Focus Healthcare: Lipoprotein (a), knowing whether it is elevated may help prevent a heart attack
Mr. L, a 37-year-old male complained of recurrent exertional chest pain which was getting progressively worse. He was subsequently found to have a heart attack, which was due to a severely blocked (95% stenosis) left anterior descending coronary artery, for which he had urgent coronary balloon and stenting performed in order to restore blood flow to the heart.
Focus Healthcare: Lipoprotein (a), knowing whether it is elevated may help prevent a heart attack
What is lipoprotein (a) and how is it related to high cholesterol? DR PETER TING from The Harley Street Heart & Vascular Centre shares his thoughts on these tiny fat-and-protein particles and why they matter for your heart health.
Focus Healthcare: How Can I Tell if My Palpitations are Due to Stress or an underlying Heart Condition?
Most people experience palpitations, or an unusual sensation of their heart beating, at some stage in their lives. Whilst the symptoms can be quite unnerving and unpleasant, palpitations are usually benign and not dangerous. However, in some people, palpitations may be a sign of an underlying heart problem or cardiac arrhythmia and may require more detailed investigation and treatment. So how can you tell whether your palpitations are due to stress or an underlying heart condition?
Can frequent business travel harm your heart?
Singapore cardiologist DR MICHAEL ROSS MACDONALD writes about how frequent business travel and an international work life for expats in Singapore can take a toll on heart health. Dr MacDonald is senior consultant cardiologist at the Harley Street Heart & Vascular Centre.
Ozempic and Wegovy – effective and safe?
Drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are getting lots of headlines – but how effective and safe are they? DR REGINALD LIEW, Senior Consultant Cardiologist at The Harley Street Heart and Vascular Centre, shares his opinions.
Migraine and the heart – what’s the link?
What causes migraine? It might have something to do with not your head but your heart! DR ROHIT KHURANA, a senior consultant cardiologist at The Harley Street Heart & Vascular Centre, discusses how a tiny hole in the heart called the PFO (patent foramen ovale) could play a role in your migraine symptoms.
Focus Healthcare: Considering Taking Ozempic or Wegovy for Weight Loss? Do They Work and Are They Safe?
Novel injectable drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy, have taken the world by storm in recent months, being touted as “blockbuster” drugs that help people lose weight. Even well-known figures and celebrities, such as Elon Musk and Oprah Winfrey...
Don't drink too much during the Chinese New Year, beware of holiday heart syndrome
Holiday heart syndrome refers to an abnormal heart rhythm caused by overeating or drinking. Overeating during the holidays can easily cause holiday heart syndrome; doctors warn that a single binge of drinking can also cause holiday heart syndrome.
Can excess weight lead to heart attacks?
Maintaining a healthy weight is more than just a matter of appearance. DR MICHAEL ROSS MACDONALD, a senior consultant cardiologist at The Harley Street Heart & Vascular Centre, shares his views on what causes heart attacks and how high blood pressure and weight loss can effect heart health.
Focus Healthcare: ‘Tis the Season to be Merry – Revisiting the French Paradox
The potential health benefits of moderate red wine consumption intrigue scientists and consumers. We are already a few glasses into this holiday season and more than once, consultations have transgressed into the guilty admission of undoing the good work of the past 11 months with consuming more than what is sensible and moderate wine consumption.
Focus Healthcare: How Accurate are Smartwatches at Detecting Irregular Heart Rhythms?
You may have heard of people with smartwatches that have alerted them of an irregular heart beat or may even have received alerts from your own smartwatch that your heart rhythm is irregular or perhaps too slow at night.
Focus Healthcare: Why is High Blood Pressure Dangerous? Understanding the Risks
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is often called a "silent killer" because it can go unnoticed for years, silently causing damage to your body. Many people with high blood pressure feel fine, yet inside, their health may be at risk.
Focus Healthcare: Personalising Heart Disease Risk Assessment Through CT Coronary Angiography
Heart disease remains a leading cause of illness and mortality in Singapore, emphasizing the critical importance of accurately assessing an individual's risk of developing a cardiovascular event. This is a common question to me in clinical practice. An individual will be referred or attend the clinic out of self-questioning, curious to evaluate their risk of having a heart attack.
Heart palpitations can occur despite a healthy lifestyle
Mr. Albert Tay, a 52-year-old executive, has been practicing a healthy lifestyle for over 10 years.
