While there’s plenty of fitness and health news that just seem like they’re designed to scare the pants off us, there’s also plenty that we need to pay attention to. Our monthly health hub in print and online will answer a few questions and give you health news that’s relevant to keeping you fit and healthy.
Up Your Style Game in the Gym
Sport lovers are no stranger to Bauerfeind for stylish and supportive gear that protects their muscles and joints during lengthy workouts. And now you can find these products in a cool new colour, All Black. We’re especially loving the Sports Ankle Support Dynamic and Sports Elbow Support in All Black. The former protects your ankle performance and provides stabilisation for long and intensive periods of sports training, while the latter ensures stability in the elbow joint and improves feedback through gentle compression.
Health Help: What causes thyroid nodules to grow and when should I be concerned?
Thyroid nodules are quite common, with approximately 50 percent of people aged 50 or above having them. With the increasing use of thyroid ultrasound screenings, the incidence of thyroid nodules is expected to rise even further. Despite their prevalence, most nodules are benign and can be safely monitored through yearly scans. However, a small percentage of solid nodules are malignant and need to be treated.
Malignant thyroid nodules have characteristic ultrasonic features, which are assessed using a scoring system called TIRADS (Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System). If your thyroid scan has a high TIRADS score of 4 or 5, it should be evaluated by a specialist. Fortunately, fine needle biopsy is a minimally evasive and very effective procedure to treat thyroid nodules. It can conveniently be done in your doctor’s office or specialist’s clinic during the same visit.
When it comes to thyroid cancers, the most common type is papillary thyroid cancer, which thankfully can be treated effectively with a high cure rate of up to 90 percent. The mainstay of thyroid cancer treatment is surgery, and it should be undertaken by an experienced head and neck surgeon. Above all, do not worry if your thyroid scan shows a nodule; it’s unlikely to be cancer. Even in cases where cancer is present, remember that there is a high likelihood of successful treatment for thyroid cancer.
– Dr Dennis Lim, general surgeon and surgical oncologist at Dennis Lim Surgery
#11-09 Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, 3 Mount Elizabeth
6836 5167 | dennislim.com.sg
Health Help: I’m terrified of painful dental treatments. When and how can sedation help?
Dental phobia and extreme anxiety can hinder patients from seeking treatment or opting for less than ideal options due to fear. Therefore, sedation plays a crucial role. Nitrous oxide sedation, commonly known as laughing gas, has been a trusted method for many years due to its safety. It can even be used in children as young as two years old. While it induces a calm state, it does not provide deep sedation, leading to the need for IV sedation. IV sedation, or intravenous sedation, involves the direct administration of sedatives into the bloodstream. It ensures deep relaxation without losing consciousness, making it ideal for complex or lengthy procedures like dental implant surgery or wisdom teeth extraction.
At Align Dental, weʼre fully equipped to offer a comprehensive range of procedures under sedation. Some of the most common procedures include:
- wisdom teeth removal, often necessary when theyʼre impacted or cause overcrowding;
- dental implant surgery, which replaces missing teeth with durable artificial ones;
- various tooth extractions, necessary for teeth that are significantly decayed or damaged;bone and gum grafts, crucial for patients requiring additional support for dental implants;
- root canal therapy, which effectively removes infected tissue from inside the tooth and seals it to prevent further damage;
- periodontal surgery, used to treat advanced gum disease and repair damage caused by it; and
- paediatric dentistry, for children who are afraid of dentists or are unable to stay still during lengthy procedures.
By offering a more relaxing experience, sedation dentistry promotes oral health and ensures patients get the treatments they need without anxiety.
Dr Priyanji De Silva, director and senior dental surgeon at Align Dental Surgery
#01-07/08/09 Forum The Shopping Mall, 583 Orchard Road 6773 7088 | WhatsApp 8877 0788 | aligndentalsurgery.com
Find Your Flow!
The Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel Singapore has had a facelift with stunning new guest spaces, refreshed restaurants, sustainable upgrades and premium wellness experiences for guests and the public alike. Balance your mind, body and spirit with yoga sessions every Sunday at 7.30am at the luxury riverside hotel’s Pavilion By The River (free of charge for in-house guests, otherwise $15 per person) and keep an eye on their Facebook or Instagram pages for details of upcoming holistic programming.
grandcopthorne.com.sg | IG: @ grandcopthornewaterfront
This health hub of fitness and health news first appeared in our monthly Expat Living magazine. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue! You can also find more health news in our Health & Fitness section.