Ageing Gracefully - Raffles Medical Group

A PUBLICATION BY REGISTRATION No. 198901967K MITA (P) 230/12/2008 COMPLIMENTARY COPY ISSUE 01 / 2009
What you want to
do before
60
you hit
Growing (Old) Pains
Ageing need not be a pain-ridden experience
Smart Ageing
Your guide to a fulfilling life
Ditch Years Off Your Age
Look and feel younger than your actual age
What you want to
60

Raffles HealthNews 3
Contents
NewsRoom 4
New Clinics | New Doc on the Block | We’ve Moved |
Balloon Up The Nose | Therapeutic Music & Art
Supplements 27
FoodNotes 28
Q&A 29
Promotions 30
Features
Growing (old) Pains 6 Ditch Years Off Your Actual Age 19
With age come pains that range from troubling to debilitating.
Experts share on five common problems affecting our bodies that
you should take note of. Tackling them before they start to hurt can
help improve your quality of life.
Things I Want To Do Before 60… 12
We all have dreams, and things we would like to accomplish
in our lifetime. Make these dreams come true today.
Smart Ageing 14
Take a simple quiz to find out how
smartly you are ageing in the areas
of physical, emotional, diet and self
care, and aspirational. You can age
gracefully and wisely, and enjoy your
retirement years!
Who wouldn’t want to look younger than their
age These simple tips can help you look and
feel younger than you are.
UpClose 22
No matter how busy she is, Ms Wendy Chew, from the Raffles
International Patient Centre, never fails to give a smile and a kind
word to all she meets. She shares about her work, secrets to staying
youthful and tips on caring for the elderly.
I Don’t Want To Grow Old
Because… 24
Its myths-busting time! Experts share on the fallacies behind the
myths many of us have about ageing.
DIRECTORY
www.rafflesmedical.com
Corporate Accounts Enquiries 6311 1333
Fax No. 6311 2383
General Enquiries 6311 1111
Fax No. 6311 2392
• Anchorpoint 6479 3818
• Ang Mo Kio 6453 2288
• Anson 6225 2188
• Bedok 6441 1736
• Bishan 6456 7122
• Capital Tower 6323 5212
• Causeway Point 6894 0777
• Clementi 6872 9043
• Compass Point 6881 7337
• Fusionopolis 6466 7366
• Harbour Front 6273 3078
• Hougang Central 6386 7896
• Jurong East 6899 6688
• Lot 1 6765 3363
• Loyang Point 6585 3333
• Marina Square 6339 6644
• Millenia Walk 6337 6000
• Ngee Ann City 6734 7355
• Northpoint 6755 0049
• Ogilvy Centre 6223 1188
• OUB Centre* 6535 2222
• Raffles Airport Medical Centre
Passsenger Terminal Two* 6543 1118
Passsenger Terminal Three* 6241 8818
Airport Transit One 6543 1113
Airport Transit Two 6543 1118
Changi Cargo Complex 6543 1038
• Raffles City 6339 6911
• Raffles Hospital 6311 2233
• Siglap 6442 0488
• Science Park 6776 7155
• Tampines Junction* 6788 2222
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* Clinics with X-ray Facilities
Hong Kong Clinics (852) 2525 1730
www.raffleshospital.com
General Enquiries 6311 1111
Call Centre Fax No. 6311 2136
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24 Hour Appointments Hotline 6311 1222
Fax No. 6311 2136
Email
specialist@raffleshospital.com
Raffles Aesthetics
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Physiotherapy Centre
Radiology
Regional Representative Offices /
Liaison Centres
Indonesia
Jakarta Representative Office 62 21 5785 3979
Semarang Representative Office 62 24 841 9600 /
845 7015
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556 222
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Vietnam
Hanoi Representative Office 84 4 39367999
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Bangladesh
Dhaka Representative Office 880 1711187638
Editorial: Dr Prem Kumar Nair, Magdalene Lee
& Clara Cai
Creative: Edd Chua & Jenny Cheok
The information contained in this publication should
not be regarded as a substitute for detailed medical
advice in individual cases.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may
be reproduced in any form or by any means without
the written permission of the publisher.
Please address all correspondence to
The Editor, Raffles HealthNews,
Fax no. 6311 2378
Email: healthnews@rafflesmedical.com
Raffles HealthNews is published by
Raffles Medical Group Ltd
585 North Bridge Road, Raffles Hospital
#11-00, Singapore 188770
www.rafflesmedicalgroup.com
Feb 09

Newsroom Raffles HealthNews
New clinics
Raffles Medical opened two new clinics, in Fusionopolis and NorthPoint Shopping Centre, in end October and November 2008
respectively. The two clinics offer general medical services.
Fusionopolis
1 Fusionopolis Way, #B1-04, Connexis, Singapore 138632
Tel: 6466 7366 Fax: 6466 0508
NorthPoint Shopping Centre
930 Yishun Avenue 2, #B1-56, Singapore 769098
Tel: 6755 0049 Fax: 6755 0062
Operating hours :
Mon - Fri: 8.30am - 2.00pm | 3.00pm - 5.30pm
Closed on Sat, Sun and Public Holidays.
Operating hours :
Mon - Fri: 8.30am - 1.00pm | 2.00pm - 5.30pm |
6.30pm - 9.30pm
Sat, Sun and Public Holidays: 8.30am - 1.00pm
We’ve Moved
New Doc
On The Block
Dr Yeh Ing Berne, Diagnostic
Radiologist, and Consultant at the
Radiology Department,
obtained his Fellowship from the Royal
College of Radiologists in London,
UK and completed a Neuroradiology
fellowship at the Massachusetts
General Hospital in Boston, USA.
Dr Yeh introduced and developed
advanced neuro-imaging
techniques in his former position
as Consultant Radiologist in
National University Hospital
(NUH). These techniques
have been shown to
improve the diagnosis
and management
of various neurological
diseases, in particular, brain
tumours and acute stroke.
Dr Yeh is experienced in all imaging
modalities with subspecialty interests
in neuroradiology and head and
neck imaging.
Raffles International Office - Indonesia has shifted to new premises in the Central Business
District of South Jakarta. Patients based in Indonesia can contact our friendly staff for
assistance in arranging their visit to Raffles Hospital.
Raffles International Office, Menara Anugrah, 1st Floor, Kantor Taman E.3.3,
Jl. Mega Kuningan Kav. E3.3, Kawasan Mega Kuningan, Jakarta 12950, Indonesia
Tel : (62)-(21) 5785 3979 | Fax : (62)-(21) 5785 3977
Email : enquiries_indonesia@rafflesmedical.com

Balloon
Sinus
Raffles HealthNews Newsroom
Up The Nose
Sinusitis is a problem that most learn to live with. Its symptoms
include running nose, sneezing and/or coughing, headaches,
postnasal drip into the throat, frequent throat clearing, itchy eyes
and nose, reduced sense of smell and/or taste, bad breath, fever,
chills and pain at the nasal bridge, roof of the mouth, teeth, face or
eye. With balloon sinuplasty, you can clear your sinusitis and live life
without these nagging symptoms.
Gain Access
to the Sinus
Inflate Balloon
Across Ostium
Catheter
Flexible
GuideWire
Blocked
Passageway
According to Dr Stephen Lee, Ear, Nose & Throat Surgeon and
Consultant at Raffles ENT Centre, balloon sinuplasty employs a
small, flexible, sinus balloon catheter to open up blocked sinus
passageways, restoring normal sinus drainage and function. Once
the balloon is in the targeted (narrowed) sinus, it is inflated and
gently restructures and widens the walls of the passageways. In
many cases, the removal of tissue or bone is not necessary. Most
patients are able to return to normal activity within 24 hours.
49-year-old Michael Scott Drawe shared on his post-surgery
experience, “There was a little mucus and blood but I was breathing
freely, something I had not been able to do for the past eight years.
I could actually feel air up my nose. It was amazing!”
Deflate and
Remove Balloon
Introduced in the US about three years ago, the technique is now
available at Raffles Hospital. Worldwide, around 30,000 people
have had the procedure done and no known complications have
been reported.
For more information or an appointment, please call 6311 1222.
Therapeutic
Music Art
&
Music and art have always been known to be therapeutic.
Many have, over the centuries, used music and art as a
form of expression of their inner self. Now, you too can use
music and art to express and understand yourself better.
Art therapy uses the process of art making to improve and
enhance your physical, mental and emotional well-being.
Artistic self-expression can help you resolve your conflicts and
problems, develop interpersonal skills, reduce stress, increase
self-esteem and self-awareness and achieve insight. Individuals
from all walks of life and age can benefit from it. It can help
you explore, express and understand yourself and can offer you
a glimpse of things going on in your heart and mind. It is also
used to assess and treat mental, emotional, physical, cognitive,
neurological and psychosocial problems.
Music and/or Sound used in psychotherapy and
counselling, facilitates the creative process of moving
toward wholeness and integration in the physical,
emotional, mental, and spiritual self in areas such as:
independence, freedom to change, adaptability, balance and
integration. Man’s responsiveness to music is unique. As such,
music is used as a healing therapy to help you express deepset
emotions. It is thought to be successful in treating autism,
mentally or emotionally disturbed children and adults, elderly and
physically challenged people, and patients with schizophrenia,
nervous disorders and stress.
Start your journey of self exploration and expression with our
therapists at Raffles Hospital today.
Tel: 6311 2350 | Fax: 6311 2353
Email: enquiries@raffleshospital.com

