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Health Tips
Don’t Worry, Be Happy
Pg
2
3
Playground Safety
4
Plantar Fasciitis
5
Diarrhoea in Children
6
Patient Testimonial
6
Our Services
A newsletter for patients • June/July 2OO7
Family Physician Clinic in Toa Payoh
7
S.M.I.L.E for you
7
Bonus for your baby
7
Healthier Food Choice
7
Compliments
8
You enjoy several benefits when you
make an appointment with us for your
next follow-up visit for your chronic
condition (e.g. diabetes, hypertension,
high cholesterol and stroke) or for other
selected services (e.g. immunisations).
1) You enjoy a shorter queue.
2) You are able to make advance
plans for the rest of your day.
3) You help other walk-in
patients shorten their waiting
time.
So for your next follow-up visit,
don’t walk in anymore.
Call us at 6355 3000.
Anda akan menikmati beberapa faedah apabila
membuat temujanji dengan kami bagi lawatan susulan
untuk keadaan kronik anda (seperti diabetes,
hipertensi, kolesterol tinggi dan strok) atau bagi
mana-mana perkhidmatan lain (seperti imunisasi).
1. Anda akan menikmati masa menunggu yang lebih
pendek.
2. Anda dapat rancang jadual hari anda lebih awal.
3. Anda dapat membant memendekkan masa
menunggu untuk pesakit lain yang tiada temu
janji.
Jadi, bagi lawatan anda
selanjutnya, buatlah
temujanji terlebih dahulu.
Hubungi kami di talian
6355 3000.
MICA (P) 264/01/2007
page 1
Health Tips
There are some things you can do to help yourself manage stress, before it manages you.
Are you a worry wort? Do you feel anxious and have
difficulty concentrating at work or sleeping? If you have
some or all of these symptoms, stress could be getting
the better of you.
Stress is part and parcel of life. It keeps us going and
continually challenges us to improve on ourselves. But,
it can take a toll on your health and your relationship
with the people around you, if it’s not managed well.
There are many ways of coping with stress, not all of
which are appropriate or even healthy. Some chain smoke
or drown their sorrows in alcohol. Others may turn to
gambling. We may not be able to get rid of stress
altogether, but there are positive and effective ways of
coping that allow us to overcome stress and function as
normally as possible.
The Health Promotion Board has a whole series of
educational materials available for people from all walks
of life on stress management; you can find out more at
www.hpb.gov.sg. If you need counselling services,
there are several available for your consideration:
Try these strategies:
Plan your time well – prioritise your responsibilities
1. Institute of Mental Health
2. Family Service Centre Hotline
3. Counselling & Care Centre
6389 2200
1800 838 0100
6536 6366
You may also contact one of the several helplines:
and break large tasks into smaller and more manageable
ones. Divide your time well but leave room for flexibility
and spontaneity.
AWARE (women in distress)
1800 774 5935
Care Corner (Mandarin-speaking)
1800 353 5800
Be realistic – choose your work according to your own
Samaritans of Singapore (24-hour) 1800 221 4444
abilities and interests; set realistic goals so that you do
not become disappointed and discouraged.
Interact with your family and friends – speak to
them about any problems you may have; not all can offer
solutions, but sometimes all you need is a listening ear
to help you sort out your thoughts.
Think positively – be happy with who you are and
maintain a positive outlook in life; recognise your
shortcomings and change what you can and accept what
you cannot change.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle – a healthy, balanced
diet, adequate rest and regular physical activity help you
feel good and happy.
Take time to relax and enjoy – take the well-earned
rest, pursue a hobby or take a short break from work
when you start feeling tensed. Learn and use some
relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation,
music and massage.
page 2
Parent Line (childcare/parenting issues) 6289 8811
Singapore Association for
Mental Health
1800 283 7019
Health Tips
page 3
Health Tips
Children enjoy going to the playground where they can
go on a swing, play on the slide and climb to their hearts’
content. However, childhood accidents occur commonly
in playgrounds and these make up a significant portion
of injury-related cases seen in the Accident & Emergency
departments in Singapore.
Studies have shown that the most common cause of the
injuries sustained in the playground was from falls from
monkey bars followed by falls from slides. The common
injuries sustained in playgrounds are cuts, fractures,
dislocations and head injuries.
Here are some precautions you can take to prevent
accidents:
Adult Supervision
Children may not always be wary of danger. It is therefore
crucial that adults ensure that their children play on
equipment that are suitable for their age. In addition,
adults should check that their children do not engage in
“unsafe” behaviour that will pose a danger to themselves
and to the other children in the playground.
Safety of the area
The playground surface should be free of standing water
and debris (such as rocks, tree stumps and tree roots)
that could cause a child to trip and fall. Look around to
make sure that there are no loose or broken parts on the
playground equipment. Help keep the playground clean
and safe by picking up trash. Use the equipment properly
and report any problems to the appropriate authorities.
