- S E G A L A_ M A C A M_ P E N Y A K I T -

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Heart foundation to raise awareness of heart disease among women
By Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 29 March 2008 2352 hrs

SINGAPORE : One in three Singaporeans die from cardiovascular disease every year, making it the number one killer.

But many women neglect the disease because it is often seen as a "men's problem".

A recent study showed that only 8 percent of women know of the dangers of heart disease and stroke, and the Singapore Heart Foundation wants to change this.

It organised a two-day roadshow (March 29-30) at the HDB Hub in Toa Payoh to show women how to take better care of their hearts, such as doing more exercise and choosing foods that are high in fibre.

Women can also drop in for a free health screening, and check on their blood pressure and cholesterol levels. They can also take a supermarket tour to learn how to make sense of food labels.

"We should be choosing foods that are low in saturated fats and high in unsaturated fats, and should preferably contain none or very little trans fats. For example, foods which are pre-fried or pre-baked, and frozen and sold again, are usually quite high in trans fats, so we should avoid them," said Dr Goh Ping Ping, Chairperson of 'Go Red For Women', Singapore Heart Foundation.

The next roadshow will be at Raffles City on April 19. - CNA /ls

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March 30, 2008         
Repeat blood clots more common with stents

CHICAGO - Treating a stent-related blood clot with an additional stent in an emergency procedure sharply raises the risk that a patient will get a second clot and should be avoided, Dutch researchers said on Saturday.

One in six patients who suffer a potentially deadly clot inside a coronary stent risk developing another clot, especially if they had a second stent implanted during emergency treatment for the first clot, the Dutch Stent Thrombosis Study said.

The study, led by Dr. Jochem Wouter van Werkum of St.

Antonius Hospital in Nieuwegein, the Netherlands, was presented at a joint meeting of the American College of Cardiology and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions in Chicago.

Stents are wire mesh tubes inserted into the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart. They help keep the vessels from reclogging after they have been cleared of blockages in an angioplasty procedure.

Clots that form inside a stent, also known as stent thrombosis, can block blood flow to the heart and cause a heart attack or even death.

Use of an additional stent during emergency treatment of a stent-related blood clot is a strong predictor of repeat stent thrombosis, the researchers said.

Patients in the study who had a second stent implanted during emergency treatment for their first clot were 4.2 times as likely as other patients to endure another episode of stent thrombosis.

Patients who previously had a heart attack were 2.6 times as likely, and those who developed a clot long after stent implantation, known as late stent thrombosis, were 2.1 times as likely to suffer a repeat episode.

The study looked at 437 patients with various kinds of stents who had stent thrombosis between January 2004 and February 2007.

It found 16.9 per cent of the patients had multiple episodes of stent thrombosis - 61 patients had two episodes, 12 had three episodes and one had four episodes. -- REUTERS

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March 30, 2008         
AESTHETIC PROCEDURES
Clampdown on docs brings smiles to salons
Beauty salons report increase in business as some doctors stop providing controversiol treatments
By Tan Dawn Wei


THERAPIST GINNE WAI from Mary Chia uses a wave frequency face lifting machine on a customer. The salon says it has received more calls for its treatments since the MOH clampdown on doctors and plans to up its publicity blitz to lure those left in the lurch by their aesthetic doctors. -- ST PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN

WHAT was bad news two weeks ago for some doctors here has turned out to be good news for beauty salons.

At least half of the beauty salons The Sunday Times spoke to said they have been receiving more calls than usual about their services since news broke that the Health Ministry (MOH) was clamping down on doctors who carry out certain aesthetic procedures.

Beauty chain Expressions International reported an increase in business, while another major chain, Mary Chia, said more people have been asking about its intensive treatments such as wave frequency face lifting and slimming.

'The media reports have helped and given us good opportunities,' said Ms Yvonne Tan, 30, operations manager at Only Aesthetics, a chain of salons offering needle-free mesotherapy. The salon uses a machine to penetrate flabby areas with a gel said to break down fat.

Conventional mesotherapy, which involves injecting an area on the body with a cocktail of drugs to fight flab, was singled out by the health authorities recently as one of 11 procedures that doctors should not perform as they were untested.

The others are carboxytherapy, endermologie, microneedling, skin-whitening injections, anti-ageing growth hormone and skin rejuvenation stem cell applications, vacustyler, slidestyler, bio-resonance and colon cleansing.

Unlike registered doctors, beauty salons and slimming centres cannot perform invasive procedures. They can use only a lower grade of equipment. This also means they are not allowed to perform most of the 11 procedures the ministry cited.

While salons concede that these limitations mean it will take a longer time for consumers to see results, those who are afraid of needles or pain will still choose the beauty salons over aesthetic doctors.

'We don't see them as direct competitors,' a spokesman for beauty giant Jean Yip Group said of doctors. 'Whatever the aes- thetic doctors do, we don't do.'

Even then, it has not stopped several Members of Parliament from sounding alarm bells over the lack of regulation for beauty salons carrying out a host of cosmetic treatments.

The numbers may just bear them out. Last year, beauty salons were fifth among industries that got the most number of complaints.

The Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) received 1,493 complaints against beauty and slimming centres, up from 1,382 a year ago.