Feature Raffles HealthNews

Raffles HealthNews Feature
Growing
Old
Pains
As we grow older, our body is no longer what it used to be. We
explore five common health problems that come with ageing. Let our
panel of experts shed light on the causes, prevention and treatment
of these common ageing pains.

Feature Raffles HealthNews
1. Eye
The most common eye condition affecting
the elderly is cataract. In a local study in
1997, 78.6% of 3000 elderly aged 60 and
above suffers from cataract. The other
top three eye conditions include agerelated
macular degeneration, diabetic
retinopathy and glaucoma.
Explains Dr Lee Jong Jian, Ophthalmologist
and Consultant at Raffles Eye Centre,
“Cataract is the clouding of the natural lens
in our eye, resulting in blurring of vision.
The lens works much like a camera lens,
focusing light onto the retina at the back
of the eye. Some signs and symptoms
include gradual blurring of vision, glare
and sensitivity to light.”
Early cataract may be corrected with
glasses. If there is no improvement,
surgery is the best option with a high
success rate of more than 98%.
Over the years, the intraocular lens (IOL)
used has become more advanced. The
toric IOL can also simultaneously correct
astigmatism and cataract. There are
also accommodative and multifocal lens
which can restore both distance and near
vision.
Some eye care practitioners believe
that a diet high in antioxidants such as
beta-carotene (vitamin A), selenium and
vitamins C and E, may slow down cataract
development. Sunglasses to prevent
ultraviolet light rays exposure may also
slow down cataract progression.
Phacoemulsification Technique
Lens Implant
The phacoemulsification machine has an ultrasonic probe
that vibrates back and forth at a high frequency to break
the cataract into tiny pieces and gently remove them out of
the eye.
A customised artificial lens (intraocular lens or IOL) is then
implanted back into the eye to restore the focusing power
of the eye.
2. Ear
As one ages, hearing problems become
increasingly common. Presbycusis, or agerelated
hearing loss, is most commonly
caused by gradual changes in the inner ear.
As one grows older, structures of the ear can
become less responsive to sound waves,
contributing to hearing loss. The disorder
occurs in about 25% of people aged 65 to
75 and in 70 - 80% of those over age 75.
Dr Stephen Lee, ENT Surgeon, Consultant
at Raffles ENT Centre shared that the
following factors may also cause hearing
loss:
• The combined effect of a lifetime of
exposure to loud noises
• Hereditary factors
• Health conditions, such as heart
disease, high blood pressure, and
diabetes, which affect the blood
supply available to the ear.
• Some medications, such as aspirin
and certain antibiotics
For a person with presbycusis, sounds
seem deeper and less clear. Other
symptoms include:
• Others’ speech seems mumbled or
slurred
• Difficulty in hearing high-pitched
sounds
• Hard to follow conversations
• Background noise interferes with
hearing
• Men’s voices are easier to hear than
women’s and
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
Hearing problems can make it difficult for
older people to hear doorbells, car horns,
and alarms. Its effect on communication
Pinna
External
auditory
canal
Lobule
can also reduce a person’s physical,
functional, emotional, and social well-being.
It is often accompanied by isolation and
depression. All these can be frustrating,
embarrassing, and even dangerous.
There are devices to help you hear and
communicate more easily, including
hearing aids and assistive listening and
alerting devices, such as telephone
amplifiers. If you have trouble hearing,
speak to your doctor to find out if you have
a hearing loss; and if you are suffering
from hearing loss, how to treat it.
Malleus
Eardrum
Semicircular canals
Stapes
Incus
Vestibular
cochlear
nerve
Cochlea
Eustachian
tube

Raffles HealthNews Feature
Pelvis
Cartilage
Femur
Loss of
cartilage
Joint
capsule
Inflamed joint
3. Joints
Older patients often come by to see
Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr Lim Lian Arn,
a Consultant at Raffles Orthopaedic
Centre, for their painful joints.
Arthritis, a problem faced by many
elderly, is a condition that involves
inflammation of a person’s joints.
Patients with arthritis suffer joint pain
because the normal healthy lining of
their joints is damaged by the arthritic
process.
If you have any of the following
symptoms, you should see your doctor
or a specialist for evaluation and
treatment:
• Joint pain that worsens with activity
and does not go away without
treatment after two or three weeks
• Joint pain associated with joint
swelling and stiffness. Occasionally
the joint pain and stiffness is worse
in the morning and gets temporarily
better after some activity
• Joint deformity such as “bow-legs”
or “knock knees”
• Joint pain associated with redness,
warmth and swelling
In the early stages of arthritis, oral
medications, injections, external braces
and physiotherapy can control arthritis.
In the later stages, when there has been
too much cartilage destruction, surgery
gives options that can predictably
reduce pain and correct deformities.
Surgery for arthritis includes keyhole
arthroscopic surgery, cartilage
replacement surgery, osteotomy
to correct limb alignment and joint
replacement surgery.
“Joint replacement surgery is usually
done after all other methods fail to
provide relief,” said Dr Lim, “It has a low
complication rate; these include deep
vein thrombosis and wound infection.”
Joint replacement surgery replaces the
worn out surfaces of the joint with metal
and plastic. The metal and plastic parts
reproduce the motions of a normal
joint. The pain, deformity and restricted
motion of an arthritic joint can be
eliminated and function can be reliably
restored.
Prevention And Early
Intervention Measures
• Weight loss and appropriate
exercise
• Wearing good footwear including
corrective heel inserts
• Minimising excessive stresses on
joints at work or recreation
• Maintaining good posture at work,
rest and recreation
• Taking appropriate supplements
such as glucosamine

10 Feature Raffles HealthNews
4. Brain
Cerebrovascular disease, or stroke, is
a very common disease in Singapore.
It ranks as the fourth leading cause of
death in Singapore. Almost 1,500 patients
died from stroke in 2007 (Ministry Of
Health Singapore). However, thanks to
the excellent healthcare infrastructure in
Singapore, many of our stroke patients
receive prompt emergency treatment.
Each year, approximately 10,000 patients
are admitted with a diagnosis of stroke in
Singapore. While the vast majority survive,
many have residual disabilities.
Stroke occurs when a portion of the brain
dies because the blood vessel supplying
that area:
Front section of the brain showing
middle cerebral artery
1. Becomes blocked (‘ischaemic stroke’) or
2. Bursts and bleeds (‘haemorrhagic
stroke’)
Broken blood vessel
“In either case,” said Dr Alvin Seah,
Neurologist, and Consultant at Raffles
Internal Medicine Centre, “that area of
the brain will be affected, and depending
on the region affected, the patient will
experience the sudden onset of severe
symptoms such as numbness, weakness,
difficulty in speaking, visual field loss,
giddiness and so on.”
To treat an ischemic stroke, blood flow
must be quickly restored to the brain.
Patients who are able to get medical help
within three hours of the onset of a new
ischaemic stroke can be treated with a
‘clot-buster’ drug (tissue plasminogen
activator or TPA) which can dissolve the
clot and re-open the blood vessel. If this
treatment is successful, the damaged
area can recover faster. Treatment for
patients who pass the three hour window
would focus on stabilising the patient
medically, preventing complications and
sending the patient for rehabilitation and
physiotherapy. Patients with ischaemic
stroke will usually be treated with an antiplatelet
agent to prevent further stroke.
Patients who are diagnosed to have a
haemorrhagic stroke may need surgical
intervention to remove the bleeding. The
decision whether to operate depends
on many factors, including the physical
condition of the patient, the size and
location of the bleed and the underlying
causes. Whatever the initial treatment,
patients will benefit from a course of
rehabilitation and physiotherapy.
In all patients who have suffered a stroke,
and even for those patients who do not
yet have a clinical stroke, treatment would
focus on subsequent control of stroke risk
factors and prevention of further strokes.
Stroke is a common and potentially fatal
illness. Controlling the risk factors is
critical. In a suspected stroke, seeking
treatment early may allow emergency
drug therapy. In all cases, rehabilitation
and physiotherapy can help the patient to
either regain the previous functional status
or to cope with the resulting neurological
impairment.
Main Risk Factors For Stroke:
•
•
•
•
•
Cigarette smoking
Diabetes
Hypertension
Hyperlipidemia
Older age
Blood clot