‘Economy class syndrome’ is a medical issue that can happen on flights — no matter where you sit
Experts call it “economy class syndrome” — but it can happen to anyone in any class of an airplane. Deep vein thrombosis, or DVT as it’s known, occurs when blood clots in one or more veins.
Artery blockages? What are the options?
So you or someone you know has been diagnosed with artery blockages. What comes next? Here, DR PINAKIN V PAREKH of The Harley Street Heart & Vascular Centre explains the importance of fully understanding your coronary artery disease diagnosis and knowing your treatment options for an artery blockage, which may include medication or angioplasty.
From cancer to stroke: Health issues gave these 5 Singaporean personalities new perspective on life
SINGAPORE – Back in the early 1990s, comedian-actor Suhaimi Yusof and media industry veteran Bernard Lim both launched their careers as radio deejays before branching out to other areas in the entertainment and media industries.
From cancer to stroke: Health issues gave these 5 Singaporean personalities new perspective on life
SINGAPORE – Back in the early 1990s, comedian-actor Suhaimi Yusof and media industry veteran Bernard Lim both launched their careers as radio deejays before branching out to other areas in the entertainment and media industries.
Snoring is not a sign of deep sleep
Snoring or obstructive sleep apnea or Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a chronic sleep disorder when breathing stops due to blocked airways.
Angioplasty saves former football player's life, lives on
Local artist Paul Foster is also a former national football player. He was a heavy exerciser before he was diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia. Two years ago, he was diagnosed with early cardiovascular disease and was at high risk of a heart attack within three to five years.
More younger people diagnosed with atrial fibrillation: 5 tips to cut risk
SINGAPORE – Mr Albert Tay first noticed symptoms of an irregular heartbeat in 2023. He would occasionally feel his heart fluttering lightly before going to bed.
Why do fit people get heart diseases?
DR REGINALD LIEW, senior consultant cardiologist at The Harley Street Heart and Vascular Centre, tells us why apparently healthy individuals, including athletes, aren’t exempt from heart diseases like cardiac arrhythmia or an enlarged heart. Plus, how tests like ECG (or electrocardiogram) can help.
Menopause and heart disease
It is believed that women nearing the end of their period may experience rapid calcium deposits in the arteries that carry blood away from the heart. As a result, women are more prone to heart disease.
Factors increasing cardiovascular disease in Singapore: strategies for prevention
Lokadasu, 71, suffered his first heart attack at the age of 58, followed by two consecutive heart attacks. He said the main reason was not being serious about taking prescribed medicines and diet.
Atrial fibrillation patients share their recovery experience. Pulsed field ablation helps control the disease
Zheng Wenqiang, who likes sports and pays attention to healthy diet, suffers from atrial fibrillation, which causes heart rhythm disorders and palpitations. If not treated, he may suffer from stroke or heart disease.
Focus Healthcare: What is high cholesterol?
High cholesterol, also known as hypercholesterolemia, refers to elevated levels of cholesterol in the blood. Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in the cells of the body and in the food we consume. High cholesterol is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks and strokes.
Familial hypercholesterolemia "table" inheritance is prone to misdiagnosis
Often referred to as "table" inheritance, familial hypercholesterolemia is a genetic disorder characterized by high levels of "bad" cholesterol in the blood.
Heart truths: More people surviving heart attacks, but at higher risk of more attacks
SINGAPORE – Mr David Teo was 47 when he suffered his first heart attack in 2010. He was about to leave home to play golf when he felt a tightness in his chest and cold sweat dripping down his forehead.
Focus Healthcare - How Sleep Deprivation Leads to Cardiovascular Diseases
Getting sufficient sleep is pivotal to health and wellbeing. But as many as 4 in 10 adults report experiencing sleeping difficulty. There are many health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, that can be caused or made worse by insufficient sleep.
The Importance of Pre-Exercise Cardiac Screening
An athlete's sudden cardiac death is one of the tragic risks of strenuous exercise in the presence of a dormant cardiac abnormality. Most major international sports organizations recommend a pre-exercise cardiac screening for the participants.
What Exercise is the Best for Heart Health?
Keeping a regular workout routine is one of the best ways to improve your heart health. It can also help you lose weight, increase strength and lung capacity, and even improve your mental health - the list goes on! Workout for at least 150 minutes at moderate intensity or 75 minutes of high intensity per week.
Seven tips to keep your heart healthy over the festive period
Many people may be surprised to learn that more people die from heart attacks during the last week of December than at any other time of the year.