These were mostly over unsatisfactory services where consumers did not see results, misleading claims and hard-selling, said Case executive director Seah Seng Choon.

The more than 1,000 beauty salons here are jostling with at least 1,000 general practitioners (GPs) and specialists for a slice of a lucrative pie said to be worth $200 million a year here.

The cost of equipment has also dropped dramatically over the years. An intense pulsed light (IPL) machine used for hair removal or skin rejuvenation would have cost more than $100,000 some eight years ago, but is only $4,000 now.

Cheaper machines from South Korea and China have pushed prices down. This has translated into lower prices for treatments.

One IPL session eight years ago would have cost $1,000, while one session today can cost as low as $150.

'The price war has become a real problem between specialists, GPs and beauticians,' said Ms Suvin Darpal Kaur, 51, owner of Suvin's Laser and Electrolysis Centre.

Beauty salons are pointing at GPs who offer aesthetic treatments as responsible for giving the beauty business a bad name.

A few claim some of their customers who used to go to aesthetic doctors are returning to salons because they either did not see results or ended up bruised and swollen from mesotherapy injections.

'People do think doctors will give better results because they are medically trained,' Ms Li Huijia, 27, manager at beauty salon Chez Moi De Beaute in Far East Plaza.

'But I'm not sure if GPs have enough experience since they also treat other ailments.'

The salons' defence of their credibility: We are safer because our treatments are non-invasive and our machines are gentler.

Said Mr Kelvin Thong, 28, Mary Chia's senior marketing and business development manager: 'Even if a mistake is made, it is not as severe as something that might happen at a doctor's clinic.'

Salons also insist that their therapists are all suitably trained for the job, even though they may not have any medical background.

And they are ready to show their customers proof that their machines work.

There is some trepidation over whether beauty salons will be next on the Health Ministry's target list, although most say if that day comes, they will accept the authorities' new rules.

But for now, at least one salon is cashing in on the clampdown.

Mary Chia plans to up its publicity blitz to lure those left in the lurch by their aesthetic doctors.

'It's just to let people know that there is an alternative,' said Mr Thong.

dawntan@sph.com.sg

fatz

April 1, 2008         
702 more HFMD cases reported
By Judith Tan


All primary schools, kindergartens and childcare centres have been alerted to step up hygiene measures and check for sick children. -- ST PHOTO: CAROLINE CHIA

THE number of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) cases continues to rise, with another 702 notified last week, bringing the total number of cases to 4,423 this year.

Of these cases, about 60 per cent or 2,654 are children under five years old.

While the majority of the cases were mild infections, 57 children were hospitalised because they were not eating well.

HFMD is generally a mild and self-limiting childhood disease but a Health Ministry (MOH) surveillance found that Enterovirus 71 (EV71), a potentially deadly strain, was in a higher number of patients.

EV71 has been known to cause complications such as infections in the brain, heart and lungs.

In view of this, MOH is working with the Education Ministry (MOE) and the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) to step up efforts to limit the spread of the disease.

All primary schools, kindergartens and childcare centres have been alerted to step up hygiene measures and check for sick children.

Doctors have been asked to be more vigilant in looking out for children with HFMD symptoms and to send patients with signs and symptoms of pneumonia, myocarditis, meningitis and encephalitis to the hospitals.

Parents should consult a doctor early if their child has fever, mouth ulcers and rashes on the palms, soles or buttocks.

In an earlier interview with The Straits Times, Dr Chan Kwai Peng, head virologist at the Singapore General Hospital said that HFMD viruses are spread through blister fluid, saliva, faeces and, occasionally, by droplets from one's breath.

She said as there is no vaccine against HFMD viruses, preventing the spread lies in interrupting the transmission.

MOH advised parents to keep children with HFMD at home until all the blisters have dried up. During this period, infected children should not come into contact with other children and should avoid going to public or crowded places.

Proper hygiene should also be practised at home to prevent transmission to other family members.

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April 3, 2008         
Pay $10 more for Medishield and get double the payout
But elderly have to pick up more of their medium-sized bills
By Salma Khalik


Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan wants the patient's share to be lower, at about 20 per cent. So he is almost doubling the maximum payouts. -- ST PHOTO: CHEW SENG KIM

FOR $10 more a month, most people will no longer have to pay huge out-of-pocket payments for big hospital bills.

Now, the Medishield insurance scheme pays only about 55 per cent of big bills in the subsidised B2 and C class wards. This means that a patient with a $10,000 a bill has to fork out $4,500.

Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan wants the patient's share to be lower, at about 20 per cent. So he is almost doubling the maximum payouts, making the announcement after launching the job fair for the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in Yishun on Thursday.

Premiums will go up by less than $5 a month for those younger than 60 years, and by less than $10 for people aged 60 to 80.

Dr Fatima Lateef, who is on the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Health, said the increase in premiums was 'very reasonable' and the 'reduction in out of pocket payment would be a great welcome.'

For older people who are likely to require more hospital care, the premium is set to increase by less than $40 a month. Their current premiums range from $600-$705 a year. The change will push it to more than $1,000 a year for them.

The catch is: to keep premiums that low for older folks, all those aged 81 to 85 will have to pick up a larger portion of their hospital bill.

