying ageing?

ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo hosts anti-ageing expert, Prof Brian Kennedy, the director of the NUHS Centre for Healthy Longevity, on how we can manage our diet in order to delay ageing.

Listen to Pt 1 of interview with Prof Brian Kennedy

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

Edited by: Adam Azlee

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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

---

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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

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Health Check Ep 45: How to age well and achieve a lower biological age

19:44 mins

Synopsis: Fortnightly on Wednesdays, get healthier living tips as The Straits Times chats with expert guests. 

Some people seem to age very quickly, and look older than their age, while others appear to age less rapidly. When we are young, we want to look and feel older than we are. When we are older, we want to look and feel young, though this means having to keep frailty and chronic diseases at bay.

Thankfully, scientists in the anti-ageing research field are busy studying how we can delay ageing so that people can stay healthy longer, and in the process, look better too.

ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks with anti-ageing expert, Prof Brian Kennedy - the director of the NUHS Centre for Healthy Longevity - on what we can do to achieve a lower biological age and keep ageing at bay.

Prof Kennedy calls ageing the "climate change of healthcare" as ageing is the largest risk factor for chronic illnesses like cardiovascular diseases. He adds that healthcare should be about preventive care and not just sick care.

Listen to Pt 2 of interview with Prof Kennedy on ageing well

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

Edited by: Adam Azlee

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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

---

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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

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Health Check Ep 44: Understanding suicides and how to help to prevent them

13:58 mins

Synopsis: Fortnightly on Wednesdays, get healthier living tips as The Straits Times chats with expert guests.

This episode is aimed at understanding suicidal behaviour and suicide prevention.

ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks with Dr Jared Ng, a consultant with the Emergency Services at the Institute of Mental Health.

They discuss the following points:

1. How to spot warning or behavioural signs in advance, if the majority of cases tend to be impulsive (3:35)
2. How friends can help alert family members too by keeping track of social media posts and personality changes in chat message groups (5:00)
3. Know the differences between the risk factors that lead to youth and elderly suicide cases (7:50)
4. When someone tells you he or she wants to die or kill himself or herself, do not dismiss it by telling them to be positive and that things are "okay" (8:27) 
5. What are the right things to say to someone who is suicidal and what we can do to help the person? (9:07)

Listen to Pt 1 of interview with Dr Jared Ng on understanding stress in age of coronavirus

HELPLINES
Samaritans Of Singapore: 1800-221-4444

Singapore Association For Mental Health: 1800-283-7019

Institute Of Mental Health's Mobile Crisis Service: 6389-2222

Care Corner Counselling Centre (Mandarin): 1800-353-5800

Silver Ribbon: 6386-1928

Tinkle Friend: 1800-274-4788

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

Edited by: Adam Azlee

Follow Health Check Podcast here and rate us:

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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

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

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

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Health Check Ep 43: Understanding stress in the age of the coronavirus

12:49 mins

Synopsis: Fortnightly on Wednesdays, The Straits Times guides you to healthier living and clears up common misconceptions on health with expert guests.

The World Health Organisation has just called for a massive scaling up of investment in mental health.

Close to 1 billion people are living with a mental disorder, while 3 million people die every year from the harmful use of alcohol. One person dies every 40 seconds by suicide.

Now, with the new realities of Covid-19, more people may be experiencing increased anxiety or depression. 

ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo hosts Dr Jared Ng, a consultant with the emergency services at the Institute of Mental Health about the recent cases he has seen.

He shares how the pandemic has affected some people more than others, and how kindness can go a long way in staving off stress and helping to maintain our mental health during the Covid-19 crisis. 

Listen to Pt 2 of interview with Dr Jared Ng on understanding and preventing suicides

HELPLINES
Samaritans Of Singapore: 1800-221-4444

Singapore Association For Mental Health: 1800-283-7019

Institute Of Mental Health's Mobile Crisis Service: 6389-2222

Care Corner Counselling Centre (Mandarin): 1800-353-5800

Silver Ribbon: 6386-1928

Tinkle Friend: 1800-274-4788

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

Edited by: Adam Azlee

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

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Health Check Ep 42: Can a person get Covid-19 twice?

