Podcasts by Category

Health Check

Health Check

The Straits Times

Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times and expert guests help you make sense of health matters that affect you.

Podcaster: Joyce Teo

Produced by podcast editor Ernest Luis & The Straits Times, SPH Media Trust.

136 - S1E122: You don’t need to join an exercise class to be healthy
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  • 136 - S1E122: You don’t need to join an exercise class to be healthy

    Get started on moderate intensity physical activity to stay healthy.

    Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

    Singapore wants to be a healthier nation, and everyone needs to play their part by leading healthier lifestyles. This would only benefit the individual, but not everyone exercises regularly.

    And, if you have watched the popular Netflix documentary series Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones, which are spots where people tend to live to around 100, you will know that the world’s longest-lived people do not exercise. They don’t go running in the stadium, nor do they go for a workout in the gym.

    So, just how much of it is necessary when it comes to doing it for health, weight management or weight loss? What’s the minimum amount of exercise that you can do to obtain any health benefits? 

    In this Health Check podcast episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to Clinical Assistant Professor Ivy Lim, a Senior Consultant and the Chief of the Department of Sport and Exercise Medicine at Changi General Hospital to find out more.

    Highlights (click/tap above):

    2:01 Do we really need to exercise?

    4:35 Pairing exercise and diet will lead to greater weight loss than solely relying on diet

    8:09 Is it okay to focus on resistance training and not cardiovascular exercise like running? 

    9:52 Can you get rid of your belly fat by doing a lot of sit-ups? 

    12:04 Will brisk walking and stair climbing cause you to have knee problems?

    15:53 Sprint training snacks at CGH: Doing less but at a higher intensity

    Produced by: Joyce Teo (joyceteo@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, and Eden Soh

    Edited by: Eden Soh

    Follow Health Check Podcast here and rate us:

    Channel:https://str.sg/JWaN

    Apple Podcasts:https://str.sg/JWRX

    Spotify:https://str.sg/JWaQ

    SPH Awedio app:https://www.awedio.sg/

    Website:http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

    Read Joyce Teo's stories:https://str.sg/JbxN

    ---

    Discover more ST podcast channels:

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

    Asian Insider:https://str.sg/JWa7

    Health Check:https://str.sg/JWaN

    Green Pulse:https://str.sg/JWaf

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

    ST Sports Talk:https://str.sg/JWRE

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

    Music Lab:https://str.sg/w9TX

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

    ---

    Special edition series:

    True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T

    The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

    Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

    Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

    Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

    ---

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

    #healthcheck

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tue, 05 Mar 2024
  • 135 - S1E121: Monitoring your heart with your phone

    Wearable tech can help us monitor our heart.

    Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

    Today, we can easily find heart rate monitors in wearable devices like smartwatches and fitness trackers. As Singapore shifts the centre of gravity in healthcare from acute hospitals to the community with its preventive care strategy Healthier SG, such wearable technology will likely become more popular as they enable us to take charge of our health. 

    In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks with Clin Assoc Prof Ching Chi Keong, a Senior Consultant at the National Heart Centre Singapore about how one can make use of these devices and just how accurate they are.

    Highlights (click/tap above):

    1:55 How do ECG readings taken with a smart watch compare with a traditional ECG done in a medical setting? How accurate are they? 

    3:41 Interpreting ECG readings on your phone and what it means to have a sinus rhythm

    11:09 When should you seek medical help? 

    14:35 Which group of people should use wearable devices to monitor their heart rate?

    Produced by: Joyce Teo (joyceteo@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, and Eden Soh

    Edited by: Eden Soh

    Follow Health Check Podcast here and rate us:

    Channel:https://str.sg/JWaN

    Apple Podcasts:https://str.sg/JWRX

    Spotify:https://str.sg/JWaQ

    SPH Awedio app:https://www.awedio.sg/

    Website:http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

    Read Joyce Teo's stories:https://str.sg/JbxN

    ---

    Discover more ST podcast channels:

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

    Asian Insider:https://str.sg/JWa7

    Health Check:https://str.sg/JWaN

    Green Pulse:https://str.sg/JWaf

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

    ST Sports Talk:https://str.sg/JWRE

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

    Music Lab:https://str.sg/w9TX

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

    ---

    Special edition series:

    True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T

    The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

    Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

    Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

    Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

    ---

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

    #healthcheck

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tue, 06 Feb 2024
  • 134 - S1E120: Is ADHD affecting you or your family?

    An ADHD diagnosis can help you make sense of your life.

    Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

    The awareness of ADHD, or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, a common neurodevelopmental condition is growing around the world and more people have been diagnosed with it. Yet, many do not know that they have it while others may not have a good understanding of the condition, in order to thrive with it. 

    ADHD is characterised by inattention and hyperactive-impulsive behaviour. It can greatly affect one’s life, but it can also be turned into a superpower if it is managed correctly. 

    In this Health Check podcast episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to Moonlake Lee, the founder of Unlocking ADHD, the first site in Singapore that aims to help individuals with ADHD and their families live life to the fullest, to find out more.

    Highlights (click/tap above):

    2:31 Moonlake’s journey as an ADHDer and how her diagnosis has helped her

    6:12 On the growing awareness of ADHD in Singapore

    21:25 How to tell if you have ADHD?