Unlike younger people who need only pay the first $1,500 of their B2 bill, or $1,000 if they are in C class before insurance kicks in, those over 80 will will have to pay the first $3,000 in B2 or $2,000 in C class.

This means that almost all elderly patients will end up paying a larger portion of their hospital bills.

The changes in MediShield, which will affect 2.9 million policy-holders, is meant to help the small number of people who, in spite of government subsidy, still end up with bills of $10,000 or more.

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April 3, 2008         
3 more charged with peddling sex drugs at backlanes
By Elena Chong, Court Correspondent

THREE more men were charged in court on Thursday with peddling illegal sexual enhancement drugs after the authorities cracked down on the trade in February.

All three - Lee Teck Boo, Ong Nguk and Teo See Bong - were accused of selling Power 1 Walnut pills, which have caused at least 20 men to be hospitalised.

One went into a coma and another had a stroke.

The three men are said to have a total of 64 of the China-made tablets on them. They are among eight men caught so far this year during raids on such peddlers in Desker and Rowell roads.

On Wednesday, four men were jailed between six and eight months for similar offences under the Medicines Act. All except one had with them Power 1 Walnut tablets.

Although labelled to contain only natural herbal ingredients, the pills were found to be adulterated with two western medicinal ingredients - Glibenclamide, a potent anti-diabetic medication that can cause severe and life-threatening symptoms of very low blood sugar, and Sildenafil, an active ingredient in Viagra, a potent drug which should only be taken under a doctor's supervision.

The pill should not be taken by those with heart problems or those on medication containing organic nitrates.

Of the trio charged on Thursday, Lee, 60, faces the most charges - 22 in all. The unemployed man had to be wheeled into court by his maid.

Ong, also 60, faces 10 charges while Teo, 57, is charged with eight counts.

The two men were were represented by Mr James Joseph while Lee had no lawyer.

Their case will go for a pre-trial hearing on April 22. If convicted, they face a fine of up to $5,000 or a jail term of up to two years each.

fatz

Ekstra! : 4 April 2008         
         
PEMAKANAN

MAKANAN UNTUK MENGHILANGKAN KEMURUNGAN DAN STRES

Oleh
Abidah Mahmood

SETIAP orang pasti pernah berasa tertekan kerana terpaksa mengemaskinikan kerja-kerja di pejabat yang tidak habis-habis.

Sebagai pelajar pula, anda berasa stres untuk menyelesaikan kertas kerja anda sebelum tarikh akhir yang diberi oleh guru anda.

Pada waktu peperiksaan, bukan sahaja pelajar yang tinggi kadar stresnya, malahan ibu bapa juga merasa tekanannya.

Tekanan stres membuat seseorang berasa murung. Perasaan ini negatif untuk tubuh kerana dalam jangka panjangnya, ia menyebabkan tahap ketahanan tubuh terhadap penyakit menjadi lemah.

Justeru, anda akan lebih senang dijangkiti penyakit. Penyakit pula akan melemahkan fungsi organ-organ tubuh anda. Apabila ini berlaku dengan secara tidak sengaja, proses penuaan akan dipercepatkan. Kesimpulannya ialah tekanan stres yang negatif akan membuat anda cepat tua.

Apakah yang boleh dilakukan untuk menangani keadaan ini?

Amalkan langkah perlaksanaan yang keseluruhan iaitu dengan mengambil langkah pendekatan holistik - praktikkan gaya hidup sihat. Bersenam kerana senaman mengeluarkan hormon endorphin yang membuat anda berasa ceria.

Kawal tekanan stres anda dengan berkongsi perbincangan untuk meleraikan apa yang menggugat hati anda.

Pemakanan juga boleh menjadi kekuatan anda kerana apa yang anda makan dapat menolong membentuk perasaan harian anda. Anda dapat mengawasi perasaan murung menggunakan pemakanan anda dengan mempraktikkan beberapa garis panduan berikut:

# Makan makanan berprotein seperti legumes, sebagai contoh - kacang dal, kacang soya, chickpeas dan tauge. Makanan berprotein mengandungi triptofan, sejenis bahan kimia yang berfungsi menenangkan otak.

# Bijirin penuh seperti oat membantu otak memproseskan triptofan. Ia juga berfungsi menstabilkan tahap gula dalam darah.

# Susu kaya dengan kalsium yang bukan sahaja baik untuk pertumbuhan dan kekuatan tulang, malahan ia boleh dijadikan 'penenang' bagi tidur malam. Anda perlu prihatin bahawa penyerapan kalsium ke dalam tubuh lebih senang menerusi susu rendah lemak.

Jadi amalkan minum susu rendah lemak yang hangat dua jam sebelum tidur. Jika anda alah dengan produk yang mengandungi laktos (lactose-intolerant), gantikan dengan meminum susu soya atau susu beras.

# Walaupun keju adalah produk tenusu yang mengandungi kalsium yang tinggi, ia juga mengandungi tiramina yang boleh menyebabkan migraine dan mimpi ngeri semasa tidur. Jadi elakkan memakan keju berdekatan dengan waktu tidur anda.

# Teh herbal mengandungi tisanes. Jika anda gemar meminum minuman panas pada waktu malam, minum teh camomil, lemon balm dan lavender lebih baik jika dibandingkan meminum kola atau kopi. Kola dan kopi mengandungi kafein yang menderaskan degupan jantung. Ini akan menyukarkan anda tidur.

