Health Check

Health Check Ep 38: Stress fractures from running too much during Covid-19 pandemic?

15:41 mins

Synopsis: This is a fortnightly podcast series on Wednesdays by The Straits Times guiding you to a better understanding of health issues with healthy living tips.

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way we keep fit. Many people have taken to running as a form of exercise, never mind that they have never run till now or that they don't have a pair of proper running shoes.

ST senior correspondent Joyce Teo speaks with Dr Tan Ken Jin, an orthopaedic surgeon at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, to find out more about the recent cases of stress fractures he has seen, how to prevent these from happening to you, as well as how inactivity can affect you.

He also talks about why you may want to consider standing up while working at home.

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

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Health Check Ep 37: Maintaining mental well-being during Covid-19

10:07 mins

Synopsis: This is a fortnightly podcast series on Wednesdays by The Straits Times. As the Covid-19 pandemic rages on, healthcare workers have been roped in to help out at foreign worker dormitories as the testing of thousands of migrant workers for the coronavirus disease continues.  

ST senior correspondent Joyce Teo speaks with Dr Michael Yong, senior consultant and head of psychiatry at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital about his experiences at a dorm and the change in the migrant workers' mood that he has witnessed. He shares his own family experiences too, coping during the circuit breaker period.

Dr Yong, who's also the group director for psychological medicine at the National University Health System, then goes on to discuss the mental health challenges that the pandemic brings and what you can do about it.

Need help?

- National Care Hotline: 1800-202-6868 

- Institute of Mental Health’s Mental Health Helpline: 6389-2222

-Samaritans of Singapore: 1800-221-4444

- Silver Ribbon Singapore: 6385-3714 

- Agency for Integrated Care Hotline (for the elderly): 1800-650-6060

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

Edited by: Adam Azlee

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

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Health Check Ep 36: What might Singapore's new normal look like, post-Covid-19?

14:19 mins

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

Singapore is now in second month of its Covid-19 circuit breaker period as people stay home in the fight against the coronavirus disease. Attention is being gradually focused on life after this period, as the country looks to ease more restrictions in the coming weeks.

With cases rising around not just here, but around the world, it is clear that life is not going to be the same for a while, even if restrictions are lifted. What might the new normal look like?

ST senior correspondent Joyce Teo speaks with Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang, the programme leader for infectious diseases at the National University of Singapore's Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health. 

Here are the key points:

1. Impact of Covid-19 on our work lives and how long this will last (1:19)
2. Will kids be able to go to the zoo and playgrounds like before? (3:46)
3. What we will be missing out on for a while (8:49)
4. Will things change forever? (10:09)
5. Future of travel (11:03)

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

Edited by: Penelope Lee

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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 35: Why Singapore's Covid-19 circuit breaker measures cannot be lifted so early

14:06 mins

Synopsis: This is a fortnightly podcast series on Wednesdays by The Straits Times. For the latest state of Singapore's health in its Covid-19 fight, ST senior correspondent Joyce Teo speaks with Associate Professor Hsu Li Yang.

He is the infectious diseases programme leader at the National University of Singapore's Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.

Singapore has extended its circuit breaker period to June 1, and has seen its coronavirus cases shoot past the 10,000-mark as of April 22, after recording about 500 in March.

He talks us through the following points:

1. What is the extent of the spread in the foreign worker dormitories? How does that ratio compare with the spread in the local community? (1:42)

2. Singapore could continue to see a high number of cases emerging from the dormitories for the next few weeks, but is there a silver lining? (2:45)

3. Why it is important to control the outbreak in the migrant worker communities before there are considerations to lift circuit breaker restrictions (5:13)

4. What is the difference between asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic cases? (8:31)

5. When is the viral load highest? (9:13)

6. What's the difference between a PCR test and a serology test? Why we cannot just use any serology test available out there (11.32)

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

Edited by: Adam Azlee

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

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

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Health Check Ep 34: "I had hallucinations," said discharged coronavirus patient, who spent 13 days in ICU

15:10 mins

Synopsis: This is a fortnightly podcast series on Wednesdays by The Straits Times. We usually bring you tips and expert advice but in this episode, ST senior correspondent Joyce Teo spoke with Ben, 55, who had tested positive for Covid-19 at Alexandra Hospital on March 5 and developed severe disease. She asked him about his early symptoms and his ICU experience.

When Ben sought help at the hospital that day, he was given high amounts of oxygen via an oxygen mask, even though he said he wasn't panting or gasping for breath. Little did he know that on that same day, his condition would worsen so much that he had to be put on life support. Ben spent 13 days in ICU and was discharged on March 21.  

Click here to read the full story.

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

Edited by: Penelope Lee

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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

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

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Health Check Ep 33: Proper community behaviour can best manage coronavirus spread in countries

6:01 mins

Synopsis: In this fortnightly podcast series on Wednesdays, The Straits Times guides you to healthier living and clears up common misconceptions on health with expert guests.

In this episode, ST senior correspondent Joyce Teo hosts infectious diseases specialist Professor Dale Fisher, group director of medicine at the National University Health System and chair of the World Health Organization's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network. 