Raffles HealthNews Feature 11
5. Blood
Hypertension or high blood pressure
is often labeled “the silent killer” as it
usually has no symptoms. Yet, it can
progress to develop several potentially
fatal complications. It may be present and
remain unnoticed for many years if you
do not undergo periodic blood pressure
screening.
High blood pressure is when there is an
increased pressure in your blood vessels
and, therefore, less space for your blood
to travel through. It is dangerous as it
leads to complications in many organs,
ranging from heart to brain to kidney.
Hypertension affects 30% of those at
age 50 and increases to 60-70% for
those above 70 years old. Thanks to
the protective nature of female hormone
estrogen, women tend to have lower blood
pressure before menopause. However,
their blood pressure catches up with their
male counterparts after menopause by
the time they turn 70 years old.
High blood pressure is typically treated
by making changes in your lifestyle, and
with drug therapy. Screening, diagnosing,
treating and controlling hypertension early
in its course can significantly reduce the
risk of developing strokes, heart attacks
or kidney failure.
“Effective blood pressure control is
possible,” said Dr Antono Sutandar,
Cardiologist, and Consultant at
Raffles Heart Centre, “However, many
hypertension patients may require two or
more blood pressure medications.”
Prevention of hypertension only goes as
far as the cause of it. While you can adjust
lifestyle related causes, genetics, race,
age and gender are outside the realm
of change. Modifiable factors include
diet, weight, exercise levels and stress
management.
If you have risk factors for ischemic heart
disease (obstruction of blood vessels
supplying the heart), blood pressure
therapy would be more aggressive. For
example, patients with heart failure, kidney
problems and diabetes will have a lower
blood pressure target. Elderly above 80
years old will have a blood pressure goal
of below 150/90.
HN
What Is “Normal” Blood
Pressure
There are several categories of blood
pressure, including:
•
•
•
Normal: Less than 120/80
Prehypertension: 120-139/80-89
Stage 1 high blood pressure:
140-159/90-99
Stage 2 high blood pressure: 160
and above/100 and above
You should consult your doctor if
your blood pressure is above your
normal range.
•
•
Stroke
Blood vessel
damage
(arteriosclerosis)
Heart attack or
heart failure
Kidney failure

12 Feature Raffles HealthNews
Change A Stranger’s life
For many of us, our lives may be mainly
centered upon ourselves and serving our
own needs. However, the joy of being
able to reach out and perhaps, change
the life of another is immeasurable.
Therefore, make a conscious effort to
make a difference in the life of a total
stranger. Yes, before you hit 60.
You can… Contribute by giving to the
society
The true benefit in helping others lies not
in rewards, or recognition, but because
another is helped. Making donations to
charities is one of the most straightforward
methods. If you are concerned about how
this will affect your finances, you may
consider donating a smaller amount of
money on a monthly basis.
Aside from donations, you can also
contribute by serving as a volunteer. The
gift of your time will be invaluable and
it can make all the difference to a total
stranger.
Take Control Of My
Chronic Ailments
Osteoporosis, heart disease and diabetes
are just some chronic conditions that are
common amongst the older population.
Depending solely on medication to keep
these conditions in check may not be
sufficient.
You can… Stay healthy by exercising
frequently
Exercise has a role in slowing the
development of many early disabilities or
life-threatening ailments. Here are some
chronic ailments that can be kept at bay
with a regular fitness and nutritional plan.
Osteoporosis
Exercise is one way to reduce the risk
of osteoporosis. Dr Lim Lian Arn, an
Orthopaedic Surgeon, and Consultant
at Raffles Orthopaedic Centre, said “the
most effective form of exercise to battle
osteoporosis is weight bearing and
resistance exercises, supervised weight
training is probably the best example.”
Supervised weight training stresses the
bones in our skeleton and in so doing,
induces the bones to become stronger. In
addition, it also enhances muscle tone and
increases resting metabolic rate. In other
words, you actually burn more calories
even when you’re not exercising.
“However, in the context of osteoporosis,
exercise is not the only factor. We need
to have an adequate calcium intake,
adequate sunlight for vitamin D production
and we need to eliminate risk factors
such as smoking and excessive alcohol
intake. If you are unsure about your risk
factors, consult your doctor and obtain
a bone mineral density examination,” said
Dr Lim.
Heart Disease, Hypertension and Stroke
The heart and lungs are strengthened
with exercise. Aerobic exercise (walking,
running or cycling) works best to improve
the condition of the cardiovascular and
respiratory systems.
Hypertension or high blood pressure can
often be managed with exercise. “As you
exercise over time, the heart becomes
more efficient at pumping a larger volume
of blood per beat. Hypertension is the
excessive pressure against the walls of
the blood vessels throughout the body.
Therefore, the more efficiently the heart
pumps with each contraction, the less
constant tension there will be on the
blood vessel walls to move the same
amount of blood,” said Dr Antono Sutandar,
a Cardiologist and Consultant at Raffles
Heart Centre.
“Consistent exercise, especially aerobic
exercise, also reduces the risk of stroke,”
added Dr Sutandar. A stroke happens
when part of the brain does not have
rich oxygenated blood circulating to it.
Exercise improves circulation, makes
blood vessels more pliable by reducing
the buildup of plaque, and lowers blood
pressure.

Raffles HealthNews Feature 13
What I want to do
before I hit
You are never too old to have goals and dreams.
However, set a timeline for yourself to achieve things
that you have been putting off. Here are some
suggestions on what you can do, before you hit 60.
60
Spend Quality Time With
My Family
It is often easy for us to neglect the
people closest to us - our family. Do not
let the pressure of daily life keep you from
spending time with them. Make time for
the people you love most. It is definitely
worth the effort.
You can… Plan activities for the entire
family
Instead of waiting for others to initiate
or organise activities, take on the role of
the ‘planner’. Assign a day for the entire
family to spend time together, even if it is
just for a simple meal. This can be done
once a week (e.g. every Sunday) or even
once a month (e.g. the last Sunday of
every month).
You can also organise an activity for
the entire extended family. Get as many
people involved as possible in the
preparation process. This will lighten your
workload and more importantly, ensure
maximum interaction and participation.
Travel The World
Many of us wanted to travel the world
when we were younger.
As we age, this dream may appear to be
more unrealistic due to work and family
commitments and financial constraints. In
addition, some of us may no longer feel fit
enough to embark on such a journey.
You can… Travel with the right amount
of preparation
Can people with chronic ailments go on
long overseas trips without a caregiver
with them “Yes,” said Dr Mohamed
Faizal, a Family Physician at Raffles
Medical’s Terminal 3 Medical Centre.
”People with chronic medical ailments can
and should live their lives as normally and
as independently as possible. Anybody
with chronic medical conditions that are
stable, managed appropriately and does
not have any residual disability (e.g.
stroke) can travel without a caregiver.
A good guide is to check whether they
can manage their daily activities on their
own.”
Elderly travellers should also have a
check-up with their own general
practitioner or aviation/travel medicinetrained
doctors before they fly. A travel
clearance certificate will be useful to
avoid having another medical review in
a foreign land.
Contrary to what some may believe,
the elderly can take long-haul flights.
According to Dr Faizal, seats that are
closer to the restroom and along the aisle
can help with getting to the toilet easily
and avoiding the risk of falls. Use of
walking aids can also help the mobility of
the patient.
Some airports will require a lot of walking
during transfers or clearing through
customs, therefore, discuss this with
the airline and seek their assistance.
Have a realistic expectation of what is
appropriate by having an open discussion
with your doctor before choosing your
travel destination.
Here are some tips from Dr Faizal, should
you like to travel despite having a chronic
medical condition:
•
•
•
Have a list of your medication with you.
It should include the generic name,
trade name, dosage and frequency
that you are taking.
Always have a few days worth of
medication with you in your hand
luggage, in case your main check-in
baggage gets lost or delayed. This is
also useful if you get delayed whilst
in transit.
Emergency medication should be
place in the seat pouch in front of the
passenger rather than in the overhead
compartment.
HN