# Madu, selain daripada meninggikan pertahanan tubuh terhadap penyakit, ia juga karbohidrat yang berfungsi menstabilkan gula dalam darah.

Walaupun ia membuat tubuh bertenaga, penyerapan gula dalam darah dilakukan dengan secara perlahan (gradual-release) dan ini tidak akan membuat seseorang terutama kanak-kanak menjadi terlampau aktif (hyperactive) yang boleh menjejas proses konsentrasi mereka.

# Pisang yang kaya dengan potasium boleh menolong mengimbangkan proses urat saraf. Potasium diperlukan dalam proses ini supaya isyarat yang melalui proses urat saraf tidak tersekat dan boleh berjalan dengan lancar.

# Minyak ikan kaya dengan Omega-3 lemak yang diperlukan oleh tubuh. Satu daripada lemak ini, iaitu DHA, boleh didapati di dalam otak.

Minyak ikan boleh menolong mengurangkan kemurungan dan hyperactivity terutama di kalangan kanak- kanak.

# Bahan selenium yang ada dalam makanan seperti kacang brazil, beras, gandum, rumpai laut, makanan laut - udang dan ikan tuna - boleh menstabilkan perasaan.

# Semua buah-buahan dan sayur-sayuran kaya dengan antioksidan yang membantu mencegah kemerosotan fungsi otak yang disebabkan oleh proses penuaan. Makan sekurang-kurangnya dua hidangan sayur- sayuran dan buah-buahan setiap hari.

# Vitamin B dan vitamin C yang didapati dalam buah-buahan dan sayur-sayuran berfungsi sebagai zat makanan antistres. Sumber seperti lobak, kranberi dan rasberi kaya dengan zat ini.

# Jus yang diperbuat daripada daun seleri dan halia boleh dijadikan bahan perangsang perasaan yang tenang.

# Zink dan zat besi penting untuk fungsi otak yang optimal, kesihatan mental dan keseimbangan perasaan (mood). Makan daging yang tidak berlemak (lean meat), makanan laut, kekacang dan bijiran yang kaya dengan zink dan zat besi.

# Pudina boleh mengurangkan rasa gementar. Teh berpudina boleh dijadikan minuman untuk 'de-stress' sebelum menjalani saat-saat yang mencabar, seperti menduduki peperiksaan, memberi ceramah atau menghadiri mesyuarat.

# Tekanan amat dirasakan bagi wanita yang mengalami 'pre-menstrual stress syndrome' atau 'pre-menopausal syndrome' (stress yang disebabkan oleh kedatangan haid atau akan putus haid). Ini kerana tubuh wanita sedang melaraskan proses penukaran hormon.

Makan makanan yang kaya dengan magnesium seperti sayur-sayuran hijau, buah-buahan kering dan kekacang. Ia boleh membantu menstabilkan perasaan anda.

Pemakanan boleh membantu mengawal kemurungan. Jika kemurungan terkawal, anda akan berasa lebih bahagia menjalani kehidupan harian anda.

Kepentingan perasaan yang stabil tidak boleh diperkecilkan kerana dengan perasaan yang tenang, anda boleh berfikir dengan baik.

Jika kadar stres terkawal, tubuh boleh berfungsi dengan optimal. Ingatlah, anda bukan hanya apa yang anda makan. Perasaan anda juga datang daripada apa yang anda makan!

Nota: Penulis ialah pakar fisiologi senaman dan pakar pemakanan.

holmes

good one fatz... hom copy & paste kat eblog hom wokey

fatz

ok hom.....

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HPB introduces revolutionary toothbrush for kids
By Lee Hui Chieh


Children now need just 60 strokes, instead of the recommended 240 strokes, to get their teeth clean.
-- PHOTO: THE HEALTH PROMOTION BOARD

KIDS in Singapore could soon be using what seems like a gift from the Tooth Fairy: a toothbrush that helps them swab the nooks and crannies of their mouths without much effort.

The invention, called the Happy Brush, was unveiled on Friday by the Health Promotion Board.

Using it, children no longer need to painstakingly brush the front, back and top of the teeth separately, but can clean all three surfaces at the same time.

The new toothbrush has a curved head with angled bristles, which can reach the sides of the teeth as it is being dragged over the top, said one of the inventors, Dr Eu Oy Chu.

She teamed with seven other dentists and dental therapists from the health board's School Dental Service to come up with the brush, a process that took three years.

Children now need just 60 strokes, instead of the recommended 240 strokes, to get their teeth clean.

From next Tuesday, the Happy Brush will be sold for $2.50 at the Health Promotion Board's School Dental Centre and Healthzone.

fatz

Dengue situation in Upper Paya Lebar worsens
By Lian Cheong & Julia Ng, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 05 April 2008 1932 hrs

SINGAPORE: The dengue situation at the Upper Paya Lebar Road foreign workers' dormitories has worsened, with 21 cases reported so far.

Despite increased efforts to wipe out the Aedes mosquito breeding sites, workers are still falling ill.

A total of 13 workers came down with dengue in the last ten days.

To flush out the mosquitoes, they even sealed off rooms and burnt mosquito coils in their sleeping quarters.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) has advised the workers to look out for trouble spots like pails, plastic containers and canvases which can accumulate stagnant water.