    28:43 Deciding whether to put your child on ADHD medication

    Helplines

    MENTAL WELL-BEING
    •  Institute of Mental Health’s Mental Health Helpline: 6389-2222 (24 hours)
    •  Samaritans of Singapore: 1-767 (24 hours) / 9151-1767 (24 hours CareText via WhatsApp)
    •  Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019
    •  Silver Ribbon Singapore: 6386-1928
    •  Tinkle Friend: 1800-274-4788
    •  Chat, Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health: 6493-6500/1
    •  Women’s Helpline (Aware): 1800-777-5555 (weekdays, 10am to 6pm)

    COUNSELLING
    •  TOUCHline (Counselling): 1800-377-2252
    •  TOUCH Care Line (for caregivers): 6804-6555
    •  Care Corner Counselling Centre: 6353-1180
    •  Counselling and Care Centre: 6536-6366

    ONLINE RESOURCES
    •  moht.com.sg/mindline-sg
    •  eC2.sg
    •  tinklefriend.sg
    •  chat.mentalhealth.sg
    •  carey.carecorner.org.sg (for those aged 13 to 25)
    •  limitless.sg/talk (for those aged 12 to 25)

    Produced by: Joyce Teo (joyceteo@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, and Eden Soh

    Edited by: Eden Soh

    Follow Health Check Podcast here and rate us:

    Channel:https://str.sg/JWaN

    Apple Podcasts:https://str.sg/JWRX

    Spotify:https://str.sg/JWaQ

    SPH Awedio app:https://www.awedio.sg/

    Website:http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

    Read Joyce Teo's stories:https://str.sg/JbxN

    ---

    Discover more ST podcast channels:

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

    Asian Insider:https://str.sg/JWa7

    Health Check:https://str.sg/JWaN

    Green Pulse:https://str.sg/JWaf

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

    ST Sports Talk:https://str.sg/JWRE

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

    Music Lab:https://str.sg/w9TX

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

    ---

    Special edition series:

    True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T

    The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

    Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

    Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

    Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

    ---

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

    #healthcheck

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tue, 02 Jan 2024
  • 133 - S1E119: Treatment is available but when do you pull the plug on a grievously ill person?

    It is always good to start having end-of life conversations early.

    Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

    There are some conditions that are difficult to treat, others possibly pointless to treat. Doctors know the limits of medical care and they can advise against further treatment, if the care is deemed futile. 

    In this episode, we will hear about the difficult decisions that some doctors and some families have to contend with, in their work and life.

    Dr Shirlynn Ho is a senior consultant and deputy head of the division of Supportive & Palliative Care at the National Cancer Centre Singapore. She’s also the assistant secretary of the Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network, which works with the Lien Collaborative for Palliative Care in Singapore.

    Dr Tan Yia Swam is a breast surgeon, with her own practice at Mount Alvernia Hospital. She was the past president of the Singapore Medical Association and a former Nominated MP.

    Highlights (click/tap above):

    1:23 What is Advanced Medical Directive?

    4:33 A difficult decision made by doctors

    6:35 Advice on Advance Care Planning

    15:16 How people in the region view death

    Produced by: Joyce Teo (joyceteo@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Amirul Karim and Eden Soh

    Edited by: Eden Soh

    Follow Health Check Podcast here and rate us:

    Channel:https://str.sg/JWaN

    Apple Podcasts:https://str.sg/JWRX

    Spotify:https://str.sg/JWaQ

    SPH Awedio app:https://www.awedio.sg/

    Website:http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

    Read Joyce Teo's stories:https://str.sg/JbxN

    ---

    Discover more ST podcast channels:

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

    Asian Insider:https://str.sg/JWa7

    Health Check:https://str.sg/JWaN

    Green Pulse:https://str.sg/JWaf

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

    ST Sports Talk:https://str.sg/JWRE

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

    Music Lab:https://str.sg/w9TX

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

    ---

    Special edition series:

    True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T

    The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

    Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

    Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

    Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

    ---

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

    #healthcheck

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tue, 19 Dec 2023
  • 132 - S1E118: What are the stories you want to tell with your life?

    It is always good to start having end-of life conversations early.

    Synopsis: Every first and third Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times helps you make sense of health matters that affect you.

    End-of-life planning is never easy. A better way could be to start the process early by planning for the life you want to lead and leave behind. 

    After all, death is a part of life, and it may be helpful to start thinking about it years before, said a palliative care doctor and a surgeon who does not shy away from talking about death and dying well with her patients.

    In this episode, ST senior health correspondent Joyce Teo speaks to two guests. They discuss the importance of end-of-life planning and palliative care, and how talking about death can help us come to terms with this reality.  

    Dr Tan Yia Swam is a breast surgeon with her own practice at Mount Alvernia Hospital. She was a former Nominated MP and the past president of the Singapore Medical Association.

    Dr Shirlynn Ho is the deputy head and senior consultant of the Division of Supportive & Palliative Care at National Cancer Centre Singapore. 

    Highlights (click/tap above):

    1:08 Broaching the topic of palliative care

    6:30 Why is there a rising urgency for palliative care?

    10:41 Story about a dying patient

    13:32 How do medical professionals convey information to families?

    Produced by: Joyce Teo (joyceteo@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Amirul Karim and Eden Soh

    Edited by: Eden Soh

    Follow Health Check Podcast here and rate us:

    Channel:https://str.sg/JWaN

    Apple Podcasts:https://str.sg/JWRX

    Spotify:https://str.sg/JWaQ

    SPH Awedio app:https://www.awedio.sg/

    Website:http://str.sg/stpodcasts

    Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

    Read Joyce Teo's stories:https://str.sg/JbxN

    ---

    Discover more ST podcast channels:

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

    Asian Insider:https://str.sg/JWa7

    Health Check:https://str.sg/JWaN

    Green Pulse:https://str.sg/JWaf

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

    ST Sports Talk:https://str.sg/JWRE

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

    Music Lab:https://str.sg/w9TX

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

    ---

    Special edition series:

    True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T

    The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

    Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

    Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

    Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

    ---

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

    #healthcheck

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tue, 05 Dec 2023
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