Non-communicable Disease

In my years practising as a pharmacist, one of the most common question I get from patients, friends and relatives is:  “Do medications for diabetes cause kidney failure?” It seems that the public has a misconception on medication for diabetes and to clear up this misunderstanding, we first need to understand what exactly diabetes is.   Diabetes and its complications Diabetes is a disease where the sugar level in one’s…

While waiting for my flight to take off, I noticed an obese gentleman painstakingly passing through the aisle and sat right next to me. As my nose is sensitive to dust and smoke, I immediately noticed a strong scent of tobacco smoke from my newfound neighbour’s clothes.   Nevertheless, I offered him a smile of courtesy and observed that he was out of breath while frantically ransacking his bag for…

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It was about half a year ago when dad underwent a minor surgery. He was 68 years of age and his eyesight was not all good anymore. Fortunately, the problem was not a big one. Like most elderly, cataract plagued his eyes. Cataract occurs when the lens within the eye becomes cloudy thereby obstructing vision and cause the appearance of flares under bright light. Cataracts develop because of aging, and…

Some of us love a challenge to scale high terrains while others just simply enjoy the view of the calm majesty of nature’s finest creations; the mountains! However, confronting high altitude is not easy. Not only does one need to have the strength and stamina to mount the steep slopes, one may also have to deal with altitude sickness.   What is altitude sickness? Travelling to places of high altitudes…

A runny and/or blocked nose can be very irritating. Even more so when it is a chronic (long term) problem. Many of us may suffer from occasional cold or nasal allergies from time to time. Some people suffer from seasonal or chronic allergies. So, what do we usually treat these problems with? A topical nasal decongestant.    Topical? As the name implies, this group of medicines clears up congestion within…

What is pancreatic cancer? Pancreatic cancers are cancers of the pancreas. The pancreas is an organ that is located behind the stomach and in front our spine. It is responsible for producing hormones (such as insulin and glucagon) which control sugar levels in our blood. When certain pancreatic cells turn into cancerous cells, it affects the function of the pancreas in regulating our hormone and blood sugar. Thus, some of…

  Finding your sleep disturbed at night because you have to wake up several times to pee? Turns out, you’re not alone. Well, not least if your spouse’s sleep is also affected by your nightly bathroom visits. Kudos to all the ever so tolerant partners who quietly put up with the squeaking from the other side of the bed and worst still, a toilet flush! Night urination (or medically known…