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Blood protein linked to heart disease

NEW YORK - AS levels of lipoprotein(a), a compound that carries fats in the blood, increase, so does the risk of heart disease, researchers report in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Although a number of lipoproteins exist, lipoprotein(a) differs from many others in that its levels don't vary with diet and exercise. Instead, they seem to reflect a person's genetic makeup and remain more or less stable.

'The data,' investigator Dr John Danesh said, 'should rekindle interest in research that can find out whether there is a cause-and-effect relationship between lipoprotein(a) and heart disease'.

Dr Danesh of the University of Cambridge, UK and colleagues examined data on participants in an Icelandic study that began in 1967. Levels of lipoprotein(a) were measured in 2,047 subjects who later died from heart disease and in 3,921 subjects who did not die from heart disease.

After accounting for the effect of established risk factors, the subjects with the highest levels of lipoprotein(a) were 60 per cent more likely to develop heart disease than those with the lowest levels. Moreover, the higher the lipoprotein(a) level rose, the greater the risk of heart disease.

The investigators found little or no correlation between lipoprotein(a) levels and heart disease risk factors such as older age, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Thus, measuring lipoprotein(a) levels may provide information above and beyond that obtained from looking at traditional risk factors.

'The findings from the current study,' concluded Dr Danesh, 'provide the most persuasive evidence yet that lipoprotein(a) is associated with risk of subsequent (heart) disease'. He and his colleagues call for further studies to investigate the value of lipoprotein(a) measurement in preventing heart disease. -- REUTERS

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April 8, 2008         
More HFMD cases with deadly strain reported


MOH said a potentially deadly strain of HFMD, called Enterovirus 71 (EV71) virus, was found in more patients. -- PHOTO: SHIN MIN

ANOTHER 190 new cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) were reported in the past week.

Latest data from the Health Ministry showed that the number of cases in the week ending April 5 rose by 27 per cent, from 702 cases the previous week to 892.

This brings the total of notified HFMD cases to 5315.

Only five of these cases required hospitalisation last week because of poor feeding. So far, there has been no case admitted for serious complications this year.

MOH said a potentially deadly strain of HFMD, called Enterovirus 71 (EV71) virus, was found in more patients. About one-fifth (18 per cent) of the virus samples from patients showed the presence of EV71.

This strain has been known to cause infections in the brain, heart and lungs. An outbreak in 2000 and 2001 saw this strain of the virus killing seven in Singapore and over 70 in Asia.

HFMD is generally a mild and self-limiting childhood disease.

However, as there is currently no specific vaccine available for HFMD and because the disease is highly infectious, the spread among children who are not immune and who have close contact with one another is inevitable.

To limit the outbreak, MOH together with the Education Ministry and the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, have alerted all primary schools, kindergartens and childcare centres to step up checks for sick children and to tighten hygience measures.

Doctors have been warned to be more alert in looking out for children showing symptoms of the disease.

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MOH says no cause for alarm despite rise in HFMD cases
By Hasnita A Majid, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 10 April 2008 1837 hrs

SINGAPORE : The number of children with hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) has gone up in the past few weeks.

The Health Ministry's (MOH) record shows that 18 percent of samples taken for tests were positive for the Enterovirus 71 (EV71). This is the strain which had caused seven deaths in Singapore a few years ago.

However, the ministry has assured the public that there is no cause for alarm.

Pre-school children are regularly checked for signs of HFMD. Despite stepped-up control measures, Singapore is seeing a surge in the number of children who contracted HFMD.

The MOH said that in the week ending April 5, there were 892 cases, up 27 percent from the previous week, when 702 cases were reported.

This brings the total number of reported cases from January to 5,315, up by 1,954 cases when compared with the same period last year.

The MOH said the increase may be due to greater awareness of HFMD and therefore more people have come forward to report it.

The ministry's record also showed that there is a higher circulation of the EV71 strain. 18 percent of the samples taken have tested positive for this strain, which has been known to cause infections to the brain, heart and lungs.

During the HFMD outbreak in 2000 and 2001, EV71 caused more than 70 deaths in children across Asia, including seven deaths in children in Singapore.

But the MOH said there is no cause for alarm.

Dr Lyn James, Director, Communicable Disease Division, said: "It's really difficult to say why some years we are seeing more cases related to EV71 and other years we don't. These are some of the mysteries behind viruses.

"What the Ministry of Health would like to stress to the public is that it is a mild childhood disease and almost everybody recovers. In the rare instance, there could be complications.

"And because right now we are seeing an increase in the circulation of the EV71 viruses, then people need to take a little bit more care in terms of preventing transmission of HFMD from child to child, and also being vigilant about children who have the disease."

This means that children need to observe good personal hygiene and those who are ill need to be kept away from the others.

Dr Lyn James said: "Children tend to (put toys in their mouth) and infection is transmitted through respiratory droplets, faeces and through fluids in their vesicle, so care must be taken to keep all their toys and whatever kind of other things they play with clean so that transmission is not spread from child to child.

"So the really important things that parents and the public can do is to observe good hygiene, personal hygiene as well when they are ill... when their child is ill with HFMD, keep them at home until they are fully recovered, until all their blisters are dried up, and this might take up to seven days."