Swing Safety
Swings are the most frequent source of childhood injuries
in a playground. But a few simple precautions should
keep your child safely swinging in the breeze:
• Your child should always sit on the swing, not stand or
kneel on it. He/She should hold on tightly with both
hands while swinging, and wait for the swing to stop
completely before getting off.
• Children should stay a safe distance from other children
on swings, being careful not to run or walk in front of
or at the back of moving swings.
• Children should never ride with another child on a
swing.
Seesaw Safety
• Seesaw seats are like swings: one child per seat. If
your child is too light to seesaw with a partner, he or
she should find a different partner - not add another
child to the same side of the seesaw.
• Children should always sit facing one another, not the
other way round.
• Teach your child to hold on tightly with both hands
while on a seesaw and to avoid touching the ground
or pushing off with his/her hands. Remind your child
to keep both feet to the sides, out from underneath
the seesaw.
• Children should stand away from a seesaw when it’s
in use. They should never be allowed to stand on a
seesaw or climb onto it while it’s in motion.
Slide Safety
Teach playground safety
Here are some general rules to teach your child:
• Never push or roughhouse while on jungle gyms, slides,
seesaws, swings, and other equipment.
• Use equipment properly - slide feet first, don’t climb
outside guardrails, no standing on swings, etc.
• If you jump off equipment, check to make sure that no
other children are in the way. When you jump, land on
both feet with knees slightly bent.
• Leave personal belongings like bags and bicycles away
from the play area or they might trip someone.
• Playground equipment should never be used if it is wet
because moisture causes the surface to be slippery.
• In the afternoons, playground equipment can become
very hot. If the equipment feels hot to the touch, it’s
probably not safe or fun to play on.
• Don’t wear clothes with drawstrings or other strings at
the playground. Drawstrings, purses, and necklaces
could get caught on equipment and accidentally strangle
a child.
page 4
Children should take one step at a time and hold onto
the handrail when climbing the ladder to the top of the
slide. They should not climb up the slide to get to the
top.
• Your child should always slide down feet first and sitting
up, never head first on his/her back or stomach.
• Only one child should be on the slide platform at a
time. Children should not be allowed to slide down in
groups.
• Your child should always check that the bottom of the
slide is clear before sliding down.
Climbing Equipment Safety
Climbing equipment can be used safely if children are
taught to use both hands. They should be reminded to
stay well behind the person in front of them and beware
of swinging feet. When they drop from the bars, they
should be able to jump down without hitting the equipment
on the way down. Remind your child to have his/her knees
bent and land on both feet.
Health Tips
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis (pronounced as PLAN-tar fashee-EYE-tiss) is a common
cause of heel pain. It presents with a pain at the bottom of the heel and is
particularly severe with the first few steps taken in the mornings or after
prolonged periods of rest. The pain ranges from a dull ache to a sharp
shooting pain and usually decreases with activity.
Plantar Fascia
Plantar Fasciitis is an inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is a band of
tissue that starts at the heel and goes along the bottom of the foot. It works
like a rubber band between the heel and the ball of the foot to form the arch
of the foot. A pad of fat in the heel that covers the plantar fascia helps to
absorb the shock of walking.
Treatment
Wearing shoes with more arch support may help decrease stress on your plantar fascia. You may also need to change
to a shoe size appropriate for you. Athletes and physically active people may have to reduce the amount of running
and jumping to relieve stress on that area.
In addition, using an ice pack on the area may relieve the pain and inflammation. Gently massage the area of the arch
and heel before getting out of bed also helps. Stretching and strengthening exercises have also been proven to be
successful in treating plantar fasciitis.
Foot Orthoses
Foot orthoses are devices made to aid or improve the function of
the foot. Depending on the severity, custom-made foot orthoses
can be constructed to support the arch of the foot and alleviate
the stretch on the plantar fascia.
Foot orthoses can come in many variations and are usually prescribed
for specific reasons by a qualified podiatrist. Wearing the wrong
type of orthoses may lead to more foot problems. It is therefore
vital that orthoses are prescribed only by qualified practitioners.
Once the appropriate foot orthoses have been prescribed, the
podiatrist will also show you some foot exercises to strengthen the
muscles in the arch area. He/She will also advise you on suitable
footwear that will not aggravate your condition.
Flat foot
Flat foot with arch supported
Given accurately prescribed foot orthoses, together with suitable
foot exercises, massages and weight management, plantar fasciitis
is a condition that can be very effectively treated, allowing for painfree walking!
page 5
Health Tips
• Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before giving your
young child medicines to stop diarrhoea.