Feature Raffles HealthNews

Raffles HealthNews Feature
S m a r t A g e i n g
Are you ageing smartly How well are you ageing
Take this quiz to find out.
Physical Well-being
• I get less than 30 minutes of physical activity on most days.
• I had a fall or sustained an injury in the last three months.
• I feel tired most of the time.
• I feel bored most of the time and have little social activities.
True / False
True / False
True / False
True / False
Emotional Well-being
• I have not kept in touch with my close friends in the last two weeks.
• I do not know who I can share my problems with.
• I feel alone/sad/depressed/moody.
• I flared up at someone earlier this week and am regretting it.
True / False
True / False
True / False
True / False
Diet & Self Care
• My intake of meats is much higher than my greens.
• I eat out more than five times each week.
• My family and friends have commented about my body odour.
• I have not seen my doctor for my annual check up.
True / False
True / False
True / False
True / False
Aspirations
• My day-to-day concerns take up most of my time. I do not have time
to guide and care for others.
• I haven’t had time to pursue my passions for a long while.
• I am too old to have dreams and aspirations.
• I have very little savings and should a medical need arise, I am
financially dependent on my children.
True / False
True / False
True / False
True / False
HOW YOU SCORED
If you answer True to any of the statements in the category. Read on about how you can improve your quality of life with tips from
our panel of experts.

Feature Raffles HealthNews
Physical Well-being
Exercise
The importance of regular exercise cannot
be stressed further. Studies have shown
that regular exercise benefits both mental
and cardiovascular health.
“Continuous aerobic exercises (e.g.
cycling, swimming and brisk walking) are
suitable for older people,” said Dr Teo Sek
Khee, a Geriatrician, and Consultant at
Raffles Internal Medicine Centre. “Special
strength building exercises will also help
if you have particular problems such as
spine or knee pains.”
Risk Of Falling
Falls, especially in the elderly, usually
indicates a health problem. According to
Dr Teo, falls in the elderly can be due to
multiple factors.
The factors may be environmental (e.g.
slippery floor, poor lighting and cluttered
furniture) or they may be intrinsic to the
patient (e.g. poor vision, poor balance,
arthritis, weak muscles and neurological
conditions). It may also be related to the
drugs that the elderly is consuming such
as sleeping tablets, anti-hypertension
medications, anti-depressants or over the
counter medicines
An approach to reducing falls would involve
a consultation with the doctor to review all
the medications that the patient is taking
(including over the counter medications)
and performing thorough examination.
Some laboratory tests may be necessary
to rule out anaemia or infections.
State Of Mind
Lethargy is a common complaint amongst
older people. However, do not take it too
lightly as it may be an indication of certain
health problems. Dr Teo said that the root
cause could be stress, depression, anaemia,
hormonal imbalance or lack of exercises.
Therefore, if you are constantly feeling
tired, you should take the time to evaluate
your lifestyle and diet. “Ensure that you
have enough rest and fresh food. If these
do not make you feel better, you should
consult a doctor,” advised Dr Teo
Social Life
Boredom and social seclusion can be bad
for mental health as studies have shown
that social interaction and activities
prevents depression and dementia.
The lack of social activities may cause
one to fall into a state of boredom. This
can gradually escalate into bigger health
issues. Therefore, keep yourself active
socially! Widen your circle of friends and
indulge in a hobby or interest. It is never
too late to pick up a past-time.
Emotional Well-being
Relationships
Friendships are an important component in
any person’s life. You may want to explore
what your definitions and requirements of
a “close” friend are. According to Mr Danny
Ng, a counsellor at Raffles Counselling
Centre, meaningful relationships do not
necessarily need constant and active
communication. “Some of the “best
friends” that we have often come from
significant interactions and experiences
from our past. As we move along life’s
journey, our groups of friends will change
according to the social settings that we are
placed into.”
Exercise 20 minutes thrice a week for
better mental and heart health
Confidante
“Sharing one’s inner feelings is one of the
more difficult things to do in life,” said Mr Ng.
“Many people find it difficult to express their
true inner feelings to others. This is normal
and will need time and positive encounters
to nurture into one’s social interactions.”
Three key-factors must be present for one
to “bare their soul”. The first is obviously
the social environment that the person
may be placed into or external viability.
We inevitably feel more comfortable
with some people than with others. The
second is the content of information that
is desired to be disclosed, or content
vulnerability. Obviously, the more
personal and intimate the details, the
less likely one will be able to divulge this
openly and the external viability will also
be greatly reduced. The last factor is that

Raffles HealthNews Feature
Anger can ruin your day and relationships
of the personality traits of the desired
communicator. For instance, if the person
is highly introverted and shy, it would
be more difficult for this person to share
his/her feelings and thoughts. Hence,
external viability, content vulnerability
and personality traits interact together in
the successful transmission of personal
sharing of our intimate feelings.
Depression
The worst thing that can happen to you
is getting more depressed over your
current depressed state thereby spiralling
yourself into a state of helplessness.
Try to think happy or positive thoughts.
Avoid withdrawing from the community
and learn to interact and reach out to
others even though you may not feel like
it. If there is a specific issue or problem
that may have triggered this depression,
get help to deal with this problem. Finally,
if you find it too difficult to “pull” yourself
out of this depressed state, you should
seek professional help and assessment
by a psychologist or psychiatrist.
Depression is a widely used term with a great
degree of understanding and interpretation.
The degree and prevalence of depression
is more important and we need to be able
to differentiate the “type” of depression one
is expressing. Firstly, we need to be able
to manage the severity of the depression.
Secondly, we need to be able to identify if
there are natural triggers for the depression.
Thirdly, we also need to ascertain the length
of time one has felt depressed. Finally, we
will need to measure how incapacitating the
state of depression is to one’s normal daily
function and routine.
Anger
Anger is another area that can ruin your
day and relationships. However, you can
have better control over it. According to
Mr Ng, you can play back the incident(s)
which caused you to lose your cool. Try to
identify “themes’ that caused you to feel
tense and angry. If you can identify these
trigger points, you may be able to get to
the root of your own internal struggles
that may need to be resolved.
This statement acknowledges two
components. One that the person did lose
control of emotions and had negatively
expressed it in the form of anger. The
second more important indication here
is the acknowledgement and insights
that is expressed by his/her regret. This
sense of remorse is good and necessary
for change in behaviour.
Diet & Self Care
Dietary Intake
Healthy eating is important throughout
our life not only when we become older or
have any medical condition that warrants
dietary modification! However, many of us
do not pay attention to our health until we
reach middle age and beyond.
As we grow older, your body becomes less
forgiving, and we may need to make more of
an effort to eat well and stay fit. Vegetables
are important sources of vitamins and
minerals. Vegetables also provide fibre,
an important nutrient for a good digestive
system. “One must include at least two
to three servings of vegetables per day.
Meat is an important source of protein in
the diet, however, including fatty meat on a
regular basis may lead to weight gain and
increased blood lipids. One needs to include
two to three serves of protein per day,” said
Nehal Kamdor, a dietician at Raffles Internal
Medicine Centre.
It is also important to include at least one
serving of vegetable protein like tahu/tofu/
tempeh/beans/lentils per day to reduce
the fat content of the diet. Fish, especially
oily fish like tuna, mackeral, salmon etc is