She added that so far, there has been no complications arising from HFMD. The disease usually causes fever and poor appetite in children. They will also suffer blisters on the palms and soles, as well as rashes on their buttocks .

The MOH has reiterated that HFMD is a mild and self-limiting childhood disease. It is already endemic in Singapore, where there are seasonal outbreaks every year.

The ministry added that the current spike in HFMD cases is part of the normal epidemic trend, and this can be expected to continue over the next few weeks. - CNA/ms

fatz2

April 11, 2008         
2 new 'deadly' illegal sexual enhancement products found
By Imelda Saad, Correspondent


Consuming too much of Santi bovine penis erecting capsule will cause serious harm as it reduces the person's blood sugar to a dangerously low level, resulting in seizures, stroke, coma or death. -- PHOTO: COURTESY OF HSA

TWO new illegal sexual enhancement products have been found to cause adverse side effects on patients.

They are Santi bovine penis erecting capsule and Zhong Hua Niu Bian, said the Health Sciences Authority (HSA).

The samples of Santi bovine penis erecting capsule were given on April 9 by a patient who was warded for symptoms of low blood sugar. The other product was found in the course of testing seized products.

HSA laboratory analysis confirmed on Thursday that the Santi bovine penis erecting capsule contains high amounts of glibenclamide - a potent western medicine used to treat diabetes.

Consuming too much of it will cause serious harm as it reduces the person's blood sugar to a dangerously low level, resulting in seizures, stroke, coma or death.

The capsule also contains sildenafil and tadalafil - potent western medicines used to treat erectile dysfunction.

The other product, Zhong Hua Niu Bian also contains sildenafil and glibenclamide - prescription only medicines to be taken under strict medical supervision.

Just on Monday, a middle-aged local Chinese man died after being in a coma state. He had taken the illegal sexual enhancement drug Power 1 Walnut.

The same potent substances, sildenafil and glibenclamide were also found in the drug.

To date there is a total of 30 confirmed cases of serious adverse reactions to such illegal products, with another 59 suspected cases.

A

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HPB puts spotlight on female smokers to kick habit
By Ng Yan Bo, channelnewsasia.com | Posted: 11 April 2008 1946 hrs



Fresh Air for Women Glass House along Orchard Walkway

Cheyenne enjoys a healthy meal in the FAFW Glass House

SINGAPORE: More women are smoking. The Health Promotion Board (HPB) of Singapore discovered this during a survey which also revealed that the number of male smokers is dwindling.

To help women quit smoking, the Fresh Air for Women (FAFW) network, an initiative by the HPB, has launched a very public drive.

It has set up a Glass House along the Orchard Road shopping belt and won the support of a 26 year old smoker who is openly declaring her determination to quit.

Cheyenne Lu will spend three days in the Glass House in her battle to stop smoking and go cold turkey during that time.

The first three days, also known as the 憈hree-day hump

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Singapura : 12 April 2008        

LELAKI MELAYU MANGSA TERBARU 'UBAT' SEKS

HSA: Lebih banyak 'ubat' seks haram dijangka dikesan

Oleh
Nazri Hadi Saparin

SEORANG lelaki Melayu pertengahan umur menjadi mangsa terbaru pil rangsang seks haram.

Beliau mengambil 'ubat' perangsang Santi Bovine Penis Erecting Capsule yang mengandungi toksik sejenis ejen bagi mengawal penyakit kencing manis, gilbenclamide.

Kapsul itu mengandungi juga ubat yang digunakan untuk merawat masalah lemah syahwat, sildenafil dan tadalafil. Bahan-bahan itu hanya boleh diambil dengan pemantauan doktor.

Lelaki itu pergi ke hospital 9 April lalu dan mengadu mengalami kebingungan serta pitam. Doktor kemudian mendapati kandungan gula dalam darah amat rendah.

Lelaki itu telah beransur pulih dan dibenarkan pulang.

Beliau mengaku mengambil kapsul itu, yang didakwanya dibeli daripada seorang kawan.

Santi Bovine adalah satu daripada dua 'ubat' perangsang seks haram terbaru yang dikesan Penguasa Sains Kesihatan (HSA).

Satu lagi, Zhong Hua Niu Bian, dikesan dan dirampas hasil operasi HSA baru-baru ini. Ia juga didapati mengandungi toksik gilbenclamide.

Sebelum ini, HSA mengesan dua 'ubat' perangsang seks haram, Power 1 Walnut dan Cialis palsu.

Dalam satu sidang media semalam, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (CEO) HSA, Dr John Lim, berkata lebih banyak 'ubat' seks haram dijangka dikesan dalam beberapa minggu ini.

Dalam sembilan operasi sejak Februari lalu, HSA merampas ratusan ubat yang kini sedang dianalisis.

Sehingga kini, 30 orang telah mengalami kerumitan teruk akibat mengambil pil rangsang seks haram. Seorang daripada mereka telah meninngal dunia, seorang mengalami angin ahmar dan seorang lagi sedang koma.

Daripada jumlah itu, 26 adalah mangsa Power 1 Walnut, tiga mengambil Cialis palsu dan seorang mangsa Santi Bovine.