Diarrhoea refers to the frequent passage of loose watery
stools. Other common symptoms associated with diarrhoea
include fever, vomiting, bloating of the abdomen and
abdominal pain, depending on the cause of the diarrhoea.
There are many causes for diarrhoea:
1. Infection of the gut (most commonly from viruses)
2. Malabsorption problems where food is not taken in
through the gut properly (such as food or lactose
intolerance)
3. Allergy to cow milk protein.
Acute diarrhoea usually settles within a week as the
immune system clears the infection.
The following are advised until symptoms ease.
• Give your child frequent sips of fluid to avoid dehydration.
Even if your child vomits or feels sick, some fluid will
still be absorbed. Ideally, give water as the main fluid,
but you can also give some fruit juice as this contains
sugar.
• Rehydration solutions may be prescribed by your doctor
or pharmacist, especially if your child is at risk of
dehydration. Oral rehydration salts in the form of
sachets are readily available from pharmacies. They
provide a perfect balance of water, salt and sugar.
They do not stop or reduce diarrhoea, but they help to
prevent or treat dehydration.
• If the child is allergic to cow protein (whey or casein),
you may consider switching the child to a formula that
does not contain cow milk such as a soy-based milk
formula, which is made from soy protein with added
vegetable oils (for fat calories) and corn syrup and/or
sucrose (for carbohydrate).
• If the child is lactose intolerant, you may wish to change
the feed to one that is lactose-free or soy-based.
In most cases, the diarrhoea should settle with the above
measures. However, some gut infections may not clear
without other treatment eg. those caused by parasites or
certain bacteria. Antibiotics may be required.
Bring your child to see the doctor if:
• He/She has more than 8 runny bowel motions in 24hrs
• He/She has been going for 10 hours or more without
passing urine
• His/Her skin when pinched, stays up for a second or
two. This is a sign of dehydration.
• He/She is cranky, sleepy or lethargic
• His/Her eyes look sunken, with shadows under the
eyes
• His/Her mouth, tongue and lips are very dry
• The diarrhoea is accompanied by vomiting
• The diarrhoea does not stop or worsens within 48 hours
• If blood or mucus is seen in the stools
• There is high fever or severe abdominal pain
• Your child may lose his/her appetite initially, but it will
gradually return as his/her condition improves. Soups
and food high in carbohydrate (e.g. bread, rice and
potatoes) are best food choices for your child.
Patient Testimonial
Mdm Lee Yoke Eng was 51 years old when she was first diagnosed with diabetes in 2003.
She sought treatment at Bukit Batok Polyclinic and our team of doctors, nurses and dietician
has been closely monitoring her condition since. With our help, coupled with Mdm Lee’s
strong self-management skills, her condition has stabilised over the years. She shares with
us how she did it.
How have your condition improved since you started
visiting our doctors at Bukit Batok Polyclinic?
When I first found out that I had diabetes, I struggled
with the acceptance. The nurses at Bukit Batok Polyclinic
assured and encouraged me often. They taught me how
to use the Glucometer to self-monitor my condition so
that I can better manage my condition independently.
This knowledge and empowerment helped me tremendously
in keeping my condition under control.
How did our doctors and nurses help improve and
stabilise your diabetes condition?
The doctors have been really caring and patient. They
would spend time analysing and discussing my condition
with me. I also actively attend the diabetic workshops
and focus group to help me manage my condition better.
Recently I participated in the “Healthy Food Discovery
page 6
Journey”, which was organised for diabetic patients. The
programme was extremely enriching as it taught us how
to select healthier food. Now I know how to prepare
healthier food for myself, which aids in the successful
management of my condition.
What advice do you have for the other chronic
patients to help them keep their conditions under
control?
It is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle, keep to a
strict diet and exercise regularly. We should also take
our medications promptly and keep to a regular followup with our doctor.
Living by her testimony, Mdm Lee keeps to a strict
diet, avoiding oily or fried food. She also does taiji
and brisk walk regularly to stay healthy.
Our Services
Toa Payoh Polyclinic opened its newly-renovated Family
Physician (FP) Clinic on 12 May 2007. In the past, its FP
Clinic patients seeking treatment waited in the general
waiting area. With the new layout, FP patients wait with
more comfort in the privacy of the Clinic’s exclusive
waiting area.
NHG Polyclinics’ first FP Clinic was launched in May 2005
to better manage patients with chronic diseases and to
provide them with a more personalised service. They
usually see the same doctor at every visit, enjoy longer
consultations and faster service for blood tests and xrays. FP Clinic patients pay a higher consultation fee for
this value-added
service. FP Clinics
have since been
established in all
NHG Polyclinics.
Earlier this year, NHG Polyclinics piloted the online Queue
Viewer at Ang Mo Kio Polyclinic which enables patients to
check on the clinic’s queue situation before making their
way there. Many patients had made use of this service
for their convenience.
