Dear @xty, while smoking is certainly bad for health, no one can say this for certain yet as long-term studies on the effects of vaping have yet to be conducted. Vaping is a relatively new and heterogeneous trend whereby many suppliers have created their own unique mixtures. It is illegal in countries like Singapore and unregulated in many other countries, which means the supply chains do not undergo the regular checks and may not be subject to the same health/product standards common for the smoking/tobacco industry. There have also been a spate of lung-related disease and deaths reported in many countries with ongoing investigation. When in doubt, best to play safe and avoid both smoking and vaping! See a doctor to discuss latest options for smoking cessation options that may be of help in this regard.

Hi @miles that is absolutely right, you may have a fracture and your condition requires a physical examination with a doctor for them to make that determination and create a management plan tailored to your needs accordingly. Given the pain is very severe every time you rest your weight per what you describe, depending on the doctor’s findings on examination he may need to arrange an XRay for you to check if there is a fracture. If there are no open wounds and other major injuries you can consider going to most A&E departments although the waiting time may be considerable. There are however a few GP clinics that have XRay capabilities which you can consider as well, including where I work in RMH. Hope this helps!

Hi @crystalbell this problem warrants a more detailed assessment and testing to identify the root cause and narrow down the likely tests required to tailor a management plan for you. You will need to visit a doctor for a detailed discussion (including history of any prior procedures, implants/IUCD, etc) as well as a thorough examination. You can see your GP for the initial assessment, although depending on their findings you may be referred for specialised tests from a Gynaecologist or at a hospital.

Hi @Gitangkim medications for sea sickness fall in the category of drugs for motion sickness, such as Hyoscine/Scopolamine or Dimenhydrinate, that can be administered before the journey. If your child is prone, you may want to visit a doctor for a physical review to confirm motion sickness through detailed discussion, ensure there is no organic cause for the symptoms, and select the best medication/dosage for your child. Other general non-medical measures to help reduce motion sickness include the following; 1) Look forward out of the vehicle at a fixed point ahead ("visual horizon") 2) Avoid looking at stationary objects while in the boat (e.g. book, screen of handphone/game boy) 3) Lying down (recline) with eyes closed If your child has already seen a doctor for examination to exclude organic causes previously, and just requires a top-up of the medication standby, you can try using a teleconsultation for this review. If the doctor evaluates your child and determines that that he is suitable for top-up, he may be able to prescribe it online. Apps such as www.doctorworld.co provide this service, and can also deliver any required medications to your doorstep. Hope this helps!

Hey Sylvia! Thanks for the question. Tooth sensitivity when you bite down could be due to 1. Hard Brushing - brushing your teeth too hard can lead to sensitivity 2. New cavities / leaking fillings 3. Gum inflammation 4. Cracked tooth syndrome My advice would be to visit your local dentist and describe your symptoms as well as to include any relevant pain history if this sensitivity in the lower right molar has happened before. You will probably need to take a dental x-ray to check the internal structure of the tooth as well. Hope you feel better soon! Regards Dr Beth Seow

Hi @Nana this is a little vague, if there is pain and/or difficulty with thumb movements there are several possible causes such as trigger finger or de quervain's tenosynovitis, among others. To differentiate between the causes and decide the best course of action to address this problem, you will require a visit to your local GP for a physical examination to start.

Hi @Yingying mucus in the stool can be normal as the body produces it to facilitate passage of stools through the intestines, among other applications. That being said, usually the mucus is not visible. If you clearly see mucus discharge, especially with pain, diarrhea, or even blood in your stools, possible causes such as fissures, inflammatory/infectious diseases, growths, and others may need to be excluded depending on your condition. Other considerations include recent use of antibiotics/hospital stay, and recent travel. You can snap a picture of what you see and visit your local GP clinic for an assessment, as these require further evaluation and potentially even a referral to a specialist for scopes depending on the GP's findings. If time is a constraint, feel free to connect with a GP from home first using an app like DoctorWorld if you would like a more detailed review using teleconsultation to review options for your next course of action.

Good evening @Ros , muscle tears are highly variable. Mild injuries usually recover with 2-6weeks of rest and avoiding triggers. More serious injuries however may require specific treatment and can take months to recover. It is also not uncommon for concomitant injuries like fractures in severe or persistent cases. It would be best to see your GP for an examination in these scenarios to determine the likely severity of the injury, any necessary investigations, recommended period of rest, and need for any interventions like physiotherapy to facilitate recovery, depending on his findings.

Hi @Me 3-5 days is the quick answer to your question - after catching the infection, symptoms can take 3-5 days to surface. That being said, patients with HFMD can transmit the infection to others for weeks, although transmission is rare after 1 week. This usually occurs through contact (with the fluid in blisters) or respiratory droplets from (coughing/sneezing). It can rarely also occur through contact with fecal material. HFMD is a common infection caused by several viruses that can have rare but severe consequences such as infection in the brain. If you are worried about possibly having caught this infection, do have a more in-depth consultation with a doctor at a clinic or using a teleconsultation app such as DoctorWorld.

Hi @Me generally, post operation care involves keeping the wound clean and dry with a review around a week post-procedure by the surgeon. Cochlear implants are used for severe hearing impairments, to bypass the hearing organ and transmit sound signals directly to the hearing (cochlear) nerve. The implant may not be turned on immediately after surgery until the surgical site has had some time to heal, and most patients require a period of rehabilitation to get accustomed to the implant. All in all, results vary between individuals and it may be weeks after the procedure that they are able to hear well. Have a detailed consultation with your husband’s surgeon for more personalised information about cost, recovery time, post op care, etc based on his condition as these will also depend on the type of implant and the surgical technique.