He was part of a joint World Health Organization-China mission to study the coronavirus threat and containment efforts earlier this year.

Professor Fisher answers the following questions:

1. Can the coronavirus be contained to prevent health services from being overwhelmed? Lessons from China? (1:12)

2. Covid-19 is a community-transmitted disease. Can every single person, regardless of which industry they work in, take action to prevent the coronavirus spread? (2:28)

3. Advice for the vulnerable: The elderly and children (3:33)

4. Do no underestimate each person's role in helping their countries manage this community-transmitted disease (4:50)

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

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 32: How to encourage pregnant women to exercise more

13:25 mins

Synopsis: In this fortnightly podcast series on Wednesdays, The Straits Times guides you to healthier living and clears up common misconceptions on health with expert guests.

In this episode, ST senior correspondent Joyce Teo and podcasting head Ernest Luis host Dr Serene Thain, an associate consultant from the Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine at KK Women's and Children's Hospital.

The first guidelines on physical activity and exercise for pregnant women were released earlier in January in a bid to curb the high rate of gestational diabetes here.

This episode is aimed at popular misconceptions about exercising during pregnancy. Mothers-in law, do have a listen too!

Dr Thain answers the following questions:

1. Why pregnant women should aim for a target of 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercises (divide the time into daily slots or at least three times a week) (3:05)

2. How to avoid hypoglycaemia, which is dangerous for pregnant women (5:40)

3. Danger signs pregnant women should notice while exercising (8:40)

4. Should women lie flat on their backs in prolonged yoga sessions, especially after the fourth month of pregnancy? (11:05)

5. Post-pregnancy exercising guidelines (12:00)

Produced by: Joyce Teo and Ernest Luis

Edited by: Adam Azlee

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

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Health Check Ep 31: Breaking common misconceptions about exercise

17:25 mins

Synopsis: In this fortnightly podcast series on Wednesdays, The Straits Times guides you to healthier living and clears up common misconceptions on health with expert guests.

In this episode, ST correspondent Joyce Teo and podcasting head Ernest Luis host Dr Dinesh Sirisena, who is a consultant at the sports medicine department of Khoo Teck Puat Hospital.

This episode is aimed at popular misconceptions about exercise. 

Dr Dinesh answers the following questions:

1. Doing crunches: Does that really give you a "flat tummy"? (0:35)

2. Is it true that a person needs to work out every day, to lose weight? (2:33)

3. Is it good to avoid eating before you exercise, to help you lose weight faster? (4:36)

4. Body mass index: Is there a trend to move away from only BMIs as a sole gauge, and consider too, body composition and body fat percentages? The bioimpedance machine at Admiralty Medical Centre can calculate your body fat percentage, and that is more accurate than BMI. (7:59)

5. If you have injured a part of your body, for example, your knee or ankle, should you lay off exercise completely? (12:33)

Produced by: Joyce Teo 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

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Health Check Ep 30: How to practise intermittent fasting safely to lose some weight

11:05 mins

Synopsis: In this fortnightly podcast series on Wednesdays, The Straits Times guides you to healthier living and clears up common misconceptions on health.

In this episode, ST correspondent Joyce Teo and podcasting head Ernest Luis host Ms Alvernia Chua, a senior dietitian with National Healthcare Group Polyclinics.

She will clear up the air about a popular weight loss approach called intermittent fasting. What are the different methods? What are the misconceptions?

There are different methods, such as fasting for 16 hours and eating within an eight-hour window, or fasting on alternate days or for an entire day in a week.

1. What reduces weight is total amount of calories consumed in a day (1:25)
2. Find out why those with diabetes should view intermittent fasting methods with caution (3:18)
3. Which groups of people - including breastfeeding mothers - should not try intermittent fasting (4:35)
4. What is the 16:8 intermittent fasting method? (6:10)
5. Side effects of intermittent fasting methods (9:20)

Produced by: Joyce Teo 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

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Health Check Ep 29: Virologist Prof Wang Linfa offers hand hygiene tips to counter novel coronavirus threat

12:17 mins

Synopsis: In this fortnightly podcast series on Wednesdays, The Straits Times guides you to healthier living and clears up common misconceptions on health.

In this episode, ST correspondent Joyce Teo calls Professor Wang Linfa.

He is the director of the emerging infectious disease programme at Duke-NUS Medical School. He is also a virologist who was part of the World Health Organization Emergency Committee on the novel coronavirus outbreak.

We ask him the latest updates on the novel coronavirus, and what we can do to protect ourselves.

Professor Wang tells us:

1. How to be aware and maintain hand hygiene when using lifts and public toilets, because contact transmission for the novel coronavirus is potent (1:17)
2. Droplet transmission threat for coronaviruses: What should you do to protect yourself better when using taxis or private hire cars for example? (4:23)
3. Is faecal transmission possible with the novel coronavirus? (6:35)
4. Tips for older people and those with existing conditions (7:19)
5. One good tip on using a ballpoint pen and its cap to press lift buttons and reduce your skin's exposure to possible coronaviruses (9:41)

Produced by: Joyce Teo and Ernest Luis

Edited by: Penelope Lee

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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

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

#healthcheck

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