What should you know about diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus, commonly referred to as diabetes, is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by elevated blood glucose levels, which can lead to various health complications. There are different types of diabetes, with the most common being type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
What should you know about diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus, commonly referred to as diabetes, is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by elevated blood glucose levels, which can lead to various health complications. There are different types of diabetes, with the most common being type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Healthcare Focus on Heart Attack Prevention
The heart is undoubtedly the most vital organ in our body. A poorly functioning heart will cause huge problems throughout the entire body - and can even lead to an early grave.
Healthcare Focus: What is Heart Failure?
One of the leading cardiovascular diseases that take a toll on health globally is heart failure. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 6 million American adults are diagnosed with heart failure. In Singapore, heart failure is common, affecting 1 in 20 Singaporeans.
Can CT scans help prevent heart attacks?
Can heart attacks be predicted, and if so, how? Here, DR ROHIT KHURANA, Senior Consultant Cardiologist at The Harley Street Heart and Vascular Centre, writes about the role of cardiac imaging such as CT scans and how it can help predict and prevent heart attacks.
Don't let anxiety hurt your heart: Doctors see more people with heart palpitations featuring Dr Reginald Liew
Doctors tell ST that they have seen more people with heart palpitations and ectopic heartbeats in the past two years.
Tackling a ‘salty’ problem featuring Dr Michael MacDonald
Sodium consumption may have gone up during pandemic, causing rise in hypertension
Dangers of overwork: Long hours and stress can lead to heart attack and stroke featuring Dr Rohit Khurana
Experts say prolonged work can lead to chronic stress and fatigue, sleep deprivation and an unhealthy diet and lifestyle.
What do these 5 doctors in Singapore eat? Hint: It’s not all healthy food featuring Dr Michael MacDonald
It is their job to give patients good advice in caring for their health and well-being but doctors are human, too, and they give in to temptations now and then.
Sons of heart-healthy mums more likely to live 10 years longer featuring Dr Rohit Khurana
If caregivers, usually mothers, practise a healthy lifestyle, children are likely to continue those behaviours
Snoring loudly? Time to take precautions featuring Dr Reginald Liew
Obstructive sleep apnea, a common sleep disorder affecting 10% to 20% of adults, increases the risk of heart failure by 140%
佳节饮酒别伤身 featuring Dr Reginald Liew
6 TIPS TO KEEP YOURSELF SAFE AND SENSIBLE DURING BINGE DRINKING SEASON 贴士：佳节饮酒别伤身 逢年过节的饮酒量不易控制，但我们应该怎么喝，才能不影响健康？一起来听听专家怎么说！
打破“隔离15”魔咒 健康减重铁三角 featuring Dr Michael MacDonald
冠病疫情令人们居家时间增多，出现“隔离15”现象，减重成了当务之急。 受访医生医师、营养师破解时尚减肥法迷思，强调减重目标应该是可持续的，饮食、运动和睡眠是维持健康体重的铁三角。
Cardiovascular disease the leading cause of death for women last year in Singapore featuring Dr Rohit Khurana
Madam Kirti Harnal had just cooked a meal at home one Saturday in November 2018 when she suddenly felt fatigued.
How to try intermittent fasting and effectively lose weight featured on The Singapore’s Women’s Weekly
Tips on how to choose an intermittent fasting schedule that fits your lifestyle, and the kind of foods you should eat
The cause of about a third of strokes is a medical mystery (in Chinese)
心房颤动也就是俗称的心律不整，会导致血液无法有效地完全被泵出而滞留在心房内，逐渐变成血凝块，形成血栓。一旦血栓随着血液流到脑部，将引发中风、心力衰竭等其他相关并发症。
Painful periods might be caused by pelvic congestion syndrome featured on CAN Lifestyle
One vascular specialist shares why pelvic congestion syndrome - and not necessarily endometriosis, fibroids or ovarian cysts - could be the cause of some women's pelvic pain.
Watch out for diabetes, even if you have a normal BMI featured on The New Paper
Many people with diabetes or pre-diabetic symptoms are lean and have BMIs in the normal range
Living with abnormal heart rhythm: A 'ticking timebomb' that can lead to devastating stroke featured on Today Online
Mr Ng Wei Jie (pictured) discovered by chance that he has atrial fibrillation and decided to treat it after learning that it could lead to a severe stroke, even though the symptoms were not affecting his everyday life.
COVID-19: What to know if you have hypertension, diabetes featured on Today Online
As doctors and researchers race to learn more about Covid-19, mounting evidence suggests that the disease is more than just a respiratory condition.