WINNER AWARD OF EXCELLENCE APEX 2015 NOV DEC 2015 ISSUE no.60Lifewise BAD FATS 75 AGE IS BUT A NUMBER DOMINIC TUNG, LYDIA SOH AND TONY LUM > NATIONAL HEALTHCARE GROUP In The it’s about RUNNING To be fit and fab giving all year round p14 ANDAND RRECEIVINGECEIVING IN THE SPIRIT OF THE SEASON EAT WELL > KEEP WITH TRADITION, BUT IN A HEALTHY WAY p32 Cover NovDec15 V3.indd C1 10/29/15 4:53 PM IFC-Ad.inddLifewise Ads . in1dd 3 10/28/158/27/14 54:38:53 PPMM CONTENTSLifewise NOV-DEC 2015 ISSUE no.60 features 10 10 A TIME FOR GIVING AND RECEIVING Contributing their time and eû orts to the service of others have given these two women much joy. COVER STORY 14 A RUNNING THEME Three runners talk about how ‘going the distance’ has worked wonders for their health. 17 STOP, LOOK, LISTEN! What you can do to ensure you stay alert and t when behind the wheel. 20 PREPARING FOR TOMORROW Predictive and preventive care is the future of healthcare. 20 14 NHG IS A REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM FOR SINGAPORE 1 1-3 Contents Ed Note V3.indd 1 10/29/15 4:57 PM CONTENTSLifewise NOV-DEC 2015 ISSUE no.60 24 IN PERSON Prof Leo Yee Sin and Prof Angela Chow believe community outreach is important to curb the potentially devastating eû ects of infectious diseases. 26 THE FACTS ON FAT An ongoing study investigates how some foods can increase 32 a person’s metabolic rate. 28 GETTING ON TTHEHE PATH TO ZERORO Where Singapore currentlycurrently stands in the ght agagainstainst HIV/AIDS, and whatt iitt will take to eliminatee new infections. 28 32 LET’SLE TALK TURKEY ThisThis big bird can be ththee solution to healthy ffestivet feasting. 34 AGE IS BUT A NUMBER Seniors who show no 34 signs of slowing down. regulars EDITOR’S NOTE 03 NEWSROOM 04 ASK THE EXPERTS 36 SPOTLIGHT/NHG NEWS 40 NHG DIRECTORY 48 2 Lifewise NOV-DEC 2015 1-3 Contents Ed Note V3.indd 2 10/29/15 4:57 PM WINNER AWARD OF EXCELLENCE APEX 2015 NOV DEC 2015 ISSUE no.60Lifewise BAD FATS 75 AGE IS BUT A NUMBER Planning ON THE COVER: DOMINIC TUNG, DOMINIC TUNG, LYDIA SOH LYDIA SOH AND TONY LUM > NATIONAL HEALTHCARE GROUP AND TONY LUM, In The NATIONAL HEALTHCARE GROUP it’s about RUNNING To be fit and fab all year round p14 PHOTOGRAPHER MARK LEE A Year giving ART DIRECTION DON LEE AND RECEIVINGRECEIVING IN THE SPIRIT OF THE SEASON STYLING SHEH EAT WELL > KEEP WITH TRADITION, BUT IN A HEALTHY WAY p32 HAIR & MAKEUP MANISA TAN CLOTHES FROM H&M Of Health A T THIS TIME OF THE YEAR, there will be a flurry of charitable activities, be it selling gifts and cards to raise funds for a cause, or visiting NATIONAL HEALTHCARE GROUP the underprivileged. EDITORIAL For Ms Riana Lim Xiang Lin and Ms Ivy Lim Wong Fong Tze, WilliamƬNg, LydiaƬSoh, however, giving of their time and effort knows no Praveen Nayago, NgƬSi Jia, NathalieƬNg, SabrinaƬLim, Clara Poh, ClaraƬLim season. Year round, both women spread cheer to patients in hospitals — Ms Riana volunteers at the LIFEWISE ADVISORY PANEL A/Prof Lim Tock Han, A/Prof Thomas Lew, Institute of Mental Health and Ms Ivy makes weekly A/Prof Chua Hong Choon, ward visits at Tan Tock Seng Hospital. In giving of A/Prof Chong Phui-Nah, Prof Roy Chan themselves, they too receive — as they say — “much happiness when they see the patients smile”. Taking care of yourself is also a year-round project. MEDIACORP PTE LTD Keen runners Ms Lydia Soh, Mr Dominic Tung and EDITORIAL & DESIGN Mr Tony Lum tell Lifewise about the benefits of the Supervising Senior Editors Agatha Koh Brazil, sport and why you should include it into your routine Ronald Rajan — even when on vacation — if you want to be healthy Senior Editor Jerena Ng Assistant Editor Chia Ee Khim and keep off the extra kilos (page 14). Art Director Don Lee Of course, the success of your weight-loss regimen Senior Writers Fairoza Mansor Wanda Tan is to a large extent dependent on how active your Chief Photographer Aik Chen metabolic rate is. Associate Professor Melvin Leow Executive Photographer Ealbert Ho and his team are trying to ascertain how our body Senior Photographer Kelvin Chia Photographers Chee Yan, Mark Lee burns stored fuels and how it can be accelerated to promote weight loss or maintenance (page 26). CONTRIBUTORS Amir Ali, Ashutosh Ravikrishnan, Wilson Pang Research is also ongoing in the fight against BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT HIV/AIDS. However, misconceptions and an attitude Senior Business of complacency are possible reasons that HIV infection Relationship Manager Michele Kho is on an upward trend in Singapore. Lifewise looks [email protected] at what can be done to reduce the rate of new For advertisement enquiries, please email: infections to zero (page 28).We can also do our part by [email protected] marking