Hi @eveline, thanks for your question! It depends what you mean by a bad cut. Generally If it requires stitching we would refer to it as a “bad cut”. That being said, with any cut, during the healing process, the body may form what is known as “fibrous tissue” around the cut. This Is usually the most common cause of discomfort as it is abnormal tissue which is usually very tight and hence causes discomfort especially with mouth movements. Unfortunately there is usually no remedy for this though you should consult a doctor in person or through telemedicine so that he can have a look. In rare cases there may be a growth that is causing the discomfort after the cut which may require removal. This is especially so if you notice the area of the cut is becoming darker/white/rough or scaly/ having discharge/ swelling. I hope this helps!

Hi @Jojotan thats an interesting question! We usually need more information to help you with a problem like this. For example, how long this has been going on, whether its drooling with leakage of saliva or “spray”, and whether there is any other changes you notice. If this is something that is relatively new and there are other changes like drooping or numbness of your face, rashes, or changes to your hearing, I would recommend for an early review with a GP in a clinic to ensure there are no serious causes for this problem that may need to be urgently addressed. Hope this helps!

Hi @Angel , thank you for your question! Heart pain has a large number of possible causes. Unfortunately as it is too broad it is a bit hard to answer this question. However, heart pain that is triggered by minimal activity e.g. walking one bus stop, which is new and worsening is usually an indicator of a heart/lung problem. There are many other symptoms and signs which your physician will ask you about such as how you describe the pain (poking/sharp/dull ache), is the pain bothering your daily life? When do you feel the pain? Does the pain go anywhere or only at one specific point? Do you have any sweating or shortness of breath with pain? And many other questions. I would say if it is affecting your daily life and is worsening you should consult your GP or can consider telemedicine. rest assured the most common cause is still a muscular pain and not an actual heart problem/heart attack. I hope this helps!

Hi @Me , thanks for your question! Foot swelling has a wide variety of causes ranging from things as simple as age related, injury (eg hitting your foot against the wall) to problems as complicated as heart failure/kidney failure. In the elderly population (>65) with no past medical problems and no significant medical history (such as hypertension or diabetes) , A sudden onset of painless foot swelling (especially if affecting both feet) can be an indicator of an underlying disorder, most commonly a problem with veins which is usually minor. I would suggest for you to see a doctor physically as physical examination is quite important for a preliminary diagnosis to be made.

Hi @Curiousity thats a great question! There are many possible causes for what you describe, ranging from dry eyes to a foreign body thats lodged in the eye. Unfortunately an examination by a doctor or possibly an eye specialist may be required to make that distinction - and I would recommend to get that assessment early. If you would like to seek further care in the public sector, you may need to see a polyclinic for an assessment by the doctor and referral if required. If you would like to see an eye specialist in the private sector, you could use a teleconsult app like DoctorWorld for a detailed consult and a referral to an eye specialist if required. Hope this helps 😊

Hi @gerdboss , GERD is treatable with a course of medication but may never truly recover. There are a few common reasons why people do not recover or have multiple episodes of discomfort/regurg/heartburn symptoms. (a) H Pylori Infection - This is the most common form of bacterial infection of the stomach that can result in GERD. Unfortunately the most accurate diagnosis can only be done through a scope with a biopsy done. The results are obtained the next day. Another method of screening is a "urea breath test" - which has a sensitivity of 98% and specificity of 97%. Though it is quite a costly test and often not covered for insurance purposes. If symptoms persistent, some clinicians may choose to treat for it even without any investigations done. (b) Advanced disease - GERD typically has multiple stages which can only be determined with a scope. High grade disease typically present with more severe/persistent symptoms (c) Trigger avoidance - In general patients with persistent symptoms would be advised to avoid foods that are highly acidic e.g. citrus food, caffine (not just coffee) and spicy foods. These are the usual culprits for recurrent symptoms. Your physician may also ask you to keep a food diary to see what foods typically cause your symptoms - most patient are able to identify a trend. (d) Non compliance to medication course/Ineffective medication - Most courses of medications have to be taken over a 2- 4 week period daily, either once or twice a day. This treatment aims to attempt to "reset" the pH level of your gut. Some patients may require more potent medications (such as pantoprazole/esomeprazole) compared to traditional over the counter medication (such as gaviscon). Unfortunately the more potent medications are much more expensive and it would be more advisable to see a specialist first for preliminary investigations (e.g esomeprazole can be $7 per tablet).

Hey there @NYCYCMopenmic thats a great question! Endometriosis is a complexed condition that requires an invasive test to make a confirmed diagnosis. This carries risks, as there can be some discomfort and bleeding following an abdominal scope and/or biopsy. Experienced O&G physicians are able to provide a preliminary assessment based on non-invasive scans and provide presumptive treatment first to determine the best course of action thereafter based on your response. Therefore, if this is a condition that would ideally need to be managed closely with an O&G physician. If this is something you think you may have, feel free to speak to me via the DoctorWorld app for a detailed consultation for further assessment and a formal referral to see an O&G physician if required.

Hi @Jade great question! This can be hard to differentiate, and not necessarily mutually exclusive because you can catch gastric flu from food prepared with suboptimal hygiene practices by someone with an ongoing gastric flu illness. Factors like recent travel, consumption of unfresh food, symptoms of others that consumed the suspected meal, as well as other clinical features. Differentiation would ideally require a consult with a trained physician to determine as well as to propose recommended treatment.

Hi Steby. Most standard surgical face masks are not able to filter out small fine particles, so the best mask to use for the haze would be an N95 mask.

Hi @Bertrand yes this complaint needs to be discussed with a GP. You can try having a preliminary discussion with a GP online via an app like DoctorWorld, however you may still be referred to a clinic in-person if they determine that you need to be examined.