Feature Raffles HealthNews
a healthy alternative to red meat. It also
contains omega 3 which protects the heart.
Planning your meals
As we age, there is an increasing need
to watch our diets more closely than
before. Our diet may be restricted due
to our health conditions. As an example,
people who have high blood pressure
should not be indulging in foods that are
high in salt. The Health Promotion Board
recommends lowering our salt intake to
less than one teaspoon per day. Foods
from resturants and hawker centres are
generally higher in salt.
· One serving of vegetables = 3/4 cup
of cooked vegetables
· One serving of protein = 1 palm
sized piece of lean meat/fish or
chicken
“While it is more convenient to eat out, it
is harder for you to watch your diet. This is
because we have more control in the use
of ingredients when we cook ourselves.
You are also more likely to be tempted by
food you should not be eating when you
eat out due to the wide variety available,”
said Ms Kamdar.
It is thus important for you to plan your
meal. “Buying ingredients that make up a
healthy meal will ensure that you stick to
your diet plans. Try not to eat out more
than twice a week and always choose
a restaurant/food centre where you can
request for less salt to be added! If you
have to eat out, you need to practise
discipline and not be tempted into eating
something that you know you should be
abstaining from,” Ms Kamdar advised. It
is also important to learn to read the food
labels so that when you are shopping
at the supermarket you will be better at
looking out for hidden sources of salt!
Annual Medical Check-up
Many of us put off visiting a doctor
till we exhibit symptoms of being ill.
However, a regular check-up with the
doctor is advisable once you are in your
late 40’s. This is largely because silent
diseases such as hypertension and
hypercholsterolaemia tend to be present
at this time.
You should also go for health-screening
every year. Regular health-screening and
medical check-ups help in early detection
and management of illnesses. Timely
intervention in the form of treatment can
save your life!
Aspirations
Mentoring
The life lessons you have gained over
the years are valuable. By pouring your
experience into a younger person’s life,
you can make an impact to the next
generation and do things you were not
able to accomplish in your own life through
another.
To allow you to do so, Mr Ng said, “it will
be good to take stock of your own life
and “weed” out what is necessary and
important from your responsibilities and
routine. Time-management is easily
understood but practically, difficult to
enforce. Try to find what may be fulfilling
for you and see if your responsibilities
and constraints allow you to pursue
meaningful goals such as mentoring.”
The balance between work, family,
recreation, personal solitude, rest and
exercise is very difficult to achieve. Some
people may not even have the opportunity
to consider some of these aspects as
work and/or family may dominate most,
if not all, their time and resources.
Hobby
Just like mentoring, having a hobby helps
you build depth in character. It could be
something simple, e.g. sports or cooking.
You can learn life skills through these
activities. If you are struggling with this, Mr
Ng has this advice for you. “Ask yourself:
WHY Do you have a choice If so, then
what kind of “trade-offs” are you willing to
make for this to be possible. If you feel that
you do not have much of a choice, then try
to find ways to cope with the pressures that
you are facing.”
Dreams
If you think age would rob you of your dreams
and aspirations, you will never be able to
achieve them. Remember - one is NEVER
too old to have dreams and aspirations!
“However, you need to temper your
aspirations with some down-to-earth reality
checks.” Said Mr Ng, “for instance desiring
to train for the Olympic games and coming
out first in the 100m race is likely to be
close to impossible as we age.” Set realistic
expectations and goals and learn to be
content with what we have and who we are,
this is a very important outlook for healthy
emotional and psychological ageing.
Health financing
As one age, health problems become more
of a reality. However, you can have enough
to pay for your healthcare needs. Mr
Steven Tan, Sales and Marketing Manager,
International Medical Insurers has this to
share with those who are worried about
healthcare financing in their golden year:
A “Hospitalisation shield plan is a must
since you have little savings to cover your
medical expenses. The premium could
be paid from your children’s Medisave
account. By getting an additional rider,
any deductible and co-insurance of the
hospitalisation bills could also be covered.
In this way, you do not have to worry
should a medical need arise.” HN
Personal hygiene
Is it really true that the elderly tend to
have a kind of body odour due to their
age According to Dr Teo, the answer is
a firm ‘No’.
“Body odour does not have a special
predilection for the elderly. It arises due to
apocrine secretions from certain glands
in the arm pits,” said Dr Teo.
Since age is not a factor, do something
about this problem if you have it. As with
people of all ages, regular body hygiene
will help to reduce body odour. Deodorants
may also mask the problem.

Raffles HealthNews Feature 19
Years
Ditch
off Your Actual Age
Hands up if you want to be younger than you really are.
Ageing may appear inevitable as your chronological age
(i.e. the number of candles on your birthday cake) can
only increase with time. However, you can look and feel
younger than what is indicated on your cake. Let us show
you how.
years
years
years
years
years
years
years
years
years
years
years
year
years

20 Feature Raffles HealthNews
Facing The facts
Lines, spots and excess baggage are things
that our face can do without. Making lifestyle
changes are the best ways to hold on to
your youthful looks. For example, avoid the
sun as much as possible as many signs of
ageing, such as liver spots and wrinkles,
are caused by exposure to ultraviolet light.
Regular exercise will also help improve your
posture and boost your circulation.
Did You Know
Fruits and vegetables
contain natural antioxidants
that help to
combat free radicals that
damage cells.
Today, the development of various treatment
options has allowed dermatologists to
rejuvenate the skin safely and effectively.
Here is a sneak look at what they can do.
Treat Those Wrinkles
Repeated facial movements such as
frowning, smiling and pursing of lips are akin
to repeatedly folding a piece of paper until it
is permanently marked. This is recognised
to be a major cause of expression wrinkles,
or more specifically, lines and furrows.
They can be effectively treated with Botox
or filler injections.
“Botox injection is useful not only for
upper facial lines but also for aesthetics
improvement of lower facial lines and
shapes, as well as for reducing excessive
sweating in palms and the underarm,” said
A/Prof Wong Soon Tee, a Dermatologist
and Consultant at Raffles Aesthetics and
Raffles Skin Centre.
Filler injection, on the other hand, provides
an affordable, non-surgical alternative for
correction of lines and volume defects
in facial skin. “Fillers can be used to treat
deeper lines that persist despite Botox
injection,” added A/Prof Wong. In addition,
advances in filler technology has allowed
dermatologists to use fillers for facial
contouring to improve facial aesthetic and
definition. These include nose, cheek and
chin augmentation.

Did You Know
Raffles HealthNews Feature 21
One may experience hair
loss as early as the teen
years and the result may
be partial or complete
baldness.
“Titan” Your Skin
Redundant facial, neck, or body laxity is
another major feature of ageing. Just a few
years ago, treatment of skin laxity could only
be done by surgery. As technologies evolve,
procedures that once required major surgical
intervention are gradually being replaced by
minimally invasive techniques. Titan is one
such non-surgical method.
“It involves the use of infrared light to
heat the skin, which causes collagen
to contract, leading to tighter looking
skin. Subsequent to the procedure,
progressive collagen remodelling occurs,
resulting in longer-term tightening of the
skin,” Dr Chris Foo, a Dermatologist and
Consultant at Raffles Aesthetics and
Raffles Skin Centre, explained.
The advantage of this non-surgical method
is that no surgical incision on the skin is
needed. It would therefore be a good option
for those who want to avoid surgery and
its risks, and are looking for a non-invasive
method of skin tightening.
Keeping Your Hair On
As we grow older, it is perfectly normal for
our locks to be less lustrous than they were
in our youth. However, if your hairline is
receding, it is best to consult a dermatologist
with an interest in hair disorders to find
out the possible causes and available
treatments.
Pattern baldness or androgenetic alopecia
is the most common form of hair loss. It is
characterised by hair loss at the temples
and crown in men, and the front, sides and
crown in women.
“The treatment of pattern hair loss includes
Minoxidil (an over-the-counter medication
that you rub into your scalp twice daily)
and Finasteride (this comes in the form of
pills and is available only by prescription).
Minoxidil has been shown to prevent further
hair loss. Some individuals may even
experience new hair growth,” said Dr Foo
Dr Foo added that Finasteride has only
shown effectiveness in men thus far. Many
men taking Finasteride experience a slowing
of hair loss and some may report new hair
growth. However, positive results may take
several months and some of the rare side
effects of Finasteride include a diminished
sex drive and sexual function.
The benefits of both treatments stop once
you cease using them. New hair resulting
from Minoxidil use may be thinner and
shorter and some people do not respond to it
as well as others. If you experience minimal
results within six months, your doctor may
recommend discontinuing use.
Alopecia areata is another common cause
of hair loss. Baldness occurs in small,
round, smooth patches. It is thought to be
an autoimmune disease in which the body
mistakenly treats its hair follicles as foreign
tissue and suppresses or stops hair growth.
“In most cases, the hair will regrow but the
condition may recur. Some people may be
severely affected and lose all their hair. The
chances of hair regrowing in such cases is
lower,” said Dr Foo.
One form of treatment for alopecia areata
is the monthly injections of cortisone into
the scalp. Ointments and lotions can also
be used but they may be less effective
than injections. A chemical known as
diphencyprone (DCP) may also help with
hair regrowth in more severe cases and
in those which do not show response to
corticosteroids. A doctor or nurse applies it
weekly onto your scalp.
Screening your Health
Contrary to what some may believe, anti-ageing
is beyond keeping a youthful physique.
It is about keeping your biological age
(i.e. how old your body actually is in terms
of its functioning), young.
90% of all adult illnesses, like heart disease,
most cancers, adult onset diabetes, and
stroke are due to degenerative processes
of ageing. Many of the dreaded diseases
are preventable, treatable, and even
reversible with proper modification of life
styles, nutrition and medication.
As Dr Caroline Low, a Family
Physician at Raffles Aesthetics and
RafflesHealthscreeners puts it- the
“optimum” of wellness and longevity can
be preserved through early detection
and appropriate intervention.
Health screening is a form of anti-ageing
medicine as it is based on early detection,
prevention and reversal of age-related
diseases. It also allows diagnosis and
management of illnesses to be done
appropriately.
“Instead of visiting the doctor only
when you are sick or exhibiting
symptoms, you should visit the
doctor around one or two times a
year to get your health-screening
done. This is to monitor potential
illnesses or conditions – before
they occur,” said Dr Low. HN
Did You Know
Keeping fats below 30%
and cholesterol intake
below 200mg per day will
significantly cut your risk of
heart disease.