Secara keseluruhan, terdapat 59 lagi pesakit yang disyaki mengambil pil perangsang seks haram, dengan seorang dalam keadaan koma.

Mereka semua lelaki dan berusia antara 21 dengan 97 tahun.

Kaum Cina merangkumi 55 peratus, Melayu 18 peratus dan India 12 peratus.

Sesiapa yang mempunyai maklumat mengenai penjualan 'ubat-ubat' seks haram digesa menghubungi talian 24 jam HSA, 6866-3485.

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Ekstra! : 12 April 2008         
         
SUARA ADAM

'BURUK' TIDUR

Oleh
Farid Hamzah

ANDA mungkin kenali seseorang yang rapat dengan anda yang kerap berdengkur semasa tidur.

Kadangkala masalah berdengkur yang dihadapi mereka bukan sahaja menjejas tidur orang di sekelilingnya, malah ia turut menimbulkan masalah kepada individu yang kerap berdengkur itu.

Bayangkan ia berlaku setiap hari, pastinya ia boleh menimbulkan masalah sosiol seperti menjejas hubungan pasangan mereka, atau rakan-rakan sekeliling.

Siapa kerap berdengkur

Memang tidak dapat dinafikan bahawa kaum Adam berdengkur lebih kerap daripada kaum Hawa.

Meskipun tiada kajian tepat yang dapat mengesahkannya, para doktor menganggarkan nisbah lelaki yang kerap berdengkur berbanding wanita ialah sekitar 2:1 hingga 3:1.

Semasa ditemui, Konsultan ENT dan Pakar Bedah Tidur di Jabatan Otolaryngologi, Hospital Besar Singapura (SGH) Dr Mark Hon Wah, berkata daripada sekitar 30 hingga 50 pesakit yang ditemuinya setiap minggu, sekitar 90 peratus adalah lelaki.

'Rata-rata golongan lelaki yang saya temui menghadapi masalah berdengkur keterlaluan sehingga menjejas kehidupan harian mereka.

'Pesakit lelaki yang paling tua pernah saya temui berusia lebih 70 tahun,' jelasnya lagi yang menjadi pa-kar masalah tidur sejak 2006.

Fakta Berdengkur

Laman About.com men-jelaskan bahawa berdeng-kur diburukkan oleh minuman keras atau pil tidur.

Mereka yang gemuk juga lebih berkemungkinan berdengkur.

Dan tidur secara terlentang menambah 'peluang' seseorang itu berdengkur.

'Demam dan tumbuhan di hidung serta alah pada hidung memburukkan lagi masalah tersebut.

'Selain itu, warga tua lebih kerap berdengkur akibat otot yang lemah yang berlaku apabila usia semakin lanjut,' jelas laman itu lagi.

Laman itu menambah, ubat pula boleh menyebabkan kekeringan pada laluan udara hidung dan menambah insiden dengkur.

Para perokok dua kali lebih berkemungkinan untuk berdengkur, tambah laman itu lagi.

Masalah yang boleh timbul akibat dengkur keterlaluan

Dr Mark Hon Wah berkata masalah sosiol boleh timbul akibat dengkur yang kerap dan keterlaluan.

'Contohnya, hubungan pasangan suami isteri boleh terjejas sekiranya masalah ini berlarutan.

'Begitu juga hubungan dengan rakan-rakan sebilik, terutamanya mereka yang sama-sama menjalani Perkhidmatan Negara (NS).

'Dan bayangkan sekiranya seseorang itu berdengkur dengan kuat semasa di hotel, dalam pesawat atau pengangkutan awam.

'Pastinya ia boleh menjejas mereka yang berada di tempat yang sama,' ujarnya lagi.

Kisah Benar

Encik Mohamad Rizal Shaik Abdul Aziz, 38 tahun, kerap berdengkur dengan kuat sejak 16 tahun lalu.

Akibat masalah itu, beliau dan isterinya sukar tidur dengan sempurna.

'Ini menjejas pekerjaan saya, kerana saya sering penat.

'Contohnya, ingatan saya terjejas dan tumbuh banyak uban di kepala.

'Isteri saya juga terjejas tidurnya,' jelas bapa seorang anak itu lagi.

Beliau kemudian berjumpa dengan Dr Mark Hon Wah untuk rawatan kepada masalah itu.

'Saya enggan menjalani sebarang pembedahan, jadi saya ikuti nasihatnya.

'Yang paling utama ialah menghilangkan berat badan, menerusi senaman dan diet pada pemakanan saya,' jelasnya lagi.

Encik Mohamad Rizal berjaya menghilangkan sekitar empat kilogram dalam beberapa bulan.

Selain itu beliau turut membelanjakan sekitar $2,000 dengan membeli alat- alat khas untuk mengurangkan masalah dengkurnya.

Hasilnya, masalah dengkurnya berkurangan sedikit.

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Number of weekly dengue cases up
By Heather Tan, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 14 April 2008 2348 hrs

SINGAPORE : The National Environmental Agency (NEA) has confirmed that there were 97 dengue cases reported from April 6 to 12.

That is the highest number in the past five weeks, when the weekly average has been about 75.

Meanwhile, there were 13 cases between April 13 and 14.

According to the Health Ministry (MOH), foreign workers make up a big number of the reported cases in Upper Paya Lebar Road, which is one of the dengue clusters.

