World No Tobacco Day falls on 31 May every year. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that tobacco use is currently responsible for the death of about seven million adults across the world each year. On average in developed countries, smokers die 14 years before their time and lose 23 years of their life. ThereRead more
PHTLD on Tobacco Control Event Report Read More »
There is now irrefutable evidence of the devastating health impacts of smoking, as well as a long list of health consequences and diseases caused by smoking and second-hand smoke. Tobacco is now linked to 25 different diseases, and is the major cause of lung cancer, bronchitis and emphysema. The World Health Organization (WHO) World No
Let’s Talk Public Health with Dr Yvette van der Eijk Read More »
How is the world that we have made remaking us? In a short podcast series called ‘Changing Worlds, Changing Bodies’, UK-based writer Vybarr Cregan-Reid travels to US, Kenya and Singapore to find out why our feet are getting bigger and flatter, why back pain is the number one cause of disability in many places in
Changing Worlds, Changing Bodies Read More »
The number of people smoking e-cigarettes in Hong Kong more than tripled from 13,200 in 2017 to 42,000 in 2018, according to a survey commissioned by the Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health (COSH). At a news conference on 23 May 2019, COSH called for the city’s Legislative Council (LegCo) to pass the e-cigarette
Alternative tobacco products catching on in HK Read More »
While Singapore has made strides in its campaign against tobacco, more can be done to shift the needle particularly among the youths. Smoking prevalence among Singaporeans aged 18 to 29 increased from 12 per cent in 2004 to 16 per cent in 2010. A study by Senior Research Fellow Yvette van der Eijk and Assistant Professor Lee Jeong
Menthol cigarettes are more harmful Read More »
A recent study found that boys under five years old who watch television and use electronic devices over a long period of time have higher body fat as compared to girls who do the same. Carried out from December 2011 to February 2019, the study surveyed 1,000 young children, including participants of the Growing Up
Screen-viewing time related to greater body fat among boys aged 5 years and below Read More »
More than 3,000 cases of dengue infections have already been reported over the last four months this year, nearly exceeding the total number of cases reported in the whole year of 2018. “As the number of dengue infections was considerably low in the past three years, the risk of an individual being exposed to the
Rise in dengue cases possibly due to weakened herd immunity Read More »
Unhealthy food environments, where energy-dense nutrient-poor foods are widely available, more affordable, and heavily promoted, are not supportive of healthy eating. In fact, poor dietary habits is one of the leading behavioural risk factors for premature death and ill health in Singapore. Therefore, it is crucial to measure and improve the health of our food
Measuring the health of the Singapore food environment Read More »
Associate Professor Norbert Wagner is an occupational health physician who has spent most of the last twenty years setting up training programmes in different countries to build capacity in prevention at the workplace. Norbert also works as a specialist and consultant in occupational health for governments and companies. Yesterday was World Day for Safety and Health
Let’s Talk Public Health with A/Prof Norbert Wagner Read More »
Celebrated in the last week of April (24–30 April), the World Health Organization (WHO) World Immunization Week aims to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease, and raise awareness of the importance of full immunisation throughout life. This year’s theme is Protected Together: Vaccines Work. The campaign celebrates Vaccine
Let’s Talk Public Health with Asst Prof Vincent Pang Read More »