22 UpClose Raffles HealthNews
UpClose
Ms Wendy Chew
EXECUTIVE, RAFFLES INTERNATIONAL PATIENTS CENTRE
with
Ms Wendy Chew is an Executive with Raffles International Patient Centre of Raffles Hospital. As a former nurse and flight
stewardess, Ms Chew is not new to patients or the service industry. UpClose speaks to Ms Chew on her work and learn tips
on health and caring for the elderly.
I understand that you have been with
Raffles Hospital since December 2001,
what made you decide to join as a
RIPC staff
I decided to return to the hospital environment
as this is where I can touch and make a
difference in the lives of the sick.
What’s a typical day for you like
My day usually starts at 8am and ends
at 6pm. During the day, I manage calls
ranging from enquiries to feedback, and
also tend to patients at our specialist
centres and those admitted for surgeries.
I respond to emails from overseas patients
planning to visit Raffles Hospital, making
arrangements for hotel accommodation,
airport transfers and, if necessary, visa
application. After they have been admitted,
I would usually visit them.
My job requires me to be on my feet
most of the time to attend to patients
who require assistance. So after work,
I will settle down to reflect and spend
time reading my bible and praying for
my patients. I also catch up with some
reading, as it helps me unwind and relax.
Wow, that sounds like an action-packed
schedule. So other than stamina, what
skills do you require to be a RIPC staff
This job, requires us to be committed,
patient, kind, compassionate, loving
and caring. Having a good sense of self
control, gentleness and good listening
and communication skills are equally
important. Communication is the key
to all successful relationships, without
which, relationships would fall apart. Last
but not least, you need to be able to love
people. In this job, you need to love those
we know and those we don’t know, and
even those who are unlovable.
What do you enjoy most about your
work
Through my work I serve the sick by
addressing their problems, such as
arranging for their insurance, arranging
accommodation for their companion,
extending their social visit pass and
connecting their flights. I also get to support
their spiritual needs, rendering pastoral
care to dying or terminally-ill patients who
are losing hope. I am able to establish
strong bonds with my patients. Through
word-of-mouth, the circle of loyal Raffles
patients gets bigger every year.
Any fulfilling moments in your work
that you could share with us
Mr Fu, a tourist, fell sick suddenly while
visiting Singapore. Mr Fu’s relatives who
were travelling with him were in great
distress as his condition worsened daily.
His daughter, Chantel, flew in to spend
time with him, thinking it was his last days.
Seeing her father in the Intensive Care
Unit, she cried inconsolably until I calmed
her down. Every day I visited Chantel to
look into her needs and show her around
Singapore. We became good friends.
Mr Fu’s condition miraculously improved
a month later and was transferred to the
general ward. Chantel was very grateful
to our doctors who did not give up hope
in her father. Their persistent efforts and
the excellent nursing care that her father
received made him well. I was very happy
for Mr Fu when he fully recovered and
returned home to Mauritius.
Once in a while, Chantel will send me
postcards and photographs of Mr Fu and
herself. Today Chantel’s relatives, her
brother’s business associates and some
of her friends are regular patients at our
hospital.
That’s a very amazing story. In your
work, you often have to work with
older people. Do you have any secrets
on how you handle them
I always try to build relationships based
on trust, warmth and mutual respect with
the elderly. I remind myself that I will
be old one day and I must be sensitive
in treating the elderly with the respect
I would expect if I were in their position.
Seeing so many patients undergo
treatments, do you ever feel pressured
to keep fit and stay healthy
I don’t feel pressurised to keep fit but I
do eat a well balanced diet and drink
plenty of water. I also ensure I have eight
hours of sleep every night. Staying fit and
healthy is not just about diet and exercise.
It is how we view ourselves and how we
live our life. Physical appearance is just
as important as the inner self.

Raffles HealthNews UpClose 23
You look really energetic and young,
care to share any tips on how you stay
and look youthful
I maintain a positive attitude in life as it is
powerful, affects people around me and
energises me. Positive attitude attracts
people, promotes health and retard ageing.
Having a positive attitude also helps me
handle stress and problems better.
As we age, we should not let energy,
health and happiness decline, but always
stay happy. Over the years I have become
comfortable with who I am - I am satisfied,
confident and self-assured.
Can you share one little known fact
about the elderly and caring for them
The elderly like to stick to routines and do
not like surprises and chaos. To them, a
routine provides a reassuring structure,
as their cognitive functions have declined
and routines help them stay organised.
By understanding their likes and dislikes,
I indirectly establish a bond with my
elderly patients. They are more willing to
submit to my care when they trust me. I
also need to be very patient with them
because they tend to repeat their stories,
forgetting that you have heard them a
hundred times!
HN

24 Feature Raffles HealthNews
I Don’t Want
to
Grow Old because…
We all have our own reasons for not wanting to grow old. However, ageing may not
be as scary as you think if you take good care of yourselves while you are young. We
got our experts to look into some “aged” beliefs and provide us with their opinions
on whether these fears will really become a reality when we grow old.

Raffles HealthNews Feature 25
“ My eyesight will start to fail and this will limit
my activities (e.g. sewing, reading and painting).”
“As you age, so do your eyes,” said Dr
Lee Jong Jian, an Ophthalmologist, and
Consultant at Raffles Eye Centre.
Common changes in your vision include:
• Reduced sensitivity to light
You might need brighter lighting to
read or work.
• Decreased visual acuity
Colours appear dim and glare forms
when light shines directly at you.
• Difficulty reading small print
You might need reading glasses or
a magnifying glass to read small print
due to a condition called presbyopia,
where the lens in your eye becomes
less elastic and loses its ability to
focus.
Besides these changes to your eyes, ageing
makes you more prone to developing eye
diseases that can impair your vision.
Cataracts
Your eye’s lens sits behind the iris and
pupil. If the lens becomes cloudy, you
have a condition called a cataract.
Cataracts are usually associated with
blurred vision.
Some other signs and symptoms include:
• Sensitivity to light and glare
• Halos around lights
• Fading or yellowing of colours
• Double vision or multiple vision
in one eye
Surgery is highly successful and is a
common solution for cataracts. Most
cataracts can only be detected with
special eye instruments, so make an
appointment with your eye doctor if you
notice your vision clouding.
Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
occurs when your central part of the
retina, the macula, deteriorates, resulting
in loss of vision.
AMD is one of the most frequent causes
of vision loss in people age 60 and older.
If AMD is detected early, you might be
able to reduce the extent of your vision
loss. AMD leads to a blind spot in the
centre of your visual field. Signs and
symptoms include:
• The need for increasingly bright light
when reading or doing close work
•
•
•
Printed words that appear distorted
or increasingly blurred
Colors that seem washed out and dull
A gradual haziness of your overall
vision
Floaters
As you age, your vitreous can also
become more liquid than jelly-like,
causing floaters, which appear as spots
floating across your field of vision. They
are actually small clumps of gel and cells
floating in the vitreous.
Most floaters are harmless, but if you
suddenly develop a large number,
especially if accompanied by flashes of
light, it might signal a retinal tear or retinal
detachment. In such cases, seek medical
attention immediately.
Therefore, you should seek to protect
your eyes by wearing sunglasses to
shield your eyes from strong sunlight.
Adopt a healthy lifestyle by exercising
regularly and eating healthily. You should
also have regular eye screening done
when you reach 50 years old and seek
immediate medical attention when your
vision is not clear.
“ I will look bad when all my teeth fall out.
Dentures will also be highly uncomfortable. ”
Dr Ng Chee Hon, a Consultant Oral &
Maxillofacial Surgeon at Raffles Dental,
agrees that we should not take healthy
teeth for granted. Missing teeth are a
problem, not just in appearance but also
in function.
The loss of one or several teeth usually
has direct effects on appearance and
chewing. In addition, the stability of the
surrounding teeth is lost because of the
gap and can result in further problems.
Such gaps may be closed with a bridge
for a complete row of teeth and proper
chewing.
Larger gaps between the teeth can be
bridged with denture. This option is
economical but does not always provide
satisfaction and can result in oral hygiene
problems and eventual tooth loss.
The most natural and attractive solution
to tooth loss to-date is dental implants.
They fit harmoniously into the dental
arch and are fixed to the jawbone. They
cannot be distinguished from real teeth in
function and appearance. Neighbouring
teeth do not have to be reduced to
support replacements. The palate is not
covered and the tongue not encroached
by denture surface.
Just like natural teeth, dental implants
transmit chewing forces evenly to the
jawbone and preserve the natural shape
of the jaws. If this pressure is missing, the
jawbone slowly shrinks away, resulting in
a shorter lower face.
Regular removal of plaque makes a major
contribution to the long-term success of
the implant therapy. Apart form the dental
care at home, regular check-ups to the
clinic providing care is recommended.