9:10 mins

Synopsis: Fortnightly on Wednesdays, The Straits Times guides you to healthier living and clears up common misconceptions on health with expert guests.

A man in Hong Kong was found to be reinfected with Covid-19 last month, less than five months after he was infected with the disease. Researchers at the University of Hong Kong said genome sequencing showed that the virus strain the man had last month was different from the one he was infected with in March.

ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo hosts Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang, the programme leader for infectious diseases at the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.

They discuss the following points: 

1. More serious coronaviruses like Sars or Mers, have led to longer immunity in patients but it remains to be seen if more cases of Covid re-infection emerge. Why immunity from Covid-19 might not be lifelong (1:38)

2. The patient in Hong Kong didn't seem to mount an antibody response after his first infection in March (3:10)

3. Making sense of the new strains of Sars-Cov-2, the virus that causes Covid-19 (3:52)

4. Is the new prevalent global mutant strain D614G more lethal or transmissible? (5:33)

Produced by: Joyce Teo ([email protected]) and Ernest Luis

Edited by: Adam Azlee

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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

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

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

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Health Check Ep 41: The pandemic is affecting the way people with hearing loss communicate

13:13 mins

Synopsis: Fortnightly on Wednesdays, The Straits Times guides you to healthier living and clears up common misconceptions on health with expert guests.

ST's senior health correspondent Joyce Teo hosts Dr Ho Eu Chin, a senior consultant from the department of Otorhinolaryngology at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

He explains why mask-wearing during this Covid-19 pandemic has made communication harder for the hearing-impaired. This is worsened by the lack of facial cues.

1. More people are coming forward to seek medical advice and consider hearing aids (1:25)

2. Find out about latest links between hearing loss and dementia published in The Lancet (6:36)

3. Why wearing hearing aids only when you leave home, does not help you in the longer run (8:30)

4. When should you seek medical advice for suspected hearing loss? (11:20)

Produced by: Joyce Teo ([email protected]) and Ernest Luis

Edited by: Adam Azlee

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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

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

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Health Check Ep 40: Covid-19 airborne transmission doubts and immunity

18:23 mins

Synopsis: This is a fortnightly podcast series on Wednesdays by The Straits Times.

Recently, an open letter that 239 researchers addressed to the World Health Organisation calling for it to acknowledge that the coronavirus is airborne, made headlines around the world. (0:35)

To counter any public misconceptions, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo hosts Professor Paul Tambyah, an infectious disease expert from the National University of Singapore’s Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, to give his take on this development. (1:20) 

Professor Tambyah, who's also a senior consultant at the National University Hospital, also discusses recent findings on Covid-19 immunity. (8:40)

Lastly, he talks about his new role as president-elect of the United States-based International Society of Infectious Diseases. (15:30)

Produced by: Joyce Teo ([email protected]) and Ernest Luis

Edited by: Adam Azlee

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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

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Health Check Ep 39: Smokers at higher risk during Covid-19 times

12:33 mins

Synopsis: This is a fortnightly podcast series on Wednesdays by The Straits Times.

This episode is on smoking. We all know it is harmful. According to the World Health Organisation, research suggests that smokers are at higher risk of developing severe Covid-19 outcomes and death. Yet, many people keep on puffing. (2:00)

ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks with Dr Lambert Low, a consultant at the National Addictions Management Service at the Institute of Mental Health, about smoking during the Covid-19 pandemic, why people smoke (3:00), and what it takes to quit smoking. (5:50)

Produced by: Joyce Teo ([email protected]) and Ernest Luis

Edited by: Adam Azlee

Follow Health Check Podcast here and rate us:

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Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

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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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