Most of these foreign workers are from China, India and Bangladesh.

MOH suspects that they did not receive dengue vaccination shots.

To avoid mosquitoes from breeding, NEA has requested those living in hostels above shop houses along Upper Paya Lebar to remove their roof gutters in the next week.

There are reportedly more than 60 breeding grounds in this area alone. - CNA/ms

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April 15, 2008         
Dengue cases still on the rise
Numbers higher than in same period last year, despite stepped-up checks
By Salma Khalik, Health Correspondent

THE number of dengue victims has continued climbing despite the stepped-up efforts of the National Environment Agency (NEA) to fight mosquito breeding.

The NEA mounted its annual pre-emptive strike two months earlier this year, in January instead of March.

The sweep of potentially productive mosquito breeding sites in housing estates was completed last month, which is when this phase of the mosquito war usually starts.

More than 400 NEA officers combed every drain and water tank in HDB estates, on top of the routine surveillance and extermination of breeding sites by the town councils.

Their mission: to seek out and destroy as many breeding sites as possible before the onset of warmer mid-year weather, which puts mosquitoes in breeding mode.

At around this time last year, which was warmer, the number of people down with dengue had shot past 100 cases a week.

Singapore, emerging from the coolest March in two decades this year, is already starting to see a rise in the number of dengue patients.

Last week, 97 people were infected, 20 more than in the previous week.

In the first 15 weeks of this year, 1,401 people caught the illness, compared to 944 in the same period last year.

There are now two large 'active' dengue clusters, one in Upper Paya Lebar with 32 people down with the fever and the other in Yishun with 10 sick.

A cluster is active if at least two people in an area have dengue, with the latest case having surfaced in the past two weeks.

Last year, despite the NEA having checked more than 4,000 premises for mosquito breeding every day, almost 9,000 people caught the fever.

Dengue is characterised by a high fever, body aches and vomiting. The disease can be fatal.

Of the 1,400 admitted to Tan Tock Seng Hospital last year, 86 came down with the more serious dengue haemorrhagic fever.

Over the next few months, the NEA will home in on outdoor areas, such as corridor drains and playgrounds. It will check schools, sports facilities and places of worship.

Places that have not been exposed to the current Den 2 strain of the dengue virus will get special attention.

There are four strains of the virus. People infected with one strain can fall sick again if exposed to a different strain.

Doctors say that people who are infected again - and half of those down with dengue are - tend to get more sick.

salma@sph.com.sg

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April 16, 2008         
HFMD epidemic may be the worst since 2000
Over 1,000 kids fell ill last week, 13 warded; virulent EV71 virus behind 16% of cases
By Salma Khalik & Sujin Thomas


ON THE ALERT: A teacher at Greenridge Primary School doing a routine check on pupils for symptoms of HFMD at assembly time earlier this month. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LIM

SINGAPORE may be facing its most serious hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) outbreak since an epidemic killed seven children eight years ago.

More than 1,000 children fell ill last week - the highest number of weekly infections since the 2000-2001 period.

Of the 13 who needed hospitalisation, one girl was seriously ill, with inflammation of the brain.

Diagnosed with HFMD on April 3, her condition worsened and she had to be hospitalised a week later.

Dr Chong Chia Yin, head of infectious diseases at KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), said the seven-year-old's condition has since improved. She is now recovering in a general ward.

HFMD is endemic in Singapore, with children catching the virus almost daily. Symptoms include fever, headache, sore throat and a red rash, usually on the limbs and in the mouth, which gives the illness its name.

It is spread through bodily fluids, which is why it can be passed quickly among young children who share toys they may have put into their mouths.

In children, it is usually a mild disease that lasts about a week, but it can be more serious in adults.

The disease can be caused by several types of viruses, with the most dangerous being the Enterovirus 71 or EV71.

The Health Ministry said yesterday that although EV71 is picked up 'only sporadically' in normal times, it was behind 16 per cent of this year's infections.

While many of those infected with EV71 have the usual mild symptoms, it does sometimes trigger severe illness. Doctors do not know why this is so.

The ministry spokesman said it is a 'public health concern' when EV71 is circulating at a time of a large increase in HFMD cases.

The EV71 virus becomes dominant roughly every three years. It was the strain in play in the 2000 and 2003 epidemics.

Schools, kindergartens and childcare centres have all been on the alert since last month, when the number of infections began to climb. One childcare centre closed voluntarily on April 7 and 8 as a precaution against spreading the bug.

The number of infections has been above the 600-a-week mark - indicating an epidemic - for the past four weeks.

So far this year, 6,315 people have caught the disease.

One recent victim now on the mend is Demetrius Low, four, who was diagnosed at KKH on Monday night. He was not admitted, however, and has been resting at home.

He had spent the evening at his minder's house after class at The Montessori Playroom, a kindergarten in Hougang Central, earlier that day. When he saw red spots on his palms at about 9.30pm, he called his mother Euphemia Goh, who took him to hospital.

The product marketing executive said she had told her son about the symptoms to look out for, 'so he knew something was not right'.

A spokesman for The Montessori Playroom, which has about 40 children aged between two and six, said Demetrius was its first case in the current epidemic.

salma@sph.com.sg

sujint@sph.com.sg