26 Feature Raffles HealthNews
“ My memory will start to fail and I will
become a burden to the people around me. ”
Gradual memory decline is part of
normal ageing. However, Dr Alvin Seah,
a Neurologist, and Consultant at Raffles
Internal Medicine Centre, said that this
has no sinister significance. Normal older
people should be capable of maintaining
a good memory through exercising their
minds frequently and using appropriate
memory skills.
Memory decline among the elderly is
very gradual and is usually not obvious
until after the age of 70. Furthermore, the
ability to learn new things should not be
affected.
The factors that affect memory and
learning ability adversely include
fatigue leading to poor concentration,
psychological stress and emotional
problems. Any severe systemic illness
such as heart failure or kidney disease will
also affect the brain’s concentration level.
Here are several ways to maximise
memory performance:
• Simplify information and remember
them one by one
• Categorise information by putting
similar items in the same list
• Summarise information
• Be observant and notice the special
features
• Preserve optimal function of the
senses. Seek medical attention early
if there is problem in hearing or
eyesight. Wear spectacles or hearing
aid if necessary.
• Be confident and adopt a positive
attitude
• Use coping strategies or memory aids
However, those whose daily activities are
affected by worsening memory could be
suffering from mild cognitive impairment
or even frank dementia. They should
seek medical attention early. There is
good evidence that early treatment can
preserve cognitive function and either
stabilise or slow the patient’s cognitive
decline.
“ I will get diabetes and high blood pressure and not be able
to enjoy my favourite foods, such as laksa and chicken rice. ”
Dr Stanley Liew, an Endocrinologist and
Consultant at Raffles Internal Medicine
Centre, feels that instead of worrying
about ageing, we should all look forward
to growing old and enjoying life,
The prevalence of chronic illnesses
such as diabetes, high blood pressure
and high cholesterol increases with
ageing. However, the majority of elderly
are healthy and free of these chronic
illnesses. Not all of us will develop these
chronic illnesses when we grow old.
Elderly people can indulge in a wide
variety of food just like younger people.
In fact, we should start adhering to a
healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and
a healthy diet as prevention of chronic
illnesses is most effective if initiated early
in life.
Having the occasional laksa and chicken
rice is absolutely fine. It does not make
sense to have an overly restrictive
lifestyle such that the quality of life is
compromised.
We should not be concerned about
increasing our life expectancy alone. We
should strive to remain physically and
mentally fit as happiness and health are
the two most important things in life!
“ I can no longer take part in the extreme sports that I enjoy doing.
My bones will weaken and as a result, I cannot continue doing sports. ”
Extreme sports are activities that involve
a high level of physical exertion, speed,
height and a high level of inherent danger.
They differ from your traditional sports
in that there is often a high dependence
on specialist equipments and a lot of
environmental variables that is difficult to
control.
Dr Lim Yeow Wai, an Orthopaedic Surgeon,
and Consultant at Raffles Orthopaedic
Centre said, “Even if you are in the prime
of your youth, the risk of getting injuries
from extreme sports are higher.”
He added that you should not worry
as life begins at 50! As you age, your
endurance increases. Therefore, you will
find yourself doing better in endurance
sports as compared to your younger
days.
Even as you grow older, you can continue
playing the sports you like. For e.g., if
you are a tennis or badminton player,
switch to playing doubles if you find that
you are getting more aches and pains
after a single game.
Here are some tips to help prevent sports
injury:
• Don’t be a weekend warrior. Try not
to pack three to four days of activities
into one weekend, this is the surest
way to get injured.
• Learn to do your sports right. Get a
trainer to learn the sports or equipment
especially when you have not played
or used it before.
• Accept your body’s limit. Listen to
your body when it complains to you.
• Increase your exercise level gradually.
The general guide is increase 20%
intensity every 2 weeks to a level you
are comfort with.
HN

Raffles HealthNews Supplements 27
STOP
the ravages of time
We have heard a lot about antioxidants from various sources.
However, do you know what it is exactly, and what can it do for you
To put it simply, antioxidants are substances that can protect your
cells against the effects of free radicals. Free radicals are atoms
that are extremely unstable. When present in excessive amounts,
they will attack the protective membranes and genetic material of
the cells, causing cellular damage and malfunction.
Antioxidant supplements help by reining in free radicals and
preventing them from multiplying at the cellular level. The skin is the
first part of the body that physically changes to show signs of age,
wear and tear. Wrinkles and fine lines can be directly related to the
level of free radicals in the body.
Antioxidants can prevent and repair damage done by these free
radicals, thereby influencing how fast and how well we age. Nutritional
supplements, especially those with high levels of antioxidants, may
thus work to stop the effects of the environment on the skin and even
reverse some of the effects over time.
Some commonly known antioxidants and
their sources include:
Vitamin A and
Carotenoids
Liver,
cantaloupe,
carrots,
sweet potatoes,
kale and
spinach
Vitamin C
Citrus fruits,
cantaloupe,
strawberries,
tomatoes,
broccoli,
cabbage and
kiwi fruit
Vitamin E
Wheat, oats,
wheat germ,
leafy green
vegetables,
sardines,
egg yolks,
nuts and
seeds
For enquiries, contact Raffles Health at 6311 1683 or 6311 1108.
Selenium
Walnuts,
brazil nuts,
corn, wheat,
soybeans,
beef, chicken,
tuna, egg and
cheese
Usual Price
S$34.90 per bottle
Now: Buy 2 bottles at S$49.90*
* Promotion is valid from 1st February
till 30th April 2009.