Now, Queue Viewer has been extended to all NHG Polyclinics
and has been renamed S.M.I.L.E (See Me In LinE) Zone.
S.M.I.L.E Zone not only allows patients to get a visual
gauge of the clinics’ queue situation, it also informs the
public on the best times to visit the clinics.
Visit S.M.I.L.E Zone at www.nhgp.com.sg.
Healthier Food Choice
Spicy Beef & Carrot Stew
To encourage couples to have more children, the Ministry
of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS)
had launched the Children Development Co-savings (Baby
Bonus) Scheme to offer financial assistance to parents
for their children.
Beginning 1st May 2007, the scheme was expanded to
also allow parents to pay their children’s medical expenses
using the child’s Children Development Account (CDA).
NHG Polyclinics is participating in this scheme and all
parents have to do is to sign up for it at any of our
polyclinics. Under this scheme, parents will be able to use
the Baby Bonus to pay for their children’s medical- and
dental-related expenses at NHG Polyclinics.
Ingredients
400 gms beef, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 carrots, cut into bite-sized pieces
8 large onions, sliced
8 cloves garlic, sliced
5cm ginger, pounded
3 tbsps curry powder
2 tbsps tamarind juice
5 tbsps oil
2 tbsps thick soy sauce (choose products with Healthier
Choice label)
8 cups water
1 tsp tomato puree
1 tbsp pepper
Method
1. Mix the beef with curry powder, pepper, tamarind juice,
tomato puree and let it stand for 30 minutes.
2. Heat oil in a pan and fry the ginger, garlic and onions until
golden brown.
3. Add the beef and stir well before adding in soy sauce and
carrots.
4. Pour in water and bring to boil. Cook until beef is tender.
Carbohydrate Exchange: Less than 0.5 (per serve)
page 7
Compliments
Ca l l
Ce
To: C ntre
SO J
From
: Mdm aya Mu
rugia
Chian
n
gY
nic
tal Cli
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Batok
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Bukit
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To: D Yew Har
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I call
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C
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all Ce
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ntre r
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extre t t e n d e d
to m
mely
ly an
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helpf
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pleas
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to he
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did a w
Choa Chu Kang Polyc
linic
To: Nurse Hashimah
Bte Hashim
From: Lee Da-Win
Hashimah attended
to me recently
wh en I vis ite d Ch
oa Ch u Ka ng
Polyclinic. She was
not only polite,
professional and know
ledgeable, she
even went out of he
r way to answer
a query I had raised.
I was delighted
by her excellent servi
ce.
Yishun Poly
clinic
To: Dr Rac
hel Lim
From
: Steven Cai
I visited Yish
un Polyclinic
recently for
m y ro u ti n
e ch e ck -u
p
and was
attended to
by Dr Rache
l
Li
m
. Dr Lim
very patient
ly helped me
un
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m y co n d it io
rstand
n b y e x p la
in in g th e
d ia g n o si s to
m e in d e ta
il . I a m
impressed w
ith Dr Lim’s
dedication
and sincerit
y.
DO NOT LET HEARING IMPAIRMENT
AFFECT YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE!!!
We dispense an extensive range of hearing aids, from
Non-programmable to Fully Digital. We also provide hearing
evaluation, counselling, and retailing of hearing aids
accessories. All these at an affordable cost!
Why wait? Call us NOW for a no-obligation consultation!
nic
olycli
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To: H am Toh Han K
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rk wh
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From:
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to
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clinic.
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Chairperson
Dr Tung Yew Cheong, Woodlands Polyclinic
Managing Editor
Ms Sharon Lok, Corporate Communications, HQ
Editor
Ms Eleanor Toh, Corporate Communications, HQ
COHERENT HEARING HEALTHCARE CENTRE
Choa Chu Kang Polyclinic
Tel : 6763 3216
Level 3, Room 99
Hougang Polyclinic
Tel : 6387 4672
Level 3, opp Dentist
Changi Road
Tel : 6478 0781
#01-12, Castle Court
Tanglin Shopping Centre
Tel : 6736 2461
#05-17, 19 Tanglin Road
Members
Ms Jancy Mathews, Health Promotion & Preventive Care, HQ
Ms Pauline Ang, Singapore Footcare Centre
Ms See Yen Theng, NHG Pharmacy
The information produced is for reference and educational
purposes only. As each person’s medical condition is unique,
you should not rely on the information contained in this
newsletter as substitute for personal medical attention,
diagnosis or hands-on treatment. If you are concerned about
your health, please consult a healthcare professional.
Reproduction of the articles in whole or part without permission
is prohibited.
For advertising rates and enquiries, please call Ms Audrey Lee
at 63558559 or email [email protected]
page 8