World AIDS Day on 1 December, sharing the For subscription enquiries, please email: [email protected] information with friends and family. Speaking of friends and family, think turkey this Every care has been taken in the production of this magazine, but National Healthcare Group (NHG), the year-end when feasting. Read about the bird’s benefits publisher, editor and employees assume no responsibility for any errors, inaccuracies or omission arising thereof. (page 32), and how to roast a tasty one. Opinions expressed by contributors and advertisers are not necessarily those of NHG, the publisher or the editor. Who says healthy can’t be enjoyable? The team at The information produced is for reference and educational Lifewise wishes you Happy Holidays and look forward purposes only. As each person’s medical condition is to accompanying you on the road to keeping healthy unique, you should not rely on the information contained in this magazine as a substitute for personal medical and staying well in 2016. attention, diagnosis or hands-on treatment. If you are concerned about your health or that of your child, please consult your family physician or healthcare professional. THE EDITORIAL TEAM Copyright © is held by the publishers. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Printed in Singapore by KHL Printing, www.khlprint.com.sg. MCI (P) 055/11/2015. NHG IS A REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM FOR SINGAPORE 3 1-3 Contents Ed Note V3.indd 3 10/29/15 4:57 PM newsroom SNIPPETS FROM THE HEALTHCARE WORLD // CALENDAR OF EVENTS NEUROLOGY Bringing Motion Sickness to a Halt A team at Imperial College London in the United Kingdom reported that early trials on 20 people showed a new method could reduce motion sickness, according to a study published in Neurology. The researchers STIMULATION used transcranial BOTH DELAYED direct current THE ONSET stimulation OF MOTION — electrodes to the brain, SICKNESS AND essentially — to IMPROVED WELLNESS “manipulate the RECOVERY TIME part of the brain that interprets messages coming FISH: THE FEEL-GOOD FIX from those balance organs in the cientists in China have found that eating a lot of fish may help ear while people were made to feel S protect against depression, according to research published in the nauseous”, said Dr Qadeer Arshad. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. A meta-analysis of The mild stimulation both delayed 26 studies of more than 150,000 people showed those who consumed the the onset of motion sickness and most fish experienced a 17 per cent reduction in the risk of depression. improved the recovery time. One possible reason given by the researchers was that the Omega-3 While the drug scopolamine fatty acids found in fish might be linked to better brain health. can help stem motion sickness, Alternatively, those who eat a lot of fish may be enjoying a healthier diet it can cause drowsiness. Dr Arshad in general which, in turn, helps mental health. As Qingdao University’s claims that the new method has Professor Dongfeng Zhang, who led the study, told the BBC, “Higher fish no known side eff ects. “Within the consumption may be beneficial in the primary prevention of depression. next couple of years people will be Future studies are needed to further investigate whether this association able to use these devices — it is varies according to the type of fish.” not far away.” 4 Lifewise NOV-DEC 2015 4-9 Newsroom.indd 4 10/29/15 4:58 PM calendar NOV /DEC PHARMACOLOGY NATIONAL ADDICTIONS AWARENESS DAY (NAAD) 2015 Learn how addictions can aû ect you An Aspirin A Day and your loved ones. Sign up for a series of talks on addiction prevention, Keeps Illness At Bay treatment and mental wellness at this one-day learning festival, which features many fun and interactive booths. draft report from the United States Preventive Services Task Force DATE A has recommended a daily dose of the common painkiller aspirin 22 November 2015 to lower the risk of heart attack and colorectal cancer. TIME Taking aspirin is not without risks, however. Serious side effects 10am to 3pm VENUE include stomach bleeds, haemorrhagic strokes or bleeding in the brain. Learning Center, Opponents of this move by the US authorities argue that there are better Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, ways to thwart colon cancer, including providing better screening to 90 Yishun Central, Singapore 768828 identify pre-cancerous changes. REGISTRATION Free admission with registration. However, the Task Force said that the benefits of a daily aspirin outweigh Email [email protected] or visit the risks in adults aged between 50 and 69 who are at high risk for heart www.facebook.com/moretolifesg disease.