28 FoodNotes Raffles HealthNews
Stir-fried Fish Fillet
with Vegetables
Recipe recommended by Ms Nehal Kamdar, Dietician
Raffles Hospital
Ingredients
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
1 pound boneless fish fillets
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 clove garlic, minced
2 slices ginger, shredded
1/2 red onion, sliced
Vegetables as desired (celery, bean sprouts, snow peas,
mushrooms or bok choy)
2 teaspoons ground coriander, or as desired
Marinade
•
•
•
•
•
1 tbsp rice wine, dry sherry or white wine
a few drops sesame oil
salt and pepper to taste
1 egg white
1 - 2 tsp cornstarch
SAUCE
•
•
•
•
1/2 cup fish stock, chicken broth, or water
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1/4 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp cornstarch mixed in 1 tbsp water
Ease of preparation:
Nutritional level:
Preparation
1. Cut fish into pieces approximately 1½ inches by ½ inch.
Add the marinade ingredients one-by-one with the cornstarch
last. Mix well and marinate fish for 10 minutes.
2. Prepare the sauce: In a small bowl, combine the first 3 sauce
ingredients and set aside. In a second bowl, combine the
cornstarch and water and set aside.
3. Heat the wok. Add 2 tablespoons oil to the heated wok.
Add the fish fillets and sear until lightly browned. Remove the
fish from the wok.
4. Add 2 tablespoons oil to the wok. Add the garlic, ginger, and
onion and cook until the onion is lightly browned. Add the
remaining vegetables and stir-fry. Add the sauce, heat to
bubbling, and add the cornstarch and water, stirring quickly
to thicken. Add the fish back into the wok. Mix everything
through. Sprinkle the cooked fish and vegetables with the
ground coriander before serving.
Nutritional Breakdown per serving
Based on using bok choy, with water instead of chicken broth
or fish stock, and 1/8 teaspoon each salt and pepper in the
marinade:
262 calories (kcal), 15 g Total Fat, 22 g Protein, 5 g Carbohydrate,
49 mg Cholesterol, 204 mg Sodium; 577 mg potassium, 3g Fiber
This dish provides a good source of potassium and folacin
(folic acid) and calcium.

Raffles HealthNews Q&A 29
My mother is turning 50 this year. She has been suffering
from constant fatigue, severe hair loss and pain in the
joints, especially in the knees. Are these symptoms
interrelated Or is this because her kidneys are ‘weak’
The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic states “At 49 due
to declining kidney essence, the Conception Vessel and
Thoroughfare Vessel become empty and collapse, her body
will then deteriorate generally, and her ability to menstruate
and give birth will cease”.
As we age, different manifestations appear, such as stiffness
in the joints, bones and tendons, loose teeth, hair loss, poor
memory, declining eyesight, dry eyes and mouth. These
symptoms arise primarily due to declining kidney essence. In
TCM, the kidneys play a very important role that regulates not
only the urinary system, but also influence the reproductive,
endocrine and nervous systems. While the “kidneys store
essence and manifest in the hair”, “the liver rules the tendons”.
Thus, the symptoms that your mother is experiencing could be
due to a deficiency in both the kidneys and liver.
The therapeutic aim of a TCM treatment is to invigorate
the kidneys and liver. This is especially through nourishing
kidney ‘yin’ to restore the inner balance. Good nutrition and
regular exercise is critical to prevent further depletion of kidney
essence.
What are the signs of ageing nails What should we do to
prevent or slow down the onset of these aging signs
As we age, the nail plate becomes paler, dull and opaque.
Longitudinal ridging may occur and this may lead to cracks in
the nail. Occasionally, this sign may also be seen in younger
individuals. In addition, nails grow slower in old age, with nail
growth being inversely proportional to age. Both the toenails
and fingernails would be affected the same way.
These signs and symptoms occur due to impaired blood supply
to the nails as one ages, and also possibly due to the effects of
UV (ultraviolet) radiation.
Healthy nails which are not prematurely aged can be achieved
through proper care, although sometimes an unhealthy nail
may indicate an illness that requires attention.
How can you care for your nails Don’t abuse them! To prevent
injury, don’t bite your nails or use them to poke or pry at things.
Protect them by wearing gloves when using soap and water
for long periods or when exposed to harsh chemicals. Perform
nail maintenance by trimming them regularly and moisturise
them on a regular basis together with your hands.
In addition, nails can become dry just like the skin. Your nails
also need to be moisturised regularly. You can rub lotion into
your nails when you are moisturising your hands.
Ms Seah Ai Wei, Physician
Raffles Chinese Medicine
Dr Chris Foo, Dermatologist,
Consultant at Raffles Aesthetics and
Raffles Skin Centre

30 MarketPlace Raffles HealthNews
PROMOTIONS
ANTI-AGEING
BASELINE SCREEN
Detect The Underlying Causes Of Your Symptoms
Anti-Ageing Screening screens for diseases during their sub-clinical phase.
It is able to identify diseases not yet detectable by standard laboratory testing and
even before the appearance of symptoms.
Our Anti-Ageing Baseline Screen provides analysis of your hormonal function to
identify deficiencies or abnormalities that underlie your symptoms of insomnia,
weight gain, low sex drive (male), or menstrual disorder (female).
Anti-Ageing Baseline Screen:
Types of Screening Raffles Hospital Airport and
Ang Mo Kio
Insomnia Screen $230 $170
Low Sex Drive Screen (Male Only) $335 $275
Weight Control Screen $465 $405
Menstrual Disorder Screen $295 $235
TCM Treatments for Health
TCM Health Check & Wellness
TCM analysis of your body’s energy level, mental state of stress and organ functions with prescription medicine
to restore your internal balance
•
•
•
1 Meridian Energy Analysis (MEAD)
1 consultation by TCM physician
14 days prescription medicine
Cardiovascular Health
More anti-ageing screening packages are available. For an appointment or
for more information call 6311 2340 or email aesthetics@rafflesmedical.com
$225 (UP:$272)
Available at
Raffles Hospital (Level 11) 6311 2340
Changi Airport Terminal 3 (Basement 2) 6241 9966
Ang Mo Kio Clinic (Blk 722, AMK Ave 8) 6453 2288
For management of high blood pressure, high cholesterol level, high blood sugar, stroke and coronary heart diseases
• 8 acupuncture sessions
$480 (UP:$530)
• 1 bottle of RafflesHealth CoQ10
Stress Relief Acupuncture and Acupressure
•
•
4 acupuncture sessions
6 meridian acupressure sessions
$200 (UP:$240)
$465 (UP:$510)

PROMOTIONS
Raffles HealthNews MarketPlace 31
Your Trusted Formula For Health
Available at Raffles Health Retail Pharmacy, Raffles Medical Clinics
and all Guardian Pharmacies.
For enquiries, call 6311 1683 or 6311 1103 or
Email us at raffleshealth@rafflesmedical.com
Introducing Raffles’ Specialty Range
Your All-In-One Formula For Your Health Needs
Raffles Derma Clear is a specialty formula that comprises a blend of vitamins,
minerals, herbal and natural food supplements that effectively work together to
promote clear and healthy skin.
Raffles Derma Clear S$34.90
Get a bottle of Evening Primrose Oil worth S$14.80 FREE
Raffles Cardio Plus is a complete nutritional support as it provides you with a
broad spectrum approach giving your body the nutrients it needs in the areas
of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, amino acids, and herbal extracts.
Raffles Cardio Plus S$79.90
Get a bottle of Cardio Omega 3 FREE
Raffles Joint Plus is a specialty formula that can be taken on a daily basis to help
promote joint flexibility and mobility.
Raffles Joint Plus S$79.90
Get a bottle of B-50 Complex FREE
Safeguard Your Vision And Eye Health
Eye diseases can cause silent and painless damage to the eyes. If left undetected or untreated,
vision may be impaired and difficult or too late to restore. Raffles Hospital offers eye screening to
assess vision and eye health, and to detect eye diseases. This basic eye screening package is
suitable for all individuals, especially those above 45 years of age.
Raffles Eye Screening Package
• Visual Acuity and Auto-refraction
• Spectacle Check
• Intraocular Pressure
• Retinal Photograph
• Visual Field Test
• Consultation with Ophthalmologist
$269
For an appointment, please call (65) 6311 1222 or email us at: enquiries@raffleshospital.com

380-bed hospital
65 multi-disciplinary clinics
35 medical specialties
32 years of quality health care
1 Trusted Medical and
Wellness Provider
At Raffles Hospital, we go the extra mile to provide the highest quality medical care and
services through personalised team-based care and patient centric services that
are tailored to your needs.
Raffles Medical provides a comprehensive range of family medicine medical services,
including vaccinations, health checks and housecalls through our islandwide network of clinics.
Our medical centre at Terminal 3 also provides family medicine services,
health screening, aesthetics, O&G and dental services.
With us, your health is in good hands.
This is our promise.
Services
International Patient Services / 24 Hour Emergency / Aesthetics / Cancer / Children / Chinese Medicine
Counselling / Dental / Corporate Healthcare / Ear, Nose & Throat / Executive Medical / Eye / Family Medicine
Fertility / Health Screeners Heart / Internal Medicine / Japanese / Orthopaedic / Physiotherapy / Skin / Surgery
Travel Health / Women
To Our Patients Our Best
For more information on our services or for an appointment, please call +65 6311 1111 (24 hour)
www.rafflesmedicalgroup.com